Replay success for Uppermill

UPPERMILL celebrate the wicket of Peter Gill.

CRICKET: UPPERMILL edged a tense affair to clinch a four-wicket home victory over Greenfield in the replayed Tanner Cup semi-final.

The match had to be repeated after Greenfield - who won the first encounter - were found to have insufficient documents to allow for a stand-in pro.

On this occasion the visitors were dismissed for 169 before a topsy-turvy reply saw the hosts needing 26 from six overs, when a six and a four from skipper Alex Griffiths’s first two shots tipped the balance.

Uppermill won the toss and put their opponents in to bat first.

Chris Gill went for a duck on the second delivery of the day from Matty Taylor, gratefully received by wicketkeeper Griffiths.

Alex Peters followed for nine and when Adam Heys went for 17, Greenfield found themselves on 42 for three.

Jones claimed the wicket of Peter Gill, who had mustered 20 as his side recovered to put 92 on the board, Griffiths again collecting behind the stumps.

But a Peter Ward duck off Jones, this time caught by Nathan Boot, and three from Mike Moore, Andrew McVeigh collecting Jones’ delivery, put the visitors on a far-from-idea 104 for six.

Top-scorer Ryan Fitton nicked James Baron to Griffiths when he was just one run short of a half-century.

Baron claimed the wicket of J Khalil for just six, Mark Lees providing the catch, prior to Michael Brooks dismissing captain John Ainley for 19 via a one-handed take by Matt Jackson.

James Hepworth was last to fall after a brave 31, Baron gathering Brooks’ delivery.

Chasing a target of 170, the hosts lost Mark Berry for seven, Chris Gill taking Heys’ teaser, and when McVeigh followed for 23, caught Heys bowled Peter Gill, Uppermill stood on 43 for two.

Nathan Boot was next to go and Jackson was the only man clean bowled in the contest, Heys doing the damage, before a moment of magic.

Baron, on 48 and attempting a six, saw his shot caught by the outstretched hands of Mike Moore right on the boundary ropes, to set up a grandstand finish on 122 for five.

Wood and Taylor put on 30 before Peter Ward’s delivery was collected by wicketkeeper Chris Gill to clinch the wicket of Wood.

Taylor was joined at the crease by Griffiths, whose two boundaries took Uppermill to the brink before Taylor reached 22 not out by hitting the winning four, much to the delight of the home crowd.