IN June at Willaston, Crewe's batsmen had struggled to 28 for 6 against Elworth's professional fast bowler Roddy Lovell who took 5 for 25 while Bernie Bishop top scored with 13.

There were some similarities when the local rivals met at Elworth last Saturday.

Bernie Bishop top scored again and Crewe found themselves 27 for 7, but the similarities ended there.

Lovell is returning home early to Guyana for treatment to a persistent back injury and did not play this time. In June not a single wicket had fallen by 3.30, this time the game was all over by that time. In June Crewe held on for a draw, this time Elworth won by a crushing 7 wickets.

Crewe batted first on an Elworth pitch and within half an hour Greg Sanders had removed the first three batsmen at a personal cost of 5 runs from 5 overs with the total on 12.

Paul Crompton exploited the conditions better than anyone but beat the edge several times before removing Karl Stevenson, who survived for 49 minutes for 9.

Rob Beech replaced Sanders and bowling a full length took 4 for 8 in 19 balls including skipper Tony Waddington for 0, brilliantly caught in the gulley by Mike Robinson.

Top-scorer Bernie Bishop with 10 became Russ Cope's 27th victim behind the stumps. Crompton picked up the important wicket of Alan Clarke and Jim Higgins nipped in with the final wicket, aided by an outstanding slip catch by Simon Hardstaff. Crewe were all out, after 80 minutes, in the 22nd over for 40 and Elworth were congratulating themselves on a record breaking display of swing and seam bowling coupled with infallible close catching.

Alan Clarke responded with a fine spell, removing Simon Hardstaff with the only ball that reared awkwardly all day, bowling Jeff Maynard with one that seamed back and dismissing Mike Robinson, caught behind.

However no wickets fell at the other end and Nick Lee saw Elworth home without further loss in the 14th over. His 20 not out, including four boundaries, was double that made by any other batsman in a match that was completed in just five minutes over 2 hours playing time.

Elworth's professional could not bowl and Crewe's professional slow left armer, K P Rao, did not bowl on a day dominated by home grown seam bowlers. Crewe's teenage bowlers were not able to match the control, accuracy and movement of the Elworth seamers. Elworth's players are nearly all in their twenties which should promise well for the Elworth club for many years. Crewe's investment in youth will doubtless bring rewards in the long term but one point will not be much help in avoiding relegation this season. Elworth rise into the top half of the league table but have two difficult games against leading opposition to finish off the season.

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