Glazebury earn unlikely promotion against Hartford (From Warrington Guardian)

Glazebury earn unlikely promotion against Hartford

10:52am Thursday 22nd September 2011 in Cricket

GLAZEBURY defied all the odds to secure their promotion to the Meller Braggins Cricket League after a 25-point win over relegation-battling Hartford.

Needing other results to go their way during a tense afternoon, Glazebury's rivals Wirral and Wistaston both lost their challenges to hand the Hurst Lane side promotion from Division One on their first attempt.

Against Hartford, rain threatened to stop play but the desire of both sides to prevent the match being called off meant they continued in a short format.

Once again Jack Warhurst, 63, stood above the rest at the crease.

His 55 partnership with Wayne Hargreaves, as well as fine contributions from Dave Acton and Andy Calvert, saw the hosts finish their 37 overs with 144 for 6.

Hartford wavered in reply, falling to 6 for 2 before rallying to 107 for 4 with eight overs remaining.

But Glazebury finished them off with a final surge, Andy Calvert finishing with 4 for 29 and Warhurst 4 for 32, as Hartford lost their final six wickets for just 12 runs to hand the hosts promotion.

The second team also managed to return triumphant from their must-win game, beating Hartford in Division Three to avoid relegation.

Andy Durrington's 47 led the way as they reached 137 with the bat, with Sean Caine getting 3 for 31, and Gerard Southworth, 2 for 14, with the ball as they skittled the hosts out for 89.