Winsford 2nds 157-5

Bredbury St Mark's 2nds 110-4

WINSFORD fielded one of their best sides of the season against Bredbury on Saturday, but had to settle for a winning draw in the top-of-the-table clash.

Skipper John Millington Snr lost the toss and Winsford were asked to bat on a grassy wicket which promised movement for the seam bowlers.

Winsford lost an early wicket, which slowed the run rate, and they found the number of overs bowled overtaking the amount of runs scored at 12-1 off 13 overs.

Bredbury's opening bowlers, Mountford and Ashworth, bowled tightly, not allowing the Winsford batsmen to score freely.

Millington batted doggedly for 14 before he was run out by a direct hit.

However, when it looked like Winsford might collapse by losing wickets in search of runs, Gareth Whitney steadied the ship and began to move the score along to a respectable total.

Whitney and opener Mark Skellon shared a partnership of 87, with 57 of them being clubbed by Whitney before he was stumped off slow bowler Downs.

Skellon was dismissed in the 39th over for 51, a fine innings considering that he hit some glorious strokes straight to fielders for no runs.

Chris Brandon continued the onslaught, moving Winsford towards a reasonable total and reaching 24 not out in only six overs.

Winsford reached 157-5 after the allotted 45 overs. The only Bredbury wicket-takers were Ashworth (1-32) and Downs (2-39).

Right from the very first delivery the Bredbury batsmen found the pace of Paul Atherton difficult to handle, and supported by some fine fielding, the early breakthrough was inevitable.

It came when Atherton bowled Amison for 12, and he then dismissed Mountford in a similar fashion for six, making it 37-2.

Carr kept the scoreboard ticking over with a fine 37, and with wickets in hand Bredbury always had a chance of reaching the target of 158.

But the remaining middle-order batsmen found Atherton hard to get away, and the introduction of Brandon was profitable when he claimed the wicket of Green, leaving the score at 91-4.

Then Bredbury decided to shut up shop and play for the draw.

Atherton continued his fine spell of bowling, finding the inside edge on many occasions only for the ball to fly harmlessly down to fine leg.

Bredbury finished on 110-4 and the patience of Ratledge was rewarded with a score of 35 not out.

Atherton bowled 23 overs - including one over of leg spin - taking three wickets for 45 runs. Brandon ended with figures of 1-24.

Winsford 11 pts, Bredbury 3.

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