Middlewich 1st 138-7

A DRAW was the right result in a game which Middlewich could have won but for a couple of late wickets which encouraged MCC to bat out an honourable draw.

This result keeps them in contention for the runners-up berth.

Father and son Chris and Danny Leach put 41 runs on the board for the first wicket before MCC's find of the season, all-rounder Jon Shepherd, made a breakthrough, Ben Cagna pouching the catch to send Danny to the pavilion.

Leach senior hung around for 36 overs making a fine 58 while all about him wickets fell regularly, Bunby and McMillan both failing to get off the mark.

Park were indebted to Vanwyk who bludgeoned a rapid 45 at the death to boost the score towards respectability.

MCC were without several key players due to holidays but a new opening partnership of Dominic Simpson and Chris Broomfield put together 37 for the first wicket before the latter departed for 18 including four fine boundaries.

Broomfield was leg before for a good, battling 37 but unfortunately for the visitors, Dave Parry also fell at the same time.

However, MCC were well up with the required run rate but two quick dismissals rocked them on the back foot.

Shepherd was batting confidently at one end but was running out of partners and after the loss of Cagna, discretion became the main concern and Shepherd finished four runs short of a deserved 50 with the redoubtable Andy Tutt solid as a rock at the other end.

Battle is likely to be renewed next season in what is the top derby in the area.

Middlewich 2nd 113 all out

Nantwich 117-1

NOT a happy day at the office for the home side who were on the wrong end of a pasting for the second time this year against Nantwich.

Proceedings began badly with the loss of Goulding in the second over and this started a chain reaction as succeeding batsmen fell to some excellent bowling on a graveyard of a wicket.

Only Steve Dean stood proud, walloping the ball around in customary fashion for 64, receiving valuable support from Nudger Smith, who made 14.

But once he was out the tail was exposed and rapidly declined in the warm afternoon sunshine.

Nantwich batted patiently knowing that they had 67 overs to get a modest total and plodded slowly to 34 from 18 overs before Lehepuu got one ball to cut in and the umpires raised finger sent the batsman on his way.

Wicketkeeper Quinn signalled his intentions from his first ball and narrowly avoided a catch at wide mid-on.

Had this chance been accepted events might have been different.

However Quinn was determined to finish the game as quickly as he could and hit the ball gaily around.

The game ended in style as he sent successive balls over the boundary and the players trooped in to catch the football results. MCC look forward to renewing acquaintances with the opposition next year.

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