Widnes Cricket Club (From Warrington Guardian)

Widnes Cricket Club

WIDNES took 10 points from their winning draw with Poynton on Saturday and on Sunday clinched a place in the Jaguar House Cheshire cup with an eight-wicket victory over Nantwich.

In both games Widnes were indebted to the outstanding form of 16-year-old James McCoy and the veteran off-spinner Bappa Mukherjee.

At Poynton Widnes elected to bat, McCoy and Tony Hurdley gave them a sound start.

Hurdley, with eight, fell with 47 on the board and then Adam Landry joined McCoy and took the score on to 78 when McCoy was unfortunately run out for an excellent 54.

Landry went on to make 42, Titchard eight, Dyson 11, Mukherjee 16 and Andrew Kirby not out nine as Widnes declared on 163 for seven after 42 overs.

Bowling, Widnes made the best of starts when Gareth Dyson had Douglas caught behind in the first over. There was no further success until Mukherjee was brought into the attack.

In his second over he bowled the stubborn Kingham for 13. Four overs later he claimed Middlehurst lbw for 27.

With Dyson and Mukherjee giving little away the home side fell well behind the required run rate and when Dyson dismissed Thompson and Mukherjee, Dunn and Rudge in the same over any attempt to chase the Widnes total was abandoned.

At the close Poynton had reached 80 for seven with Mukherjee taking five for 23 from 14 overs.

Sunday brought Nantwich to Beaconsfield Road and acting captain Gareth Dyson asked the visitors to bat.

Neither Dyson nor Steve Titchard had any success in their opening five over spells.

It was Tony Hurdley who struck first when he yorked Hampshire for eight.

Nantwich moved their score on to 87 before Hurdley struck again to dismiss Maynard for 21.

With Sean Moore bowling six overs for a meagre 14 runs and Mukherjee weaving his magic with three for 25 off nine overs, Widnes were well in control despite patient knocks of 65 by Sadler and 43 not out by the Nantwich skipper Newton.

The Nantwich total of 158 for seven was never enough particularly when James McCoy and Steve Titchard blasted 48 from the first six overs of the Widnes innings.

The Cheshire junior and the Lancashire veteran put on 112 for the first wicket, McCoy being unlucky to play on having made 65.

Titchard was eventually caught behind for 54 and it was left to Mukherjee 27 not out and Sean Moore, seven not out to see Widnes home with 10 overs to spare. This coming Saturday, Widnes is at home in the league to Neston, wickets pitched at 1pm. On Sunday the third XI entertains Woodford.