Cheshire v Shropshire CCC – MCCA Championship

At Chester on Sun/Mon/Tues 22/23/24 August 2004

Shropshire won toss – Match Drawn - Cheshire 7 pts Shropshire 6 pts

Cheshire 1st Cheshire 2nd
S.A.Twigg c Whitney b O'Connor 3    
D.N.Leech c Tilt b Smith 23    
G.F.Archer no 113    
A.J.Hall (c) c Ralph b Mason 39    
M.R.Dawson (w) c Ralph b Smith 3    
N.D.Cross ro 63    
S.J.Renshaw c Catterall b Mason 36    
S.Ogilby (wk)  no 0    
J.P.Whittaker        
D.B.Pennett        
R.W.Fisher        
 

Extras

25

   
 

Total (6 wkts)

305

   

 

Shropshire Bowling 1st  Bowling 2nd
  O M R W O M R W
O'Connor 19 6 46 1        
Mountford 7 1 21          
Whitney 12 1 40          
Catterall 10 4 31          
Smith 26 11 57 2        
Mason 16 1 89 2        
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shropshire 1st Innings 2nd Innings
E.J.Foster no 25
C.P.Martin lbw Fisher 16
M.A.Tilt (wk) no 6
T.J.Mason
N.M.K.Smith
D.N.Catterall
J.P.Ralph
G.L.Home (c)
J.D.Whitney
A.P.O'Connor
J.Mountford
 

Extras

6

 

Total (1 wkts)

53

 

Cheshire  Bowling 1st   2nd
  O M R W

O

M R W
S.J.Renshaw 7 1 27          
 D.B.Pennett 7 2 14          
R.W.Fisher 6 4 6 1        
                 
                 
                 

 

 

 

CHESHIRE SUFFER C&G HEARTACHE AFTER WASHOUT

By Neil Goulding

 

CHESHIRE's Minor Counties Championship clash with Shropshire was abandoned as heavy rain resulted in a washout at Chester Boughton Hall.

With no play possible on the second day, and with the bad weather continuing, both sides agreed that there was no chance of a result - even with a contrived finish if the downpour halted.

The result means that Cheshire have now failed to qualify for next season's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, albeit they have only lost one Western Division match all year.

"We are disappointed not to have qualified for the C&G - but there's nothing we could have done about the weather in our last two matches," Gerry Hardstaff, the Cheshire chairman, said.

"We batted well in this match and against Oxfordshire (at Banbury), and put ourselves in a strong position after the first day.

"But we have to look at the games earlier in the year to see why we haven't qualified. We did need to pick up more batting points and having been in a strong position against Devon (at Oxton), we threw away a golden chance to win the match."

Despite missing out on C&G qualification for 2005, Hardstaff is confident Cheshire now have a nucleus of a team which can challenge for honours in the coming seasons.

"Graeme Archer has been a great signing for us and without him we might have struggled in the batting department," added Hardstaff.

Archer, formerly of Nottinghamshire, scored a splendid unbeaten 113 for Cheshire on the opening day of their tussle with Shropshire.

The ex-Staffs batsman also scored another hundred - 121 not out - against Oxfordshire at Banbury. He is his county's best performer with the bast this season having scored an impressive 434 runs in only six innings.

"Graeme joined us at an important stage in the season. Our captain, Andy Hall, was injured, and we were also without Nafees Din, who scored a lot of runs for us last season," said Hardstaff.

"But we're developing as a team. We've got a good team, now, and ideally you want a squad of 14 regular players that you can pick from all season. That hasn't always been the case, but the young lads that have come in have done well.

"It's a big learning curve playing at this level, but we are willing to give those that are good enough a chance to prove themselves.

"We have learnt this year that you have to win at least three matches if you are going to challenge for honours. We haven't done that, but we can build on this year's performances."

Minor Counties Championship - Western Division (Final day of 3, Chester Boughton Hall) -  Cheshire 1st innings: 305-6 declared, 90 overs (Archer 113 not out, Cross 63, Hall 39, Renshaw 36, Leech 23). FOW: 4, 42, 172, 238, 297, 305.

 

Shropshire 1st innings: 53-1, 20 overs

FOW: 32

 

No play Day 3 due to rain.

Result: Match abandoned. Cheshire 7 pts, Shropshire 6 pts

 

No Play on Day 2

WEATHER HALTS CHESHIRE'S PROGRESS

 

By Neil Goulding

 

CHESHIRE's chances of qualifying for next year's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy have all but disappeared after the second day of their Minor Counties Championship clash with Shropshire was rained off at Chester Boughton Hall, yesterday.

