Westgate denied in final over

Shireshead eventually came out on top after a tense low scoring game with Westgate at Cross Hill Park.
Shireshead batsman Danny Wilkinson.Shireshead batsman Danny Wilkinson.
Shireshead batsman Danny Wilkinson.

Batting first Shireshead made steady progress as Simon Gould and Joe Cunliffe added 22 for the first wicket.

When Gould was smartly stumped by Craig Buchanan, Danny Wilkinson (52) joined Cunliffe and took the score to 37 before A. Nisbet (3-8) removed Cunliffe with one that kept low.

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Wilkinson and Paul Yates added a further 34 as Shireshead ground out runs despite the variable bounce, Wilkinson reaching his 50 from 81 balls.

When Wilkinson departed the Shireshead innings lost its way a little and eventually ended on 122-9, Zac Buchanan (4 for 26) doing most of the damage.

Westgate’s reply began slowly, but three wickets in nine balls reduced them to 17-3 with Dave Jack (3-34) and James Rafferty (2-20) picking up a wicket each either side of a superb Rowan Upton run out.

Gary Tattersall and Alex Briggs (43) then put together the largest partnership of the innings as they took Westgate to 52 before Tattersall was undone by another one that kept low.

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Conroy came and went but Briggs and Craig Buchanan threatened to take control until Danny Wilkinson removed Briggs courtesy of a sharp slip catch by Simon Gould.

The remainder of the game became cat and mouse as Westgate inched towards their target, needing 15 from the last two overs with three wickets in hand, which became 10 required from the last over.

Jack bowled Buchanan with the first ball of the last over, and with six required to tie from the last ball a run out ensured Shireshead claimed 10 points for a winning draw as Westgate finished with four.