Dumelow destroys Wiltshire as Cheshire march on

By Neil Goulding (Cheshire CCC press officer 07813 859986)

NATHAN Dumelow stole the show for Cheshire on the final day of their Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash with Wiltshire today (Tuesday).

The former Derbyshire all-rounder was on fire with the ball, his off-spinners yielding him career best figures of 9-35 as Cheshire powered to victory by an innings and 68 runs at Alderley Edge Cricket Club.

Resuming on 6-2, Wiltshire had no answer to the former first-class all-rounder, whose 14.4 overs of attacking bowling saw the visitors routed for just 92.

And having claimed two prize scalps in helping dismiss Wiltshire for just 84 in their first innings, the stand-in skipper finished with impressive match figures of 11-40.

"That's the best I've ever bowled," said Dumelow, who has now taken 23 wickets in four Championship matches this season. Last season he took six matches to reach that figure.

"Hopefully there's more wickets to come - and runs too! I thought, as a team, we were absolutely amazing. I felt it easy fitting in with the team since I joined the county, I've never played in a side which has such a good team spirit."

Dumelow re-wrote the record books two seasons ago for Cheshire when his match return of 9-96 in a 211-run win away to Herefordshire broke a ten-year-old record set by fast bowler Nigel Peel when, in 1995 against Herefordshire at Dale, he finished with match figures of 9-98.

However, despite his recent heroics, the 26-year-old's bowling feat failed to set any new Cheshire or Minor Counties records.

Some 81 years ago Macclesfield professional Herbert Wilson returned figures of 9-25 for Cheshire against Staffordshire at Wallasey Cricket Club in 1926, while former Hampshire bowler Geroge Smoker finished with match figures of 15-65 against Essex 2nd XI at Birkenhead Park Cricket Club in 1914.

"It's great to do well personally, but it's great that the team is playing so well," added Dumelow. "Everyone wants to do well for each other at Cheshire, whereas when I was at Derbyshire many of the players seemed to be playing for themselves.

"We're in a very strong position after this win. We've got two tough games left in the Championship, but we're on a roll and everyone wants to keep winning. It's a good feeling."

Cheshire have now won all four of their Championship matches this season to leave them sitting pretty at the top of the Western Division, as well as maintaining an unbeaten run in the Minor Counties Knockout Trophy.

They play Devon on Sunday at Chester Boughton Hall and Dumelow, likes his county colleagues, is confident Cheshire can earn themselves a dream final with Suffolk at Lords. Two years ago Cheshire and Suffolk shared the Minor Counties title in Ipswich.

"It's going to be a tight game, but we beat Devon at Chester earlier this season and played very well then," added Dumelow, who captains Oulton Park in The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League ECB Premier Division.

"We've got a very strong team this season, the strongest Cheshire side I've played in. If we play well and perform we are confident we get to Lords."

Other star performers for Cheshire during the three-day match were opening batsman Danny Leech (58), while tail-enders Danny Woods (42) and Adam Syddall (22 not out) shared in a vital last-wicket stand of 66 as the home side recovered from 178-9 to post 244.

Routed for 84 thanks to fine bowling from Jason Whittaker (4-29), Syddall (3-30) and Dumelow (2-5), Wiltshire were forced to follow-on. Batting for a second time the visitors managed to add eight more runs than they posted in their first innings.

"Danny and Adam's last-wicket stand was crucial for us," admitted Dumelow. "It made Wiltshire follow-on - and from then on were dominated with the ball."

Scorecard:
Cheshire 1st innings (50-0 overnight from 19 overs, day one): 244 all out, 73.5 overs (D Leech 58, D Woods 42, B Spendlove 33, R Bedbrook 5-54, J Lebitt 3-34)
FOW: 54, 112, 119, 138, 138, 143, 153, 157, 178, 244.

Wiltshire 1st innings: 84 all out, 37.3 overs (J Whittaker 4-29, A Syddall 3-30, N Dumelow 2-3, J Vince 42, A Miles retired hurt)
FOW: 8, 8, 20, 20, 37, 49, 68, 75, 84, 84.

