Cheshire scrape consolation win

Cheshire debutant Rob Woolley took a wicket and hit the winning runs © David Bailey

Cheshire finished their MCCA Knockout Trophy campaign with a consolation victory in their last match against Bedfordshire, who had qualified for the quarter-finals.

Captain Andy Hall and his side held their nerve to clinch a fine two-wicket win over the Group One winners at Marple Cricket Club.

An impressive bowling performance saw Bedfordshire restricted to just 160, but the hosts made difficult work of their reply, scraping home with eight wickets down.

Warren Goodwin scored a vital 43, while debutant Rob Woolley hitting the winning runs.

Having won the toss Hall was delighted to have asked the visitors to bat first as Bedfordshire slumped to 34 for five.

But a sixth-wicket partnership of 62 and a seventh-wicket partnership of 43 saw the batting side recover to post 160 all out in 48.5 overs.

Bowdon seamer Adam Syddall was the pick of Cheshire's bowlers with an excellent 4-31 return from 10 overs, while Alderley Edge all-rounder Jason Whittaker impressed with 3-19 from 10 unchanged overs.

Hyde all-rounder Woolley also took a wicket, while club teammate Daniel Berry, who claimed a wicket with his off-spin, and a run out from James Duffy helped Cheshire restrain Bedfordshire.

However, after a good start which saw openers Goodwin and Rick Moore put on 43 for the first wicket, Cheshire lost five wickets for there next 34 runs and were in trouble at 80 for five.

But from 147 for eight Berry (17 not out) and Woolley (six not out) saw Cheshire home with five balls to spare, the debutant smashing a straight six to make sure of victory.

Chester Boughton Hall's Goodwin top-scored with 43, skipper Hall weighed in with an important 24, while Bramhall teammate Matt Dawson contributed 20.

"It was good to get a win, Bedfordshire are a good side. But we did make life hard for ourselves," reflected Cheshire team manager Sandy Scrimgeour.

"We had a really good start with the ball and came good after they recovered, but again we had a middle order collapse. We need to cut that out.

"But overall it was a good performance to restrict Bedfordshire to 160 and then chase down the runs after we'd lost a few quick wickets."