This Is Cheshire

Crewe CC

From the Guardian Series, first published Thursday 19th Aug 2004.

CREWE CC powered their way into the promotion race with back-to-back wins in their double header against Kidsgrove and Norton.

Richard Marsh's boys are on a roll, notching up four on the trot to hit fifth spot in NSSC Division One.

Number three came by a crushing eight-wicket margin at Kidsgrove, last Saturday.

Put into bat on a damp wicket, the home side were soon in trouble as Nick Lange (2-13) made early inroads and a run-out left them stunned on 10 for 3.

Indian pro Sanjeev Sharma (46) and Coreen (23) revived their hopes, taking the score to 71, before the spinners Aamir Iqbal and Martin Webb were introduced with an impressive immediate effect.

The duo collected the last seven wickets for just 23 runs, meaning Kidsgrove were gone for a lowly 94.

Iqbal took 3 for 15 including the vital wicket of Sharma while Webb returned a career best 4 for 6 in his fine spell.

Openers Mark Hurst and Martin Dawson made a great start with a quickfire 33 before the latter was ousted for 17.

Lange (37) came to the crease to help take Crewe to the brink of victory with a hard-hitting partnership of 55, Hurst (35no) sealing the win and 20 points with a six over mid-wicket.

Things had got even better within 24 hours with Crewe recording a 23-run success playing at home to Norton.

Victory looked in doubt halfway with the hosts posting a disappointing score of 108, largely thanks to young Dawson who demonstrated great maturity in a fine innings of 46.

Lange (14) was the only other to reach double figures in a poor overall batting display.

However the bowlers got them out of jail, bowling out the opposition for under 100 for the third successive game.

Lange (4-17), Iqbal (3-29) and Matt Dawson (1-13) were the stars as Crewe picked up 25 points.

They entertain struggling Norton In Hales on Saturday; start 1pm.

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