Barns in control of own destiny

2:22pm Monday 18th August 2008

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RAIN spoiled Hale Barns’ chances of a win on Saturday but Cheshire County League Division two survival is still in their own hands.

On Saturday they visited fellow strugglers Winnington Park who won the toss and elected to bat first.

Andy Murphy made the first breakthrough in the second over and followed this up with his second wicket in the 14th over with the score at 26.

Tight bowling was not rewarded, with several straightforward catches spilled and the batsmen gained confidence to go for their shots.

The run rate continued to rise and it took two brilliant run outs from Graham Dolling to stem the flow of runs.

Winnington Park ended up on a competitive 201-6 off the 50 overs. Andy Murphy took 2-23 off nine overs.

Ciaron Connolly and Arnie Sidebottom opened the batting and took the score along to 43 off 12 overs when Sidebottom was bowled for 19 runs.

Connolly was again looking in good form, hitting nine boundaries, until he was adjudged LBW for 48 runs when the score was 89 off 25 overs.

Unfortunately the rain came on stronger and the match was abandoned with Hale Barns looking well set to knock the runs off with 113 required off 25 overs and eight wickets in hand.

Fortunately none of the the teams in the bottom five managed to win a match so Hale Barns are still in control of their own destiny with four games to play.