Lowerhouse v Todmorden (Twenty20 Group Match)

Lowerhouse edged out Todmorden on Friday night to keep their semi final aspirations in tact.

Despite a consistent drizzle, the game started on time with the visitors batting first and while they were scoring runs at a decent rate, they just couldn’t stop losing wickets. Sim0n Newbitt (7) was first to go, bowled out by Matt Walker. Ben Sutcliffe (4) followed in similar fashion to Cobus Pienaar. Michael Neser and Elliot Gilford kept up the boundary count but Gilford picked out Pienaar at long off on 14. Andrew Sutcliffe (3), Christian Garland (6) and Paul Senior (0) all made the same error as the South African ended up with 4 catches. Neser (38) was unable to carry on to his half century as Walker took a catch off the bowling of Ben Heap. Gideon Foster (6) was the last man to go as Todmorden struggled to 88 all out. Jon Finch finished with the best figures of the innings: 3 for 4 off 3.4 overs.

The home side’s response didn’t start well with Heap going for just 1, Foster with the breakthrough. Ben Gorton and Jonny Whitehead began to put together a nice partnership to regain control of the match. Whitehead hit another mighty six which landed in the middle of Liverpool Road but again, just like against Burnley, was gone the very next ball for 19 to Paul Senior. Pienaar went for a golden duck attempting a reverse sweep and Senior completed a sensational hat trick by bowling out Joe Hawke to leave the home side on 41/4 and put the game in the balance once more. Gorton (20) was Senior’s final dismissal he completed his 4 overs with 4/22. Jon Finch managed to keep cool under pressure and saw things through with an unbeaten 24. Charlie Cottam (6) hit the winning runs as Lowerhouse finished on 89/6 with 4.3 overs to spare.

MOM was Jon Finch for 3/4 and 24*.