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Salfords entertained Old Woking and completed a league double in a thrilling game.
Asked to bat first in difficult conditions salfords found batting very hard against good tight bowling and lost two early wickets and after 22 overs had limped to just 44-2. John Musk (34) and Graeme Steward (18) increased the tempo but when they fell in quick sucession and then in form Tony Palmer went for a duck salfords after 30 overs were 93-5. The lower middle order decided attack was the best policy and it paid off as Wallace (26) Brett Atkinson (20) and Paul Weller (25) launched some big shots Weller hitting 3 huge sixes and salfords closed on 174 All Out. The salfords new ball attack of Weller 0-30 and steward 0-25 failed to make an early breakthrough although Weller was very unfortunate not to pick up a wicket or two. Palmer 1-32 broke the opening stand when Lambert edged through to keeper Mark Wood who took a fine low catch down by his ankles. At 98-1 Old Woking looked hot favourites to push on far a win but a double bowling change saw spinner Lancaster 4-48 and captain Besley each take a wicket in succesive overs and woking were 98-3 with two new batsman at the crease. Lancaster knocked over two more batsman to leave the visitors 118-5 but number 4 Collin who was dropped in the slips on nought was looking very dangerous. At 142-5 Woking were now looking favourites but salfords unleased big zimbabwian Brett Atkinson 2-15 who bowled with real fire and pace and clean bowled two batsman and from the other end Lancaster took his fourth wicket and as the game entered the final over woking were 168-8 needing 7 to win with number 4 Collin still there on 29. A cracking atmosphere had built up with the returning second team after their win at westcott adding to the crowd as captain Besley 3-7 brought himself on to bowl the final over. The first ball brought the wicket of the number ten batsman as he skied one to mid wicket where Harrington took a difficult catch but the batsman had crossed allowing the in form batsman to face. The next ball was played and missed but then victory came to salfords as Besley produced a beauty to remove the off stump to spark wild celebrations. Salfords remain over 100 points clear with 5 games to go. |
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