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The best start

30/ 4/2008

Glossop...................209-6
Irlam.......................104ao

FOLLOWING weeks of inclement weather and interrupted pre-season preparations, Glossop got their 2008 Lancashire County League season under way by securing a maximum five points at Irlam on Saturday.

Having lost the toss, Glossop were unsurprisingly asked to bat first on a typically green April wicket with youngsters Pennington and Toft getting them off to the perfect start.

Despite a number of balls disturbing the soft playing surface and misbehaving, the two played sensible, controlled cricket and compiled an excellent opening stand of 119 before Toft edged behind for a well made 47.

Despite the loss of his partner Pennington continued to manoeuvre the ball around, this time in the company of paid man Perera, and adding 40 before Perera was the recipient of a sharply rising ball from the evergreen Blackman, which looped from the shoulder of his bat into the welcome hands of the gully fieldsman.

From 159-2 in the 36th over, Glossop stumbled somewhat and lost wickets at regular intervals, including that of man-of-the-match Pennington, who fell six runs short of a richly deserved century.

Although the latter part of the Glossop innings was a trifle ignominious when compared with their excellent start, all involved were more than confident the total would be sufficient.

Irlam’s response never gathered any momentum, and in truth, they never looked like mounting any real challenge.

Usher picked up an early brace and a miserly spell from Harwick was rewarded when he picked up the third scalp shortly after.

There was a modicum of resistance from Jackson and Datta who halted Glossop’s progress for 16 overs, but when the fourth wicket fell in the 29th over, the hosts had only reached 78 and their race was run.

Glossop maintained good discipline and Perera (4-17) and Hargreaves (3-38) picked their way through the remaining Irlam resistance, the final wicket falling in the 43rd over.