Cheshire County Cricket Club 2018 50 over trophy win is season highlight

Cheshire County Cricket Club 2018
       50 over trophy win is season highlight
It was a Wormsley trip to remember as Cheshire finally picked up the
Unicorns’ KO Trophy, 11 years on from defeat last time round at Lords.

For those of us lucky enough to watch the pulsating final against Devon,
it more than compensated for defeat in the T20 finals two days earlier.
                                                                             Danny Woods accepts
                                                                             his bowler of the year
A game that had everything went to the wire with some outstanding            award from Cheshire
performances from Rick Moore’s men.                                          CCC President, David
                                                                             Sharp at Alderley
                                                                             Edge.
The win capped a transitional season with many positives. Two captains
led our sides – Rick Moore for the one-day games and Danny Leach led         His final season saw
                                                                             him take 30 wickets in
the Championship team. Each outstanding in their leadership.                 four Championship
                                                                             matches.
Our Championship performances were up and down and saw us snatch             Since his debut in 2006
defeat from the jaws of victory on more than one occasion, but it was        (capped in 2012),
pleasing to finally end the season with that elusive win as we cruised       Danny has taken 264
                                                                             wickets at an average
past Herefordshire at Alderley Edge.                                         of 19.83. His best
                                                                             bowling was 9-74 and
                                                                             he took five wickets
Many thanks as ever to all concerned – on and off the pitch – who made       plus on 21 occasions.
it a real season to remember for our senior and academy side.
                                                                             We wish Danny well as
                                                                             he focuses on his
We celebrated our annual awards during the last game at Alderley,            teaching career in
reflecting on the ‘retirement’ of Danny Woods who has served his             Yorkshire and
                                                                             continues to play club
county with great distinction since 2006. Danny appeared in 53               cricket.
Championship games, taking five wickets or more 21 times.

We recognised too other individual successes that had contributed so
much and the emergence of players such as Simon Normanton who
represented his county for the first time this year and became vital to us
in all forms of the game.

Winter well and we look forward to ‘going again’ 2019.

David Bailey, Chairman Cheshire County Cricket Club

Championship review

Fifth position doesn’t tell the fully story...
Shropshire CCC v Cheshire CCC at Shifnal CC, 24,25,26 June 2018
Shropshire 276 and 325 beat Cheshire 346 and 89. Shropshire won by 166 runs.
In a great position to push for victory, Cheshire folded to a 166 run defeat in their opening
game. With the hard work done, Cheshire were set 256 to win but surrendered to 89 all out.

Cheshire fielded five debutants and pegged Shropshire back to 276 (Wayne White 4-59) and
grabbed a 70 run lead with Simon Normanton (91) and Sam Perry (71) adding 149 for the
seventh wicket. This after Furqan Shafiq had hit a maiden 50. But it all went wrong for
Cheshire chasing 256.

Wales MC v Cheshire CCC at Abergavenny CC, 8,9,10 July 2018
Cheshire 415-7 & 243-6 dec, Wales MC 160 & 331-8. Match drawn
Cheshire ruled the roost needing eight wickets on the last day as the game went to the wire.

They piled on 415-7 with Furqan Shafiq scoring his maiden Cheshire 100, Danny Leech made
65 and Will Evans added a flamboyant 73. A wilting Welsh side fell to 24-6 scraping
eventually to 160 (Ben Aitchison 4-34,Wayne White 3-40).

243-6 declared included 98 from Callum Rowe and set Wales MC an unlikely 499. But they
dug deep against some excellent bowling from White who managed 53 overs in the game,
and from Normanton (3-109). Cheshire couldn’t force the win, Wales MC ending eight
down.

Cheshire CCC v Dorset CCC at Nantwich CC,22,23,24 July 2018
Cheshire 375-7, Dorset 211 & 312-8. Match drawn
Recalled left armer Danny Woods had an instant impact grabbing match figures of 9-182.

Danny Leech's finely crafted 112 and Furqan Shafiq’s classy 63 set a platform for big hitting
Will Evans to blast 71 and Simon Normanton (37*) to build a commanding 375-7.

Cheshire then reduced Dorset to 211 (Woods 4-66, Wayne White 3-47, Chris Charles 3-50).

Leech enforced the follow-on with Dorset 164 behind but were thwarted as the visitors saw
through a rain affected last day, Woods taking 5-116.

Cheshire’s Danny Woods, Furqan Shafiq and skipper Danny Leech...

Championship review

Records fall and a win in season finale ...
Cornwall CCC v Cheshire CCC at Truro CC, 5,6,7 August 2018
Cornwall 245 and 285 beat Cheshire 232 and 223. Cornwall won by 75 runs.
This was a long trip but Cheshire looked well set for a 299 run chase on the last day, and at
103-1, looked favourites. Then a flurry of wickets including six lbws saw them fall short as
spin ruled the roost.

Wayne White took 5-78 on a tiring first day and Cheshire rallied well to respond to fall just
13 short of Cornwall’s first innings total with Will Evans making 47. A frustrating day in the
field saw Danny Woods take five wickets but ultimately, despite 64 each from Rick Moore
and White, Cheshire slipped to defeat.

Cheshire CCC v Berkshire CCC at Chester Boughton Hall CC, 19,20,21 August 2018
Cheshire 254 and 99, Berkshire 148 and 208-7. Berkshire won by 3 wickets.
This really was the ‘one that got away’ as Cheshire had the ultimate 2018 Unicorns’
champions over the coals for much of the game.

A second day batting collapse turned things the visitor’s way after Cheshire led on first
innings by 106 after Rick Moore had made 68 and Simon Normanton 55. Danny Woods as
ever had taken 5-39.

