Outcasts Fall Just Short Once Again

Chorley Hospitals v Outcasts

At Bolton School

Wednesday 7th June 2017

Chorley Hospitals Won By 4 Runs

Outcasts journeyed to Bolton on the 7th June to meet Pete Labbett and his Merry Men under lowering skies and with rain forecast later on. It was something of a wonder that there was any game at all in view of the heavy rain that had deluged the pitch on Monday and Tuesday. That we could play at all speaks volumes for the draining capacity of the pitch and the dedicated work of the ground staff.

Outcasts won the toss and decided to insert Chorley on what looked like a good, flat track but with a green tinge reflecting the amount of rain it had taken. Outcasts welcomed newcomers Paul Lucas and Jon Gibson to their ranks, and Andy Broadhurst donned the keepers' mitts in the absence, at the start, of Steve Potter, who had been delayed by heavy traffic on his way to the ground.

The Chorley innings opened promisingly for Outcasts, with Derek and Scott accounting for both openers with only 9 runs on the board. Paul 'Raging Bull' Mooney then came on as first change and in an impressive 3 overs accounting for three more Chorley batsmen. He was ably assisted by Andy behind the sticks, who took two splendid catches, one of which saw the departure of captain Pete Labbett himself. All the while, though, Dave ? at the other end was steadily accumulating runs, and reached 26 before the obligatory retirement. A couple of costly overs saw the run rate increase, but a miserly spell by Les towards the end of Chorley's innings, which saw him go for only 6 runs off four overs, clawed back the game in Outcasts' favour. A final total of 93-5 seemed well within even Outcasts' fragile batting capabilities.

Outcasts' reply looked promising, too, in the early overs. Despite the early dismissal of Nick, Paul Mooney and Steve Potter looked comfortably in charge. Between them they took the score to 34 off 6 overs before Paul was finally out, caught extremely well on the boundary from a powerful pull shot. Steve reached 25 and had to retire, and Andy was run out by his own son, acting as runner for his injured dad. All the time the rain, that had started as a drizzle when Outcasts went out to bat, was getting steadily heavier, slowing the ball up in the outfield and costing the visitors vital runs.

Still, at 77 for 4 off 16 overs, Outcasts only needed four runs an over to match their hosts' target. However, there followed a steady procession of wickets as Scott, Jon, Les and Derek all fell cheaply trying to match the required scoring rate in the face of some tight bowling, and the last over arrived with the visitors needing 9 runs to win. It was not to be, and Outcasts fell just 4 runs short in a close game that could have gone either way. Finishing on 4 not out, Ted was left stranded one short of his 1,000 runs for the club!

After the game the players retired to the pavilion where they all enjoyed pasties, sarnies and beer laid on by the hosts.

So Outcasts go into their next match, at home on Tuesday the 13th June against Rammy Traders, still looking for their first win of the campaign.

MOTM: Paul Mooney for his 10-3 and a very good catch, but with honourable mention to Andy for his great 'keeping.

cw/08 June 2017