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Safe and sound

8/ 9/2004

Local Cricket Round-Up

POYNTON moved into seventh place with maximum points against Didsbury - easing any lasting doubts about their Premier League survival.

The side can now look forward to a mid-table finish rather than a relegation battle. Nevertheless, Poynton never made this run chase easy as they reached their target of 162 in the 50th and final over of their innings.

Jason Rudge and David Watkins' second wicket stand of 56 put Poynton in the driving seat as both sought to attack the Didsbury bowling. A superb delivery from Narayanan, the first of his four wickets, sent Rudge back for 31, but Watkins and Derwin Thompson then took Poynton to 102/2, with Watkins starting to dominate the bowling.

But the wicket of Watkins for 45 triggered a middle order collapse as the score became 114/5. A composed knock from Steve Douglas saw 28 added in partnership with Thompson, only for Douglas to fall once opening bowler Stuart Stoneman was re-introduced.

Poynton gradually edged towards their target, and seemed home and dry with three needed from as many overs. There would be more nerves as only one run came from the next 12 balls, before Thompson nervelessly stroked the winning boundary. In his last Poynton home game, Thompson hit seven fours and one six on his way to his 18th half century for the club.

With the exception of an aggressive innings of 40 from Mark Slater, Didsbury were tied down for long periods in their 60 over innings. Jamie Maltman bowled consistently for 18 overs to bag three important wickets, and just as at Macclesfield the previous week, he was ably supported by Watkins who bagged three deserved wickets. Simon Turner and Thompson played their part with two wickets apiece.