ONE RUN SHORT FOR WARRINGTON

The game was reduced to 92 overs from the start due to the weather and Didsbury used 51 of them to grind out 133 with the bat.

Rain then accounted for another three overs and the pressure was on for Warrington.

With Smith and Hughes progressing fluently, everything appeared under control. But the wheels came off when they both fell in quick succession and a flurry of indifferent shots deepened the mire.

A brisk cameo from de Prez, 17, briefly tipped the scales back Warrington's way but the final over arrived with the last pair standing and six runs required.

When the dust settled, fortune had favoured the visitors and Warrington ended a run short of a tie.

The seconds had rather more success at Didsbury despite losing the toss and being invited to bat on a damp wicket.

Teenager Gareth Dyson, in only his second start of the season and vice captain David Lindop put on an excellent stand of 122 and Jon Coneeny did the job with the ball as he took eight wickets and Didsbury lost by 62 runs with 11 overs to spare.

Warrington v Didsbury

Didsbury: 133-8. Bowling: A. Wright 3-0-0-18, D de Prez 25-4-3-49, P. Agar 23-4-2-52.

Warrington

P. Catterall ct Burns b Majid 13

B. Smith ct Artis b Griffiths 34

M. Suen b Majid 7

J. Hughes ct Burns b Majid 29

K. Ollier b Majid 5

M. Caven ct Hughes b Majid 4

I. Sleigh ct b Majid 7

D de Prez ct Robinson b Stoneman 17

M. Agar run out 0

P. Agar not out 2

A. Wright not out 5

Extras 17

Total 132-9

Warrington 2nd v Didsbury

Warrington

I. Wright run out 5

D. Baxter st Adlem b Maudesley 16

J. Crissall ct Morgan b Vagh 12

T. Rothwell ct Adlem b Vagh 6

G. Dyson not out 76

D. Lindop run out 48

H. Morris not out 6

Extras 16

Total 185-5

Didsbury: 123. Bowling: J. Coneeny 19-3-8-59, P. Hitchen 9-1-2-42, H. Morris 8-4-0-9, H. de Prez 2-0-0-8.

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