Unbeaten Weekend for the Jets

With the truncated 2020 season meandering to a close, the Jets delivered back-to-back unbeaten weekends as they look to finish in style. The 2ndXI remain in pole position for a league title whilst the other senior teams are all well positioned for positive finishes in the upper echelons of their respective league tables.

Langley v 1stXI

A positive display from a developmental 1stXI saw the Jets make all the running away to Langley, narrowly failing to force a win as the hosts insisted on the draw cricket format. A fourth-wicket partnership of 90 between Andrew Clarke (62) and John Westerby (43) was the standout, helping post 174-8 as the side again benefitted from keeping wickets in hand to accelerate in the final overs. The similarities with last week’s win at Hawk Green ended there though as the second innings presented a new challenge.

Whether by accident or design, the Langley innings never got into gear as messrs Carson, Williams and Henderson combined to bowl 24 overs without conceding a single boundary. It meant the Jets had to force the issue as the hosts were trapped in a defensive mindset, something which made it tough going on a typically slow September wicket that required some intent from the opposition to help generate wicket-taking opportunities.

The introduction of the part-time spin of teenagers Saul Gould (2-50) and Will Westerby (1-10), the latter on debut, helped breathe some life into the innings. Smart catches from Danny Williams, John Westerby and Andy Heath kept the chance of a positive result alive but a couple of half-chances going to ground and the dreaded return of wickets from no-balls allowed the home side to sneak to survival at 104-8.

Scorecard

2ndXI v Langley

London Road hosted its final game of 2020 with the 2ndXI welcoming Langley for the reverse fixture. Invited to bat first, Matt Wragg (40) hit out effectively in his typical style but when he was bowled looking to add to his boundary count the scoreboard soon slipped to 45-5. Lower order contributions from Jimmy Williams, Matt Mullany and Joe Rooney helped restore some pride but it was a below par effort from the Jets, bowled out for 124 inside 34 overs.

No side has made more than 105 against the 2ndXI this year though and Langley were soon in all kinds of trouble against the old heads of Simon Hare (3-11) and Jimmy Williams (3-17). The inform Jack Parkey (3-14) also added a trio of his own wickets, despite seeing one delivery launched over the road. Only a partnership of 29 for the 9th wicket made any kind of impact on the scoreboard as the 2ndXI retained top spot and a 100% record with two weeks remaining in the season.

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Bowdon Vale v 3rdXI

Stand-in skipper Adam Burgess took the 3rdXI to Bowdon Vale where his bowlers backed his decision to take to the field. Chris Taylor (5-11) bowled with such vim and vigour on his way to a maiden five-wicket haul for the Jets that he even broke his boot in the process. At one stage Taylor had the home side 2-4 and in the end it was a short day’s work for the Jets even though they lost five wickets in responding to the host’s eventual 55 all-out.

North East also found batting a struggle in slipping to 24-4. Juniors Rory Caine (21) and Ed Parkinson (16*) batted with great maturity though to take the 3rdXI to the brink of victory before the former was unfortunately run out. The game was wrapped up by 3:30 to set up a return to Styal next week, a fixture upon which a potential top three finish hinges and where the side have something to prove after their first encounter. 

Scorecard

Woodley v 4thXI

Sunday cricket wrapped up for 2020 in fine style as the 4thXI completed a league double over Woodley. The Jets batted positively to post 154-8 from their 30 over allocation, seven batsmen making double figures but with no major individual contribution as Matt Mullany top-scored with an unbeaten 29*.

In reply the bowling was controlled rather than incisive and with a real end-of-season flavour as nine different bowlers were utilised. They managed just four wickets in addition to a run-out, but it was still a comfortable defence of the target as Woodley closed at 122-5 with opener Bamford carrying his bat for an undefeated 70*.

Scorecard