All out for just 99 second time round, Cheshire bounced back to a degree, taking seven
Berkshire wickets but experience prevailed, and the unbeaten leaders took the points.

Cheshire CCC v Herefordshire CCC at Alderley Edge CC, 2,3,4 September 2018
Cheshire 502-8 dec, Herefordshire 205 and 137. Cheshire won by an innings and 160 runs.
A win at last as records tumbled.

Furqan Shafiq hit 207 and Jamie Crawley 173 in a record 339 fourth wicket
partnership. Rick Moore opened with 52 and spectators were seeking cover
all around the ground.

Herefordshire stumbled as they followed on after Danny Woods took 3-66,
Simon Normanton 3-47 and Moore 3-42. The second dig wasn’t much better with
Normanton capping an outstanding first Cheshire season with 5-43.

Records fly as Furqan Shafiq and Jamie Crawley add 339 for the fourth wicket, Simon
Normanton mops up and Danny Woods leaves the pitch for the last time…

One day finals – Wormsley

KO Trophy and T20 Finals at Wormsley...
KO Trophy Final: Cheshire 248-7, Devon 246-9. Cheshire won by 2 runs.

A terrific game of cricket gave Cheshire their first KO Trophy final win for 22 years.

It all boiled down to a tense last over with Devon needing seven to win and Wayne White using all
his experience, conceding just four runs to see Rick Moore's side home. This after Simon Normanton
had swung the game Cheshire's way with an outstanding 4-21.

Batting first Cheshire got off to a flyer as a hobbling Will Evans (45) and Calum Rowe (58) added 77
for the first wicket. Luke Robinson added 31 before the innings meandered and just when Cheshire
looked like posting a below par score, Ed Fluck added 54 to end on 248-7.

Devon looked in control at 115-1 but the game turned dramatically with Normanton joining the
attack. Devon were reeling at 133-5 but fought back, eventually needing 26 from three, then 14
from two.

So it came down to that final over and White having to dig deep. Cue the celebrations as Simon
Normanton took the man of the match award.

T20 semi-final win but final disappointment
After an exhilarating semi-final, Cheshire were undone by a vibrant Berkshire side.

After a day of rain, the rescheduled day was played out in front of a big crowd with Rick Moore's
side setting the pace as they blasted their way past Norfolk.

76 from Will Evans and an unbeaten 74 from Luke Robinson with Ed Fluck adding 30 saw boundaries
blazing around the Paul Getty estate in a commanding total of 202-2, reminiscent of Cheshire's final
innings the last time the competition was played in 2015.

Norfolk struggled in a reply of 156-7, Rick Moore taking 2-22 and a wicket each for Wayne White,
Jack White, Ash Davies and Jack Williams.

Berkshire blew Devon away in the other semi to set up the showcase final where it was tough going.
Cheshire mustered just 130 against the Berkshire spin, Wayne White making 36 and Robinson
28. Berkshire cantered home to win the trophy by six wickets.

The One Day Story…

Cheshire’s Rick Moore, Will Evans and Wayne White – inspirational throughout…

The season started with T20 double headers at Toft, where Cheshire easily disposed of
Cumberland in both games and Knypersley where they lost and won one. In the runs were
Will Evans (59), Ed Fluck (58*), Wayne White (53). Jack White, Simon Normanton and Nick
Anderson shone with the ball.

A loss and defeat followed against in low scoring games with Northumberland at Marple.
Martyn East hit 39, Ash Davis conceded just six runs from four overs and Mark Bennet
grabbed 2-28.

Lincolnshire at Bourne also saw a win and defeat. Wayne White made 61, Anderson 44, Jack
White and Luke Robinson got wickets. An agonising wait followed before Cheshire were
confirmed group winners and play on Finals Day against Norfolk (winner v Devon or
Berkshire in the final).

50 over game sees wins against Cumberland, Lincolnshire and Shropshire

A close call to start at Oxton where Cheshire got home by three runs against Cumberland.
Rick Moore made 81, Wayne White 49 in 219-7. Ross Dixon (4-40) and Simon and
Normanton (1-39) put the brakes on the visitor’s charge.

A hugely entertaining quarter final at Chester Boughton Hall saw Will Evans smash Cheshire
records with a stunning 183 (nine sixes and 14 fours) – an individual record and a team
record with a 374-6 total. Luke Robinson took 3-41 as Cheshire romped home by 129 runs.

Semi-final day at Bridgnorth was one-sided as Cheshire amassed 254-9 (Moore 69,
Normanton 39) having been 81-5. Jack White (4-29), Jack Williams (3-40) and Normanton (2-
41) swept up in a 123 run win.

Onwards to two finals – and a logistical nightmare of two games across a week.

Full match scorecards and reports for all games at cheshireccc.org

      abnutrition.com                                           nantwichcheese.co.uk

Cheshire CCC Awards 2018

Congratulations to our 2018 award winners:
Danny Woods (bowling), Calum Rowe (fielding), Furqan Shafiq (batting) Simon Normanton (Sandy
Scrimgeour Trophy).

Cheshire Academy 2018
Another successful year with Stewart Macleod at the helm. Overall his side
played seven different teams at two different lengths of game, making it five at
50/50 and four at 20/20 In the 50 over games three were won and two lost; in
the 20 over games one was won and three lost.

Individual Performances

Albert Pennington 83, Greg Gyves 68, Alex Banks 56*, Owen Feakes 50.

Nick Atkinson 5-18, Jack Needham 4-20, Harry Killoran 4-23.

Sam Johnson and Harry Killoran captained the side and there were many good close games,
but the highlight was beating a strong MCC team with a lot of experience.

Stewart’s full report and analysis is on our website.

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