This Season

With a couple missing from the 2s after being called up to the first XI Rob Meredith was captain for the 4th time this season and for the 4th time lost the toss and Clifton were having a bowl. 

The captain began the first over, followed by usual partner Tom Worthington. From this moment wickets began to fall quickly. The visitors 7-1 quickly became 7-2 then 15-3 and 15-4  then 16-5 and 20-6. In this excellent spell Rob took 2 wickets for just 11 runs in 12 overs. Whilst Tom picked up 3 wickets in his first spell and AJ and Judgey linked up for a good run out.  On came Lewis Keogh in a crucial moment of the game and kept things tight whilst Ethan Kite got the key breakthrough breaking the 50 partnership leaving Blackley 74-6. 

Ethan quickly got his second caught by Steven Judge before young Oscar Thorpe picked up a wicket to put the visitors 104-9. Tom then came back and wrapped up the last wicket to walk away with an excellent 4 wickets. Clifton were left chasing 122.

Ethan Kite and Chris Thorpe took to the crease to lead the chase and got off to a positive start.  Unfortunately, Chris (8) fell with the score at 33 and Owen Hogben came to the crease. Owen and Ethan batted superbly knocking the ball around the fielders and both made cricket look easy. Ethan then brought up an excellent half century which was rightly applauded by the home crowd. Ethan then gave his first chance away and it was taken which meant he had to leave the field needing just 10 to win after scoring a brilliant 62 off just 74 deliveries. Owen (40*) then hit the winning runs to ensure Clifton gained the bonus point. 

An excellent all-round performance earned Clifton a 5 point gap at the top of the table which represents the excellent start they have made.

Clifton’s 2nd XI travelled to Stretford CC on Saturday with dark clouds looming above and rain in the air for the first time this season. The Stretford skipper won the toss and elected to bat. As usual, Rob Meredith opened the bowling alongside Tom Worthington. Both bowlers kept things tidy as Stretford made a slow but steady start, with Rob’s first four overs all being maidens.

Eventually, Rob got the breakthrough, and Stretford were 21-1. The second wicket came from a direct hit by Owen Hogben to remove the second opener, who was beginning to look settled on 37. Rob then finished his spell, picking up two wickets. Tom finished his spell wicketless but was economical, conceding only two runs per over.

Then came the skipper Liam and Jordan Higham to keep the pressure on. Liam showed his experience and began regularly taking wickets at one end, while Jordy kept it tight at the other. The hosts were 73-4, which quickly became 103-7, with Liam finishing with excellent figures of 4 for 50 from his 14 overs, with 2 maidens. Jordy was unlucky to finish without a wicket but bowled 12 overs for just 46 runs.

Stretford then finished their innings with a solid last-wicket partnership of 41, taking them to 144-7 after their 45 overs.

Young lads Ethan Kite and Owen Hogben opened the batting in a similar fashion to Stretford — nice and solid, but with not many runs flowing. Owen was the first to fall, bowled for 13 in the 10th over. Ethan followed shortly after, also bowled, for 18. This left Dan Jones and Jordan Higham at the crease. Both dug in and stuck around to keep the scoreboard ticking and secure Clifton the bonus point.

Both batsmen batted carefully, gave little away, and brought a big six points back home to Clifton. Jordy finished 56* and Dan Jones 47*. Their unbeaten partnership of 109* secured the vital bonus point for Clifton, who now sit in second place behind Swinton Moorside, who have a slightly higher net run rate.

We look forward to welcoming Stretford to Manchester Road later in the season.

The art of manufacturing ones and twos into gaps in the field seems to be a lost art for the club's batsmen at the moment.

With one eye on t'internet for the cup draws, we go again next week.

On a picture-perfect day at Manchester Road, Clifton CC 1st XI registered an excellent and hard-earned victory over Flixton C&SC 1st XI, showcasing discipline with the ball and flashes of grit with the bat in a game that had the crowd on edge as the finish line approached.

Having won the toss, Clifton opted to bat on a glorious surface, but once again their innings was defined by a patient start and a faltering middle order. Openers Matt Van Dyk (9) and Jack Stanley (33) got things moving, with Stanley grinding through 47 deliveries before falling to a sharp return catch from ex Clifton Pro, Gareth Cross. Current Pro, Sam Dorsey also dug in for 34 off 75 balls, anchoring the innings during a slow middle phase.

The middle order again struggled to convert, losing wickets in clusters. The only standout came from Ben Hamilton, whose composed 38 was crucial in pushing Clifton toward a competitive score. However, Clifton lost their final six wickets for just 57 runs, slumping to 165 all out in 43.5 overs. Beckford was the chief destroyer for Flixton, claiming 5-28 in a tight and probing spell.

With the bat, Flixton never quite settled. Clifton’s new-ball pairing of Danny Higham and Oliver Sleight kept things miserably tight early on. Higham’s 9 over spell yielded 2-19 and four maidens - pure control - while Sleight dried up runs from the other end and removed the dangerous Oakley to finish with 1-41.

The middle overs belonged to Ben Hamilton. Fresh from his key contribution with the bat, Hamilton ripped through Flixton’s lineup with a terrific spell of 5-27. His wickets came at key moments, ensuring that Flixton never quite broke free. Despite a brave 28 from Beckford and a few late boundaries from Cheetham, Flixton were gradually strangled out of the game.

Still, with wickets in hand and the score ticking closer to the target, the home crowd was visibly edgy as the chase reached 120-9. But Hamilton returned to have Phillips bowled, sealing a 29 run win for Clifton with 11.4 overs remaining.

It was a match that underlined Clifton’s bowling depth and discipline. While the batting continues to misfire in patches - particularly the middle order - the side’s resilience and team effort delivered a fine win.

