Fielders have a bad day
11:38am Thursday 15th May 2008
CONGLETON 1st X1 were punished for poor bowling and fielding at Mere on Saturday.
The home side piled up 247 in 43 overs for the loss of seven wickets on the hottest day of the year.
When Aussie Jye Bailey was dismissed for 63 with the Congleton total on 139 it was clear they were not going to reach their target.
They batted on safely to earn a draw and 11 points.
Congleton won the toss, and put the home side in to bat on what proved to be the most docile pitch they are likely to come across all season.
A total of 441 runs were scored in the game for the loss of just 13 wickets.
Dave Elstein top scored for Mere with an excellent 119, but should never had reached that figure, being dropped on five occasions.
A partnership of 91 between Elstein and Cunningham (63) for the second wicket, and a further stand of 94 between Elstein and his brother Mark (32), saw Mere well on their way to a major total.
Congleton's bowling figures, apart from those of Arran Browe, did not make for pleasant reading.
Browe, with his occasional off spin, took the honours with five wickets for 52, and Congleton were left with 47 overs to seek an unlikely victory.
They needed a convincing start, but were two men down with the total in the 40s.
Adrian Dale (36) and Bailey took the score to 69 before Dale fell to a good catch at mid-on, which brought Paul Mitchell to the wicket.
He looked in good form, but fell for 14 in the 29th over with the score on 112.
With 18 overs left the game was in the balance, and swung Mere's way with the dismissal of Bailey.
Congleton needed to reach 170 to gain maximum batting points, and Paul Beaumont went for four 19 runs short of the target.
However Peter Jackson and John Copeland saw Congleton safely to the draw and full batting points.
Jackson ended unbeaten on 28, and Copeland was not out 26 as Congleton ended on 197 for six.
"This was a sterling performance from the two under-18 players, and showed that we have the depth in our batting needed to stay in the hunt for league honours," said club press officer Mike Kitton.
"However catching, bowling and ground fielding are as important as scoring runs, and these aspects of our game need to improve if games are to be won."
Congleton are at home to Ashley this Saturday.