Blackpool U15's v Thornton Cleveleys - PS Final -4th Sep 2011
Blackpool vs Thornton-Cleveleys
On a pleasant Sunday after an awful Saturday, the two Fylde coast sides made the journey to Croston. On a wet and soft track, Thornton-Cleveleys captain Sam Bradshaw won the toss and asked Blackpool to bat in front of a large crowd from both clubs.
Blackpool made a quick start with Blackpool Skipper Danny Dixon (8) putting away a few early boundaries, only to be undone by opening bowler T. Williams a few overs later. Chris Pickles (4) looked solid until again Williams struck again (8-2-22-2) with another good ball to leave Blackpool 14-2. Ash Moreau and Matthew Houston were slowly repairing the damage, until Ash (4) was undone by the slowness and poppy ness of the wicket. The first of 2 key partnerships for Blackpool slowly began to build with Matthew Houston and Matthew Middlehurst (18) looking solid in defence against some good bowling and a helpful pitch with the ball to moving long after 20 overs. As Blackpool began to push on, Houston (13) was undone by a slow filthy full toss and miss hit it straight to the fielder.
Blackpool’s keeper Ben Howarth(4)tried to push things on before finding the fielder, which brought Conagh Griffin to the crease who went about his innings in his own way. With wickets falling, Conagh pulled off the shot of the day with a glorious straight six. With Blackpool now 85-9, the second key partnership between Griffin (17 not out) and Thomson (3 not out) accumulated 21 runs for the last wicket which helped Blackpool climb to 106 from there allotted overs. Thornton Cleveleys best bowler was M. Stuart who recorded figures of 8-4-18-3.
In the reply, Thornton also started slowly with some tight bowling from Houston and Thomson (4-2-9-0)as Thornton crept to 19 for 1 from 10 overs, Matthew Houston (8-1-15-1) taking a great caught and bowled chance to dismiss S. Bradshaw for 9. Matthew Middlehurst and Ash Moreau then combined well to restrict Thornton further, with Moreau bowling with great flight and pace, he bowled a miserly 8 over spell, to claim 3 wickets for 6 runs including 4 maidens, and also got the key wicket of Higson (5) who was run out backing up at the bowlers end. Middlehurst accounted for Williams (6). With the pitch getting no better to bat on, Thornton’s Josh Winter did his best by sticking out a patient knock of 2 from 26 balls before Moreau bowled him. Chris Baines (5-0-6-2) entered the attack and claimed the wickets of Willan (0) and Stuart (0) as Thornton’s middle order collapsed and were reduced to 31 for 7 from 25 overs. Some late resistant and good batting from Taylor Cornall did his best with a well made 14, before being last man out for 14 bowled by Dixon and Thornton being bowled out for 56 with Blackpool winning by 50 runs and to win the u15’s palace Shield trophy for a record 7th time.
The game was played at a good standard with some excellent bowling from both sides.
Matthew Middlehurst claimed man of the match, for his patient but needed knock of 18, and 7 well bowled overs including 3 maidens, 1 wicket for seven runs.
