Saints made it 2 wins from 2 in the GMCL20 competition with a dramatic 2-wicket win over Denton Daredevils in gloomy conditions at Sycamore Park on Friday night.
The visitors, who would have been the home team but for the annual Whit Friday Brass Band contest on their ground, won the toss and chose to bat, making 151 for 4 from their 20 overs – Adrian Holmes, 84* off 57 balls leading the way. Dan Moriarty, with 3 for 26 from his 4 overs, was the pick of the home bowlers.
Saints were very much on the back foot in reply and, at 109 for 8 in the 17th over (Ryan Waterhouse 30), a victory looked unlikely. But Jody Clough (28*) & Mark Selby (11*) had other ideas and kept us in contention, with 12 needed from the final over. A boundary apiece reduced that to just 3 needed from 3 balls. A dot-ball and a single later meant that, with Selby on strike, 2 were needed from the last ball. A mid-wicket catch prompted scenes of jubilation from the Daredevils…..BUT the outstretched arm of the Umpire – signalling a no-ball on the grounds of height – meant that the jubilation was, in fact, ours!
A crucial win in our Group, where only the winners progress to the Quarter-Finals. Our next game in the competition is another Denton Derby – and another home game – when West Wildcats visit us on Friday June 8th @ 6pm.
