Widnes Cricket Club

VISITING Oxton on Saturday last, desperate for maximum league points, Widnes brought in youngsters Andrew Kirby and Simon Tabb for their first XI debuts.

Winning the toss Oxton elected to bat and Saunders and Cashin made a cautious start against accurate bowling from Gareth Dyson and Neil Young.

In his sixth over Dyson, having conceded only eight runs, had Cashin well caught by Tabb.

This was to be Widnes' only success for some time as Saunders and Finlay shared a partnership of 88.

Not surprisingly it was Ibrahim Ali who eventually made the breakthrough bowling Finlay for 31.

Ali now started taking wickets regularly and on the fall of his fifth Oxton had slumped to 155 for six.

Two runs later Higgins bowled Saunders but once again the visitors could not see off the bail.

Bewson and Cooper batting at eight and nine added 31 and the 10th added a further 15 runs before the declaration was made after 62 overs.

Ali was once again the pick of the Widnes bowlers finishing with six for 64 from his 24 overs.

With his back injury greatly improved Phil Catterall returned to opening the innings with Brent Lodding.

He was soon away with two early fours but in the seventh over misjudged a drive and was caught and bowled by Finlay.

None of the next six Widnes batsmen managed to reach double figures or keep Brent Lodding company for any significant time.

When the opener fell in the 40th over he had made 48 of the 88 scored.

Widnes had slumped to 101 for eight when Ibrahim Ali joined Neil Young in what looked very much like a vain attempt to stave off defeat.

Cricket however can be a strange game and the pair, now justifiably claiming all-rounder status, were soon scoring freely.

Ali in fact raced to a maiden club 50 off only 48 balls.

He finished 51 not out with Young on 22.

It may not have been the victory that Widnes were so dearly seeking but a respectable draw was achieved when defeat seemed very likely.

This coming Saturday Widnes entertain Neston whose form has been inconsistent of late.

The game commences at 12 noon.

On Sunday the third XI entertain Marple with a 2pm start.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.