Congleton bowlers rip through Alvanley

12:16pm Monday 7th July 2008

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CONGLETON’S bowlers tore through the Alvanley batsmen on Saturday to maintain their promotion push.

The visitors fell apart after a reasonable start, their best stand coming from the last wicket pairing.

They lost five wickets for only three runs as they were bowled out by the 1st X1 for 120 in 45 overs.

Congleton cruised to victory in reply with 123 for four in 26 overs, Arran Browe and Jye Bailey leading the way.

Congleton earned 20 points from the win, but they are still 28 points behind Oakmere in second after they also gained 20 points at the weekend.

Two teams go up, and Congleton have opened up a 19-point gap over fourth place in the table.

Congleton press officer Mike Kitton was delighted with the performance, which produced the 1st X1’s fourth win in a row.

“We have not had four victories on the trot for a long time,” he said.

“The spirit is good in the team, and if we play to our potential we are capable of winning every week.”

Alvanley put on 30 for the first wicket, but suffered a major collapse soon after to crash to 46 for six and 78 for nine.

They lost four batsmen with the total on 43, and between the 10th and 22nd overs crashed from 30 without loss to 46 for six.

Alvanley’s best stand came from their last pair, who put on 42, and produced their top knocks of 17 and 13.

Congleton captain Paul Beaumont, Mark Potts and Ian Slinger each took three wickets, at a respective cost of 27, 13 and 12 runs, off 15, eight and five overs.

The other wicket fell to Arran Browe, who took one for 16 off seven.

Congleton set themselves up for victory with an opening wicket stand of 43 between Adrian Dale and Browe.

The game was effectively over as a contest when Browe and Bailey added 57 to take the total to 108 and leave Congleton in sight of the winning post.

Browe top scored with 44, which he hit off 68 balls and which included eight fours.

Bailey hammered 34 off only 26 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes.

Opening bat Dale scored 14 runs.

Browe is Congleton’s leading wicket taker with 15 wickets, one ahead of Potts.

Ian Slinger is on seven wickets from only two matches after four last week and three on Saturday.

“We bowled and fielded well, although we were surprised to bowl Alvanley out for so few runs,” said Mr Kitton.

Congleton travel to bottom side Cholmondley this Saturday.