In an exciting 2nd XI Championship Cup clash, Clifton CC 2ndXI, the defending champions, secured a convincing victory over Tottington St. Johns CC 2nd XI, winning by 7 wickets at Tottington on Sunday.

Tottington St. Johns, having won the toss, opted to bat first, but were quickly put under pressure by the Clifton bowlers. The innings began with early wickets, leaving Tottington at 22-2. However, A. Roughley led the charge with a magnificent innings of 112 not out from 101 balls, supported by A. James Roughley JNR, who made a patient 47 not out from 107 balls. The pair combined to form a strong partnership.

Clifton’s bowlers worked hard throughout the innings, with Rob Meredith showing great control, finishing with 0-8 from 7 overs, while Dan Jones, Lewis Keogh, and Tom Worthington all contributed, though none could break the partnership. Despite the excellent efforts from the bowling attack, Tottington managed to finish strongly, setting a competitive target of 196.

In response, Clifton’s chase was led by a solid performance from Ethan Kite, who played a key role with the bat, scoring 57 from 75 balls. Alongside him, Dan Jones was the mainstay of the chase, producing a well-paced knock of 62 not out from 64 balls, guiding the team steadily towards the target. Jack Barton also made a useful contribution with 28 from 29 balls, keeping the momentum going.

Clifton's batsmen were determined to make light work of the chase, and despite some tight bowling from Tottington, they kept their composure. The best efforts of K. Schofield (1-29) and A. Roughley (1-41)couldn't prevent Clifton from getting closer to the target. S. Marsh and S. Wooley were also unable to stem the flow of runs, as Clifton’s batsmen carried their side to a successful chase.

Clifton CC 2nd XI reached 196-3 in 39 overs, sealing the win with 7 wickets remaining and ensuring they advanced further in the competition as defending champions.

The smiles returned to Clifton faces on Cup Sunday, with both sides tasting victory to move into round 2 with some ease.

The firsts looked to avoid elimination at the hands of lower league opposition for a second successive year with former B&DCA rivals Elton from Premier Division 2 visiting Manchester Road. 

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Sam Dorsey sprung the first surprise of the day by, in the absence of several players, choosing 3^rd XI skipper Steve McManus to open the innings with Matt Van Dyk. That confidence in Mac proved well placed as they shared an opening stand of 71 inside 16 overs that set the platform for an imposing total of 277-5 in the allotted 45 overs. With Matty(77) scoring a double of half centuries for the weekend and Jack Stanley (51)Ben Hamilton (43) and the skipper (62) piling on the agony for the visitors ona feather bed of a wicket. 

Elton's response was spirited, led by former Cliftoner, Ryan Barker, whose 87 was the top score of the day, and despite being handily placed at 139-1 to mount a challenge, the huge total proved unassailable after the introduction of spinners Ben Hamilton and Liam Dorsey whose 18 overs between them registered five wickets for 72 runs, which strangled the visitors' middle order and left them flailing to keep up the run rate as they crumbled to 177 all out in the 39^th over. 

Finally Finlay Testa added three wickets at the death and Jordy Higham chipped in with a cameo 2-12 to secure a spot in the draw for the second round. Credit too must go to Dan Higham who, despite being wicketless on the day, did much to further build the pressure at the start of the reply, by bowling his nine allotted over for just 34 including two maidens.

After winning the toss and electing to bat on a good-looking surface,Woodhouses got off to a strong start. Their openers compiled a fluent 74-runstand, threatening to set a commanding total. However, the introductionof Owen Hogben turned the tide. He struck twice - first breaking theopening partnership, then dismissing the other opener shortly after, to leavethe visitors at 115-2.

Clifton’s bowlers then seized control of the innings. Lewis wasthe standout, delivering a superb spell of 3 wickets for just 20 runs in his 5overs. Alongside him, Liam and Hogben chipped in with two wicketsapiece, keeping the pressure on through the middle overs. Woodhouses stumbledto 172-7 from their 45 overs, never quite recovering their early momentum.

Clifton’s reply didn’t begin smoothly, with a wicket falling on the very firstball. But any nerves were quickly settled as Dan Jones joined Ethan tobegin the rebuild. Although the second opener departed for 19 with the score at40-2, a crucial 70-run stand between Jones and Steven Judge steadiedthe chase.

Jones played fluently, reaching a well-earned 50 beforebeing given out shortly after his milestone. Judgey, calm and composed,continued the push towards victory with Hogben providing steady support. Withthe target in sight, Sam Winstanley joined Hogben at the crease andthe pair comfortably saw Clifton home.

Owen Hogben finished unbeaten on 31, capping off a fineall-round performance, while Winstanley added 15* to seal a 6-wicket winwith 12 overs to spare.

To say that the club had a comfortable first weekend of the season, would be a considerable understatement after all three teams picked up winning points with all three also snatching an extra point under the new bonus point system.

The firsts got the ball rolling at Manchester Road as Dan Higham further enhanced his reputation as an exceptional "up th'ill" bowler with three top order scalps after Flowery Field lost the toss and were inserted by new skipper Sam Dorsey. New signings Finlay Testa and Oliver Sleight bowled down the hill without luck as the visitors grafted away to reach 100-4, with new overseas Matt Van Dyk making his first significant contribution with a spectacular boundary save that Oliver Sleight hurled in to run out Ul Haq. At this point, the spinners were introduced and they ran through the remaining batting order with Ben taking 3-12 and Mason 3-31 as the visitors went to tea with just 126 on the board. 

Matt Howarth unfortunately tested the juggling skills of the gully fielder in the first over, after which Sam and another new signing, Jack Stanley, eased their way to a nine wicket win with Sam competing an accomplished first half century of the season and Jack finishing on 41 not out. It'll no doubt be a bigger test next week at Edgworth, but we really couldn't have asked for a better start to the season.