Wistaston Village 102ao, Lindow 87ao - DESPITE a decent performance from Andy Hume, Lindow squandered a winning opportunity against relegation rivals Wistaston on Saturday in a low-scoring game.
Wistaston won the toss and batted, preferring first use of a troublesome surface that Hume and Homi Masud found very much to their liking.
Home batsmen came and went in rapid succession on the way to 38 for 7 as only Barnes (21) of the top order made any real fight of it.
But home skipper Townsend (20) and the lower order found sufficient grit and nouse to nudge the score up past the ton, as Allwood posted 22 and Ogben slogged an unbeaten 18 at the death.
Lindow could, and perhaps should, have wrapped things up earlier as four catches were spilled in the slips and at gully, though none were easy.
Hume produced figures of 5-65 from his 17 overs, while Masud produced his most threatening spell of the season to pick up 5-29.
With only 102 to chase, Lindow were confident of victory, but what actually happened was carnage as the difficult pitch combined with determined bowling to destroy the visitor’s batting.
However, with a couple of exceptions, every wicket was earned by the excellent Ogben and opening partner Thornhill, as accuracy and movement combined to dismiss batsmen who, for the most part, were simply trying to defend their way responsibly into the game.
Only at 38 for 8 did the visitors get a grip on the game, as Hume tried to drag Lindow to victory, adding 36 in tandem with an unusually subdued Alex Taylor (8).
Even last man Masud joined Hume in creeping the score to the point where a tense finish seemed assured, until the returning Ogben did the trick, removing Masud with Lindow 15 runs short and the admirable Hume unbeaten on 45.
Ogben finished with five wickets and Thornhill four as Wistaston took the spoils and swapped places with Lindow in the table.
