Match Report
Match Report Sun 19 July: 3rd XI vs Whalley Range CC (Away)
Thu 23 Jul 2026
The third team winning machine rolled into leafy Whalley Range on Sunday, for another charge towards the GMCL Sunday Premier League title.
Elliot strolled out to the middle for the toss at a much earlier start time due to World Cup final and yet again, lost. The opposition skippers decision to stick Clifton in on a warm day raised a few eyebrows around the ground. Especially considering Clifton has posted 220+ runs consistently for the past few weeks, with three different players scoring a century in each of the last three games.
However, after the first couple of balls, the reason became clear. The wicket that had been prepared proceeded to shoot low, offer excessive bounce and variable pace. Both Ethan Kite and Dan Jones fell victim to the surface, before Dunny was struck on the pad and received what looked to be a harsh LBW decision.
At 53-3, the rebuild began. Owen Hogben did what he does best, dug in and played a patient innings. Whilst at the other end, Tom Worthington batted with maturity to reach a very well deserved 35. Tom has proven at times this year that when given an opportunity with the bat he is more than capable of putting on runs to help his team.
With Worthington dismissed after successfully anchoring the rebuild, the lads cracked on with demonstrating why our batting line up is so effective. A quick fire 85 run partnership between Owen and Sam Winstanley (36) saw Clifton well on the way to posting another competitive score, with Sam hitting the ball to the fence and Owen turning every run into a sprinted two, finishing Clifton’s innings on 224/6 with Owen posting another 75*.
After the tea interval, Elliot Hogben and Oscar Thorpe took the new ball and set to work removing the openers. A wicket from Oscar in his first over, and then two later on from Elliot saw Whalley Range at 64-3. It was from this point Clifton turned the screw. An 8 over spell from Oliver Dunn saw him rip through the middle order to post figures of (4-24), ably supported by Ethan Kite at the other end. At 103-7, Sam Winstanley (2-4) and youngster Harrison Keogh joined the fray and dismissed Whalley Range for 149 to give Clifton a convincing 75 run victory.
With a gap of 16 points to second place, surely it is just a matter of time before this crop of Clifton youngsters helps to deliver the first GMCL Sunday Premier League title to Manchester Road.