3:54pm Monday 30th April 2012
After being very good last week at home to Chester Boughton Hall CC, Urmston showed the other side of their game by being very poor at Neston CC on Saturday. A frustrating lack of consistency cost the team dearly last season and this disappointing display will have supporters worried that they can expect more of the same in 2012. A ten wicket defeat and no points on their visit to The Wirral was a chastening experience for Sumit Panda's young team.
It was undoubtedly a good toss to win at an overcast Parkgate as the wicket was offering a great deal for the bowlers early on but that doesn't really excuse a dismal collective batting performance from the top order where too many batsmen were guilty of contributing to their own downfalls. Nick Fawcett, Chris Watson, Lewis Jackson and Sumit Panda all played poor shots and only Adam Landry of the top order can count himself unlucky after being bowled by a great ball from veteran former Cheshire seamer, Chris Finnegan.
At least UGS 6th former Jackson could hold his head high after his skilful and patient 47 had held the innings together whilst wickets tumbled at the other end. When Jackson departed the lower order collapsed as occasional spinner Chris Hackett picked up an unlikely 4/14 off 14 overs. Urmston's score of 114 looked a good 50 runs short of a challenging total on a wicket that had eased a little as it dried out.
There are two ways to approach chasing down a low score on a challenging wicket. You can occupy the crease and grind it out or you can attempt a smash and grab attack and try to win quickly. Neston opted for the latter as they sent out the big hitting Hackett in an unaccustomed role of opener. The tactic paid off spectacularly as Hackett smashed the Urmston attack to all parts hitting six 6s in a 46-ball knock of 94 not out as Neston romped to a ten-wicket win with more than 40 overs to spare.
This was a hugely disappointing performance from Urmston and they will hope to make amends over the coming weeks and have the first chance to put it right this Saturday with the visit of last year's National T20 Finalists and Cheshire Cup Winners Hyde CC to The UCG, stumps at 12.30pm.
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