1ST XI vs CHARLESWORTH (Away, 19th June) by James Wright
It was an unfamiliar feeling for the first eleven on Saturday, as they made the short journey to Charlesworth for their first game away from home this season. A combination of cancellations, rain-offs and fortunate cup draws meant that the lads had made it past the middle of June without having to travel for a match, but it did not seem to affect them…
Unfortunately, the change of scenery could not bring about a change in fortune at the toss, with Adderley again unable to score a win. The flat wicket and fine weather saw the home side opt to have a bat, and the OG bowling attack warmed up.
Adderley struck an immediate blow, removing Bardsley lbw with the first ball of the match. Joy was relatively short-lived for OG though, as Morley and Leech knuckled down and offered stiff resistance to the excellent start provided by the skipper in tandem with young Walsh. Both batters were quick to punish loose deliveries, and the score was nudging towards 40 when the next wicket fell, with Adderley again trapping Morley lbw for 17.
More relief was soon to follow as Walsh joined in the fun, the impressive Leech unable to resist a full delivery and finding Adderley at mid off, out caught for a well made 21.
With the score on 39 for 3, Allsopp and Littlewood were introduced and Old Glossop continued their onslaught. Both bowlers helping themselves to quick wickets as Charlesworth struggled against the accuracy of their bowling.
Littlewood in particular looked fired up against his old club, displaying the type of aggression normally reserved for his own team-mates, and he soon sent the stumps flying with three scalps, closely followed by a fourth thanks to a great catch from Jonny Wright at slip. Allsopp was also delivering at the other end, and Charlesworth were soon wilting at 89 for 9.
With only two wickets remaining, the OG bowlers were hungry for more, but Charlesworth had other ideas. Wardle and Wood combined to frustrate the visiting team, adding 53 runs for the last wicket. Runs came in numerous different ways, with Wardle in particular riding his luck. Allsopp finally struck the decisive blow, claiming the final wicket when Wardle was caught by Whitehouse at deep mid-wicket.
Wickets were again shared, with Allsopp claiming 3, Adderley 2, Walsh 1 and Littlewood the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 38.
The target was now set at 138 to win, and OG headed to the interval in confident mood.
However, their reply began in strange fashion, with Jonny Wright dismissed off the first ball of the innings only to gain a reprieve when the umpire signalled a no ball. He returned the favour five balls later though, giving Charlesworth a great start.
Joy, watching on from the other end, clearly decided that he was not going to wait around, and plundered the next over for ten runs. However, he soon fell for 12, and OG were facing a minor wobble when Whitehouse and Sagar came together at the crease at 17 for 2.
Whitehouse, the match-winner from last week, could add only three runs before he too perished, and McGrail knew that that there was no room for error when he joined Sagar. The new man settled into an unfamiliar support role, as Sagar took the lead, punishing poorer deliveries and dispatching them to the boundary. When McGrail fell for 12, they had pushed the score on to 74 for 4.
Adderley entered the fray and immediately followed Sagar’s lead, as he too began to find the boundary with some ease. Sagar moved on to 37 before he was sent packing, but Adderley looked in fine form and with the score on 111 for 5 he seemed confident of victory.
New batter Allen joined in the fun and he helped the skipper guide OG home with 23 overs to spare. Allen finished on 8 not out but all the plaudits went to Adderley, who was unbeaten on 40 in a fine captain’s innings.
The Old Glossop victory had been relatively comfortable, and further pressure was exerted on league rivals who were not playing this weekend.