Wiltshire 2nd innings (6-2 overnight from 6 overs, day two): 92 all out, 28.4 overs (N Dumelow 9-35, D Woods 1-6)
FOW: 1, 1, 14, 16, 21, 45, 67, 78, 78, 92.

Match points: Cheshire (22 pts) beat Wiltshire (4pts) by an innings and 68 runs.

Cheshire's remaining 2007 MCCA three-day Championship fixtures: August 5-7 v Oxfordshire @ Banbury; August 19-21 v Shropshire @ Nantwich.

On Sunday, 29th August (11.00am start) - MCCA 50-over Knockout Trophy semi-final: Cheshire v Devon @ Chester Bouhgton Hall. Winner to play Suffolk at Lords on Monday 27th August.

Cheshire on verge of impressive victory

By Neil Goulding (Cheshire CCC press officer 07813 859986)

TITLE-chasers Cheshire showed Championship-winning form to grab the upper hand on the second day of their three-day clash at home to Wiltshire in the Minor Counties Western Division today (Tuesday).

The hosts were struggling badly at 178-9 having been 50 for no wicket overnight, but a gutsy last-wicket partnership of 66 between tail-enders Danny Woods (42) and Adam Syddall (22 not out) helped Cheshire post a respectable 244 all out at Alderley Edge Cricket Club.

Opener Danny Leech (58) and Oulton Park colleague Ben Spendlove (33) also scored important runs, but the best was still to come as Cheshire's bowlers destroyed Wiltshire.

The visitors were routed for just 84 in their first innings and, having made them follow-on, had them in more trouble at 6-2 from the last six overs of the day, still 154 runs behind.

"We were excellent," praised Cheshire skipper Andy Hall, who withdrew from the team at the last minute with a suspected fracture wrist. He was replaced by Cambridge University captain Oliver Sadler.

"It's usually hard to watch when you're not playing, but the lads did fantastic. It was great to watch.

"We were struggling a but until Danny and Adam dug in to help us post a good total - but then the bowlers really swung the game in out favour."

Having been 8-0 for none, Wiltshire slipped lost four wickets for 12 runs and then lost their next five wickets for 64 runs.

And at 84-9 Wiltshire's innings closed with their number 11 Adam Miles unable to bat after being hitting in the face from a quick bouncer from Jason Whittaker, his first ball of the match.

James Vince top-scored with a valiant 42, but he was just one of two success stories on an otherwise miserable day for the visitors. Richard Bedbrook (5-54) performed well with the ball until Woods and Syddall added valuable runs for the last wicket.

However, the reat star was schoolteacher Whittaker, back in the side after missing most of the season due to work commitments.

He led the charge with an impressive 4-29 return from 15 overs, while left-arm seamer Syddall also starred with the ball. The Bowdon ace on song with 3-30 from 15 overs, while stand-in skipper Nathan Dumelow took two wickets for just three runs.

If the weather is good on the final day no wonder Hall fancies his side's chances of a fourth successive Championship win this term.

"We're in a very strong position," added Hall. "The lads are really confident we can bowl Wiltshire out - and so am I if we can repeat the way we played today."

Scorecard:
Cheshire 1st innings (50-0 overnight from 19 overs): 244 all out, 73.5 overs (D Leech 58, D Woods 42, B Spendlove 33, R Bedbrook 5-54, J Lebitt 3-34)
FOW: 54, 112, 119, 138, 138, 143, 153, 157, 178, 244.

Wiltshire 1st innings: 84 all out, 37.3 overs (J Whittaker 4-29, A Syddall 3-30, N Dumelow 2-3, J Vince 42, A Miles retired hurt)
FOW: 8, 8, 20, 20, 37, 49, 68, 75, 84, 84.

Wiltshire 2nd innings (following on): 6-2, 6 overs (N Dumelow and D Woods one wicket each)
FOW: 2, 6.

Points so far: Wiltshire (4pts) trail Cheshire (6pts) by 154 runs with eight second innings wickets remaining. Wiltshire won the toss and elected to field.

ends.....