A cloudy but dry start to Sunday (17th May) morning brought hope that possibly a full days cricket could be played. Even up to the meet time, the heavy rain which was forcast was holding off. At the club 3X1 captain Andy Heaver looking like Lance Armstrong gave the team a quick brief on Rochdale, the ground and saying how Matt Walsh the stand in skipper for the day would struggle to hit boundary’s as the ground was so big. This would come back to haunt him.
The boys loaded up the cars and got ready to go in convoy although the only 2 people who knew where we were going, Andy Jones and Andy Heaver, were nowhere to be seen.
All I could think of was that Jones must have left his sunglasses at home and Heaver was too busy pumping up his tyres ready for the “Tour De Rochdale.”
A good start to the day then and it got better as soon as we hit the motorway. What little sun was around vanished, the clouds darkened and torrential rain followed. My positive vibes which I had in the morning were now hanging by a thread.
We all turned up to the ground with the exception of Heaver who at this time was probably swimming the first stage through Prestwich village thinking to himself that this wasn’t one of his best decisions he’s ever made.
Much to the delight of the boys the rain cleared and the chance even to start on time was looking possible. A quick warm up which included, changing room, 1 hand 1 bounce, a few catching drills and a pitch inspection by Andy Jones or was it Mary Poppins I couldn’t quite see as his umbrella was covering the square, and the team was ready.
Skipper Walsh lost the toss and it was no suprise that we had been put into bat. Matt broke the news that the the game was starting at 2:15 rather than 2:00 due to the weather and that the overs had been reduced to 43 instead of 45.
Out stepped Adam Cheshire and Jack Scargill to open the batting for the team. It was obvious is wasn’t going to be a batter’s paradise out in the middle but the 2 started confidently against an all medium pace attack.
Staying around and being patient was the key and together Cheshire and Scargill played themselves in and started to build a partnership. Runs came in mainly 1’s but on few times both batters beat the first line of fielders and due to the size of the pitch they only picked up 2’s where as normally on other pitches it would be 4 everytime.
There was a couple of 4’s and one I do remember which at the time was my shot of the day was when Cheshire was quick on a short delivery and he despatched it with a great hook shot leaving square leg still planted as the ball shot over the rope.
After 10 overs the team were 16-0 and although this doesn’t sound much, it was, both players had now played themselves in and were looking solid giving no chances away.
The pace was doubled by the time the game reached 20 overs, we were now 48-0 with both batters virtually scoring the same amount of runs. The home side made it tough for our boys giving not one extra away which was remarkable due to the conditions although they did miss the chance of catching Scargill behind. A thickish edge seemed to be caught by the keeper until a change of direction made a straight forward catch go begging.
The boys battled on until a change of bowling slowed the already slow game right down and Scargill who was on 29 couldn’t resist the temptation of putting the ball back over the bowler’s head he pulled off a flop shot Phil Mickleson would have been proud off, which set the ball off high in the sky and straight down mid off’s throat.
58-1 then, a great knock from Scargill and his job was more than done.
James Wharmby stepped out in to the middle and like Scargill and Cheshire instantly took to the difficult pitch and carried on where Scargill had left off. The 2 didn’t put on many more to the score when Cheshire who I think was missing his mate Scargill was caught leaving Prestwich on 63-2.
This wicket brought Rochdale right back in the game and they were going to get back in it even more when yours truly left the balcony for the pitch.
I walked on the pitch, had a quick check with Cheshire on anything I needed to know and walked over to the square. I remember looking at the pitch an thought how well the lads had done to get us a start. I thought I was on the 13th at Heaton Park pitch and putt. The track was covered in pitch marks from crease to crease. I thought about doing a bit of prodding and tapping but I don’t think Alan Titchmarsh could of done anything.
You might be thinking I’m making an excuse for my batting display but I’m not, just giving my account of the conditions and how well our openers had done to get so many runs on the board.
A change of bowling brought 2 spinners to either end. The bowler from the pavillion end must take a while to get loose because every ball I was getting was a half tracker. I resisted temptation although I did get off the mark with a baseball type shot if any Yankie scouts were watching.
The next over and another spinner, again a couple of blocks until the dreaded baseball shot came out again, I got a top edge and the ball went straight up in the air, I looked up and called for the run. I was running down the wicket with my eye’s fixed to the ball. It seemed to be in slow motion, I reached the other end, put my head down again and came face to face with James Wharmy.
Knowing I didn’t seem to be in the best of touches and that the shot deserved a wicket I turned around and attempted to get back to the other crease. I took at least 2 strides until the wicket keeper took off the bails and I could make my way back to the pavillion for 1 with the team 69-3.
From such a good start we were starting to struggle but up stepped skipper Matt Walsh.
With Andy Heavy now present on the balcony looking like a drowned rat and with his early comments about the size of the ground and for it being hard to hit boundaries I thought Matt would play like the first 3 batters. This was very much not the case.
2 or 3 blocks and Matt declared himself in. The ball from here on in was sky bound. Matt must not of liked the scorer form pevious years gone by or the way the score box sat well within the ground because he was using it as target practise.
On 4 occasions he smashed the ball over mid on (cow corner) for 6. The scoreboard was on overtime as Prestwich lept to 105-3 of 35 overs.
James at the other end supported Walshy brilliantly looking more and more confident not giving any chances away. As the team started to take control of the game the heavens opened and the rain came down.
The covers came on and an early tea was declared. The rain showed no sign off stopping and just after tea both captains shaked hands and the match was officially abandoned.
It was a shame for the boys because they worked so hard to put the runs on the board and I honestly think we had a good chance to go on and get the victory.
So the points were shared between the teams both of which I predict to be in the top 4 come the end of the season.
