White Coppice slipped to a frustrating 28-run defeat to third-place Thornton Cleveley 3rd XI.
The main difference between the sides was a magnificent innings of 93 off 91 balls by Thornton’s opening bat Peter Elson.
To put his innings into some sort of context the next highest score in the match was just 29.
The highlight from a White Coppice perspective was skipper Jake Smalley, who finished with 5-39.
Earlier, Smalley had won the toss and in overcast conditions and decided to bowl first.
Ian Aldred took an early wicket but Elson combined with Andy Brown (28) to share a 98-run partnership for the second wicket and that proved crucial.
After 30 overs, the visitors were 130-2 but Elson’s dismissal triggered a collapse that saw them lose their last eight wickets for 45 runs.
Ibby Akram took a contender for catch of the season when he initially dropped Jude Elphick in the covers, only for the ball to lodge between his legs as he lay flat on his back.
As well as Smalley’s heroics, Ryan Adderley took 4-38, following last week’s six-wicket haul at Norcross and it was fitting that he took the catch that gave his fellow cricketing giant Smalley his first five-wicket haul for the club.
Coppice’s openers Bobby Wood and Chris Maguire shared an opening stand of 39 before Wood fell for 24.
The big talking point saw Maguire run out for 23. The veteran opener cut the ball down to third man and it appeared to go for four. However, the fielder than picked the ball up and said it hadn’t crossed the boundary and Maguire was run out going for a third run.
Speaking afterwards Maguire tried to defuse the situation: “I’ve been playing long enough to wait for the umpire’s decision but it appeared for the all the world like the fielder had stopped,” he said. “When the fielder picked up the ball to say it hadn’t crossed the boundary line I was run out by a direct hit.”
The dismissal saw three wickets fall for one run as Coppice slipped to 50-4 before Antony Dark hit a quickfire 20, with his latest two sixes taking his tally of sixes to the season to 23.
Ryan Adderley scored an unbeaten 29 off 80 balls but the fireworks came from last man Matt Tinsley, who clubbed 22 off 14 balls, including his second career six.
· White Coppice 2nds slipped to a 39-run defeat at Wyre 2nd despite a stellar performance by veteran wicketkeeper Paul Dobson. Both teams founding batting difficult with the crucial contribution coming from Wyre opener Tim Birtwistle, who hit 52 for his third successive half century. He was only player on either team to pass 20 and it was ultimately the difference between the two sides. Mike Houghton took 3-22 off eight overs, his first wickets for the club. The bowling effort was aided by six catches. Special mention for Paul Dobson behind the stumps who filled in admirably with two catches. There was a comical moment when the scorer shouted out for the catcher’s name and, for reasons known only to Akshit Jagnani, he shouted his own name! In reply Coppice slipped to 17-4, all from mistimed shots. Only Anoop Appu (17) found only fluency scoring wise. Adam Mannan (15) and Jithin Joseph (11) fought hard to keep things respectable and secure a batting bonus point.