VIDARBHA’S talented all-rounder Atharva Taide hammered a hundred and took three wickets as Lancaster Cricket Club scored a huge 71-run win over Longridge Cricket Club in Division One match of Northern Premier Cricket League at Newsham Memorial Cricket Ground in England. Riding on Taide’s brilliant 114, Lancaster posted 193 before being all out in 47.1 overs. In reply, Longridge innings folded at a mere 122 in 41 overs. Lancaster off-spinner Ben Simm (15-7-35-5) and left-arm orthodox Taide (13-6-23-3) ran through the innings sharing much of the spoils. Electing to bat first, Lancaster lost their opener Lewis McGinley without scoring and that brought their overseas professional Taide at the crease in the first over itself. On difficult batting conditions, the stylish Taide scored his runs from 80 balls, smashing ten fours and seven huge sixes. He got little support from the other end. Laurie Atkinson and Simm were the only batters to score in double digits with both contributing an identical 20.

 

For Longridge, Daniel Wilson (15-3-53-5) returned with a five-wicket haul while new ball bowler Jonathan Millward (15-4-62-3) chipped in with three wickets. Longridge were given a decent start by openers Luke Platt (44) and Joshua Mullin (20) but after they were dismissed by Taide and Simm respectively, none of the batters could stay long. Captain Nick Wilkinson (20 not out) delayed the inevitable as all the eight batsmen failed to reach in double figures. Brief scores: Lancaster CC 193 all out in 47.1 overs (A Taide 114; Daniel Wilson 5-53) beat Longridge CC 122 all out in 41 overs (Luke Platt 44; Simm 5-35, Taide 3-23) by 71 runs. Lancaster collected 15 points from the game while Longridge three. Kale shines but Wem lose CITY’S Mohit Kale top-scored with a half century and took one wicket for Wem Cricket Club but found himself on the losing side in their Premier Division Two match of Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League against Kenilworth Wardens Cricket Club at Wem Cricket Club ground.

 

Chasing Wem’s 209 all out in 54.3 overs, Kenilworth scored 210-7 in 52 overs winning by three wickets. Put into bat, Wem lost opener Sam Peate for nought. One-down Kale (59; 60b, 10x4) joined stumper Harry Chandler (38; 45b, 7x4) and the duo took the team to 71 when the latter was dismissed. Kale, in company of next man Matthew Cohen (22; 82b, 4x4) took the team past hundred (118) before the former’s run a ball knock was cut short as he was run out. Craig Heath made 24 hitting two fours and a six while the rest just could not contribute much. Kenilworth’s Tommy Rex and Tom Mordey picked three wickets apiece. Kenilworth did not have best of the starts and were soon two down for 16. But Ali Zaryab Asif (66; 91b, 3x4, 2x6) played a waiting game and was well supported by tailenders Andrew Leering (46*; 58b, 5x4) and Josh Baker (30*; 18b, 3x4, 1x6) who saw the team home. Wem’s Andrew Harrison, Dan Cohen and Ben Peel all picked two wickets each while offie Kale chipped in with one wicket for 44 runs from his ten overs. In their next game, Wem take on Oswestry on June 12.