Impressive Rafferty bags eight (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Impressive Rafferty bags eight

9:34am Friday 7th September 2007

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CHAMPIONS versus champions elect proved something of a damp squib for the fans at Queens Park. As in the Bank Holiday game at Milnthorpe, Windermere were shot out for a sub-par score, this time 82.

*Windermere..............82 - Warton....................84-2...

The home batsmen were undone by the accuracy of Darren Nelson (2-34) and the pace of James Rafferty, who impressed as he has all season and was only slightly flattered by figures of 8-41.

Only Sam Fletcher (23) was able to withstand the onslaught for long, and with the start brought forward to 1.30pm tea came early.

Warton found little difficulty in reaching their target for the loss of two wickets. Liam Price bowled a tidy spell of five overs, but an out of sorts Nick Lewthwaite came off after two, to be replaced by brother Mike, who provided comic relief by trapping Tony Barrow (20) lbw with a long hop that was on its way down by the time it reached the bemused batsman.

Thereafter home supporters averted their eyes as Windermere were put to the sword. By having him caught at mid-wicket, at least Mike Lewthwaite prevented victorious Warton skipper Neil Jones (32) celebrating his triumph while still at the crease.

Westgate........218-6dec - *Milnthorpe...........140-5...

WESTGATE got off to a flier at Milnthorpe, 50 runs coming off seven overs before Dickinson snared both openers in the same over, leaving the scored a little more respectable at 52-2.

However, mighty hitting from Lord (64) and Wilkinson (36) kept the scoring rolling along and with Hughes adding a quickfire 32, Westgate declared on 218-6 in the 40th over.

On a lovely batting wicket, Westgate still required an early breakthrough and despite Chris Baldwin taking 12 off Wilkinson's first over he went on to remove the top three batsmen in his first six overs.

Wills and Bowman handled the attack with little trouble until Wills was out in the 45th over for a steady 52. Bowman saw Milnthorpe through to the draw to finish unbeaten on 43, with Milnthorpe on 140-5.

*Shireshead..........191-6 - Arnside....................135...

SHIRESHEAD reduced Warton's lead to six points when they beat Arnside at Forton on Saturday. Michael Armstrong (71) and Rahil Shah (18) gave Shireshead 51 from 12 overs before Rob Shepherd (4-92) dismissed Shah.

Colin Twiname then added 73 with Armstrong, who pleasingly rediscovered his mid-season form. Hitting the ball fluently, he scored four fours in one over and 11 in all in a 94 ball innings. Phil Oliver (13) was promoted to number four, but it was Twiname who found the boundary regularly in a 42-run partnership.

With Hodgson taking 2-9 from three overs, only 26 runs were scored from the last seven overs with Twiname finishing on 66 not out from 90 balls, including ten fours.

Arnside went for the win, with Mark Richardson (37) punishing width. Shah (4-39) took two early wickets and, after Richardson was dismissed, Darren Barber (28) dug in.

David Carter (5-44) removed him lbw and promptly ripped through the middle-order, finding turn and bounce to assist him on the arid surface.

Jason Walton made a pugnacious 23, but there were three overs left when Shah took the final wicket, Armstrong holding a good catch.

Bolton-le-Sands..103 - *Kirkby Lonsdale 104-9...

A DING-dong battle of a match that could have a big say on who plays first division cricket next season was fought out at Lunefield Park on Saturday.

Batting first, Sands were left a dismayed 4-3 after four overs as Darren Troughton (2-26) and Colin Johnson (2-19) struck in a hostile opening spell.

Although Rob Clarkson (19) steadied the ship, when he departed Sands slipped to 44-6. J. White (34) and T.

Millett (18no) added 43, but Tim Kerr (2-15) broke the stand and Sands closed on 103 all out.

Kirkby's reply started almost as badly as they stood at 32-4. Once again Phil Pease (48) played superbly to take the score forward, but lost partners along the way. At 65-6 Steve Troughton (18no) joined him and they took Kirkby to the brink of victory. But at 91 Clarkson (6-31) bowled Pease and then added two more wickets to leave Kirkby at 91-9.

Last man in Colin Johnson joined Troughton and they put on 13 for the last wicket to give Kirkby 12 points and a lifeline to stay in the first division next term. The performance had spectators on their feet at the end of a match neither side deserved to lose.

Tower Shield ...

*Milnthorpe...........173-6 - Warton.......................84...

MILNTHORPE 's Mike Wills in full flow has to be one of the most impressive batsmen in the league to watch.

Two big sixes and an array of shots brought him a well-deserved 50 in this semi-final and, with S. Dixon also hitting a half-century, the pair put on 108 to enable Milnthorpe to reach 173-6.

Warton wilted under the pressure against a bowling attack without Bob Baldwin.

Naylor, promoted for the day from the second team, had danger man Bovis caught and bowled. The pain did not stop there as Mike Curran produced one of the best spells in cup cricket this season, taking six wickets for seven runs off 5.1 overs.

Warton were all out for 84 - a result which may weigh on their minds come September 15 when the two sides meet in the last league game of the year.

Woodbridge and Mounsey Cup final...

THE fourth division cup produced one of the tightest finals in recent years. Inserted on a damp wicket at hospitable Arnside, Bentham were struggling on 107-7 after 20 overs when Phil Carter decided to chance his arm in the last four overs and took the score to 165-8.

In reply Cartmel made a steady start and were always there or thereabouts with the run-rate. They went into the last over needing seven to win with a couple of wickets in hand, but just failed to make the target, losing their last wicket on the last ball and failing by two runs.

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