It was yet another disappointing defeat for the 2nd XI on Saturday - the 5th defeat in the last 6 games - which was made even more frustrating with both Horwich and East Lancs Papermill also losing; a missed opportunity to get back into the promotion hunt.
The day started with a new look opening pair of the returning Steve Judge, accompanied by regular No.11 Tom Worthington to the middle. After a promising enough start at 20 without loss, both were hit on the pads inside a few balls so it was 22/2 bringing Dan Jones and Oscar Thorpe to the middle.
An 86 run partnership put Clifton in firm control of the contest at 108/2. But just as at East Lancs last week, as soon as Dan (34) got out, a flurry of wickets followed. He needs to stop getting out.
Oscar (44) fell the very next ball after another strong performance with the bat. Lewis Keogh (0) fell 3 balls later after poor shot selection, and Charlie Seddon (0) lasted only one ball longer, as 108/2 became 110/6 in the blink of an eye.
An excellent 60 run partnership was then put together by Sam Winstanley and Luke Jones to give Clifton something to bowl at. It was a display of patience from them both to rebuild, then play their shots in the later overs to push towards 200 and beyond.
Luke (29) was caught at extra cover when trying to really accelerate, which brought Elliot (8) to the crease to add a few more to the total, leaving Sam (39) to walk off with a red inker after a controlled and sensible innings. So 192 to defend.
A superb spell of tight, controlled opening bowling from the now regular opening pair of Tom Worthington and Dan Jones made the Heywood openers work for every run, and it wasn’t until the 5th over that the first runs came from the bat.
It was the last ball of the 10th over when Tom made the breakthrough to leave the visitors 24/1. He then picked up another with the last ball of his spell from his now infamous slower ball that does actually appear to be travelling in slow motion. The whole world stops as the batsman waits for the ball to get to him. Tom’s excellent form continued with 7-2-24-2.
Sas replaced Dan from the top end, with poor 2 over spells each up the hill from Lewis Keogh and Daanyaal Mehmood saw them quickly replaced in the attack by Oscar Thorpe. Sas was also below his usual standards and was replaced by make shift leg spinner, Elliot. The 70 run stand for the 3rd wicket was broken with a run out, from where 117/2 quickly became 121/5 after 2 half trackers were hit straight to hands.
Elliot turned to his leggies and put the ball in the right areas for 8 and a half overs, but the 3 worst balls he bowled all picked up wickets. That’s cricket. His figures of 9-0-37-4 were well deserved, and he is now arguably the best leg spinner in the Hogben family.
At 133/6 and Clifton right back in the contest, Dan Jones returned to replace Oscar up the hill, after Oscar had had a regulation chance dropped at slip to remove their set batsman. Figures of 5-1-14-0 deserved more than a zero at the end of those numbers. 3 more dropped catches in the space of a few tight overs that could have killed this contest ultimately proved costly. Dan’s final figures of 12.4-2-33-0 didn’t get the reward they deserved for an exhibition in hitting that 4th stump line all afternoon.
Sas returned from the top end with 16 to defend off the last 3 overs, but with 12 runs coming from his first over back - including 4 leg side wides - the game was done. The 18 wides bowled proved costly once again, with 12 of them contained within 4 overs from Sas, Mehmood and Keogh. You just can’t afford to give that many runs away every week in extras and still win these tight games. It would have been even more as well if it wasn’t for the full length dives down the leg side from veteran keeper Judgey, to keep them to only one wide each time. It looks like Judgey has kept his match sharpness in that over 50s league he’s been playing in since his last appearance for the Clifton 2s.
It looks almost certain that it will be another season in Div 5 for this side. When at full strength this side could hold their own in the division above, but when missing 2 or 3 key players then this level looks about right. It’s still a very young side who are improving all the time, and the experience of losing in these tight games in recent weeks will stand them in good stead for the future and their development.
But please stop bowling wides!