Andy Hall's team need maximum points and other results to go their way if they are to qualify.

But heavy rain meant there was no chance of any play and now Cheshire can only win if there is a contrived finish on the final day's play.

"It's very frustrating for everyone," admitted Gerry Hardstaff, the Cheshire chairman.

"The rain took the wind out of our sails against Oxfordshire, in a match we needed to win, and the same has happened here."

Indeed, Cheshire have had no luck in their final two matches in the Western Division - and ultimately the weather has wrecked their hopes of C&G qualification.

"The weather hasn't helped, but we can look back at the season and admit we didn't score enough batting points," added Hardstaff.

"I just hope we get some cricket on the last day. We've got a good, balanced side and we have strengthened our batting. It's just a shame that we've managed to post big scores in our last two matches - and the possibility of a result has been halted by the rain."

A brilliant unbeaten 113 from Graeme Archer, the former Nottinghamshire batsman, helped Cheshire post 305-6 declared on Sunday.

Oxton all-rounder Neil Cross also weighed in with a useful 63 as the pair shared an important third-wicket partnership of 130.

But with Shropshire finely poised at 53-1 overnight, both teams were denied the chance to try and take control of proceedings.

Minor Counties Championship - Western Division (Day 2 of 3, Chester Boughton Hall) -  Cheshire 1st innings: 305-6 declared, 90 overs (Archer 113 not out, Cross 63, Hall 39, Renshaw 36). FOW: 4, 42, 172, 238, 297, 305.

 

Shropshire 1st innings: 53-1, 20 overs

FOW: 32

 

No play Day 2 due to rain.

 

ARCHER'S SUPERB CENTURY IGNITES CHESHIRE'S VICTORY BID

 

By Neil Goulding

 

CHESHIRE batting ace Graeme Archer smashed a brilliant hundred as his county took a commanding stance on the opening day of their Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash with Shropshire at Chester Boughton Hall.

Archer, who made 121 not out against Oxfordshire at Banbury earlier in the month, remained unbeaten on 113 as Cheshire posted 305-6 declared.

The former Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire batsman has now scored an impressive 434 runs at an average of 108.50 - and in only six innings.

"Graeme's a quality player and he's been a very good acquisition," said Gerry Hardstaff, the Cheshire chairman.

"He's been excellent for us this season. If we didn't have him, then we might have struggled to get as many runs as we have this year.

"It was difficult batting conditions because the ball wasn't coming on to the bat, but although we started slowly, we increased the pace and have set a good total."

In reply, Shropshire, who are second in the table, closed the day on 53-1 from 20 overs. Robin Fisher, Cheshire's left-arm spinner, claimed the only Shropshire scalp of the day.

Hardstaff is hopeful the hosts can dismiss Shropshire for under 250. If Cheshire can do that, he fancies their chances of victory.

"The wicket is starting to turn a little already and we've got two spinners, so it should be an intriguing couple of days if the weather holds out," added Hardstaff.

"Shropshire need a win because they can still the Division, so we are always in with a shout.

"I was really pleased with the way we played. Everyone chipped in with the bat and we've set a good target for Shropshire to chase. It's up to us to bowl well and give ourselves a chance of victory."

Neil Cross, the Oxton all-rounder, played a key role for Cheshire, sharing a third-wicket partnership of 130 with Archer, before cameos from skipper Andy Hall (39) and Simon Renshaw (36) helped the home team up the tempo in the last 20 overs of their allotted 90.

Archer's innings included 17 fours, while Cross hit four boundaries and a six in his supporting innings.

But the big-hitting came from Renshaw, the former Hampshire all-rounder, who hit four towering sixes in his dashing knock.

Minor Counties Championship - Western Division (Day 1 of 3, Chester Boughton Hall) -  Cheshire 1st innings: 305-6 declared, 90 overs (Archer 113 not out, Cross 63, Hall 39, Renshaw 36). FOW: 4, 42, 172, 238, 297, 305.

Shropshire 1st innings: 53-1, 20 overs

FOW: 32

 

Previews

By Neil Goulding 21 August

 

CHESHIRE chairman Gerry Hardstaff has admitted that his county are unlikely to qualify for next year's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy.

Cheshire hosted first-class side Hampshire, this season, but having had their last match against Oxfordshire at Banbury abandoned due to rain, Hardstaff believes all hopes of qualifying for the prestigious comp