Vale grab a share of the spoils

4:16pm Tuesday 1st July 2008

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Alderley Park 170-7 Bowdon Vale 118-9

Match drawnBOWDON Vale made the visit to promotion chasing Alderley Park and returned home with a very creditable draw, the final scorecard not doing justice to how competitive the game was.

The Vale were just missing a decent middle order partnership to swing the game in their favour at a crucial stage of the game.

Alderley Park took first knock and fine opening spells from Hasan and Jack Halsall had the home side in tatters at 45-5.

However, Shah (56) and Berry (57) aided by some lacksidasical fielding and dropped catches rescued the home side with a sixth wicket stand of 100.

Butterworth with a brisk 30 pushed Alderley to 170. Hasan finished with 4-69 and Halsall 2-40.

The Vale reply got off to a slow start in the face of some tight opening bowling but at 23 overs the run rate was approaching three an over as Williamson (29) and Ryan (23) gained the initiative for the Vale.

The run chase was set fair and the game delicately poised as the Vale required 90 runs from the final 15 overs.

At this stage it was imperative for the middle order to fire but only Jack Halsall (17) and Steve Bottomley (12) got a start as the return of the Alderley opening attack of Berry and Butterworth made life difficult for the Vale middle order.

Finally it was left to the last wicket pair of Abdulla and Johnson to see out the last two overs as the Vale run chase fell short.

The second XI were involved in a derby clash with Trafford MV at Priory Street.

The visitors somewhat fortunately posted 205 with Saeed (79) the mainstay of the Trafford innings. Neil Edwards (2-46) was the pick of the Vale bowling.

In reply although Faupal, Allen and Willson all made double figures, they were unable to go on and make significant contributions.

The highlight of the Vale innings was a knock of 16 by 14-year-old Jack Ryan as the Vale failed to cope with the bowling of Pomfret (5-36).