A DEPLETED Elworth suffered their second home defeat of this season in Division A of the North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Cricket League at the hands of reigning champions Moddershall.

Elworth were invited to bat first for the fifth week in a row and yet another new opening partnership was tried with Phil Cross promoted to partner Ryan Hudson.

Both were out by the third over and Roddy Lovell, promoted up the order, assisted Jeff Maynard to take the total to 45 before being bowled by the only ball that kept low all day.

Nick Lee and Jeff, who topscored with 63 including 10 fours, took the total past 100 in a lively stand before both were out reducing Elworth to 108 for 5 in the 28th over.

Russ Cope supervised the remainder of the innings with stands of 17 with Kevin Underwood and 23 with Nick Morgan. Although Russ was unable to dominate the bowling, major assistance came from Jim Higgins, with 23, and Paul Crompton who contributed a season's best 11 to see the total past 200.

Moddershall pro Jon Addison took the last 3 wickets leaving Crewe on 209 all out in the 56th over. That was not going to be easy to defend on the excellent Elworth pitch with short boundaries and a fast outfield and both regular opening bowlers not available.

Paul Crompton struck early removing Addison for 3, victim of a superb catch by Russ Cope behind the stumps. The runs flowed early and although Paul accounted for the other opener Shaw in his fifth over the total had already reached 41. The match was then settled by a partnership of 156 in 32 overs between Carr, 89, and Hawkins, 65.

Jim Higgins bowled yet another long and economical spell but remained wicketless and the breakthrough came only when Crompton was recalled to the attack. He removed both batsmen but too late to alter the result as Moddershall cruised home with 2 overs and 6 wickets to spare.

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