Woore CC 1sts recovered from the loss of two early wickets to battle out a draw at Silverdale, writes Roger Horwood.
The visitors were reduced to 6 for 2 after being put into bat, before their Sri Lankan pro Dissanagge Eranga Thilina Rathanayake, nicknamed “Rangi” (pictured), took charge.
Along with Hassan Ul Qasim Haleem (47), they accelerated the run rate putting on 116 between them for the fourth wicket until the latter was caught with the score on 170.
Rangi, who finished in 137 not out, then cut loose and took the Silverdale bowlers apart in the final overs, including Four reverse “scoop” shots over the wicket keeper and slips for boundaries.
The visitors final score of 230-5 off 55 overs would have been many more but for a fighting performance in the field by the home team.
Most of the bowlers suffered in the extreme heat with none taking more than a single wicket.
In reply, Silverdale got off to a flyer and reached 116 for 3 before the Woore bowlers managed to severely reduce the run rate.
Opening batsmen Alex Maginnis (30) and Skipper Matthew Baker (55) led the charge but when pro Zahid Mansoor (24) was bowled by an unplayable delivery from Craig Ruscoe, Woore were back in the game.
Woore skipper Tas Hussain brought back 13-year-old Matthew Waller into the attack after a difficult opening spell and 14-year-old Tom Saji, who bowled his inaugural over in the first team in league cricket.
And to cap it all they both took their first ever wickets at this level in Division 2 of the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire League.
Silverdale batted out the game which finished with a winning draw for the visitors with the score on 170-8, Ruscoe’s 3-41 off 13 overs being the pick of the bowlers.
The result leaves Woore in second place behind Bagnall Norton, but 45 points clear of Norton-in-Hales in third.
Woore 2nds were soundly beaten at home by Caverswall 2nds.
Only Abbas Muktar (21) and veteran Andy Kenvyn (28) coped with the Caverswall bowlers as the home team struggled to 116 all out.
Chris Baranowoski, with 5-28 off 13 overs, did the damage.
In reply Craig Lancaster (52 not out) and Ben Gorton (44) saw Caverswall ease to victory in only 26.3 overs.
Woore drop to fourth in Division 6 but are only eight points off a promotion place.
Next Saturday, Woore are home against Leycett in the final game of the first half of the season (wickets pitched 12-30pm) and 2nds are away to Hem Heath 4ths.
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