Duo’s knocks help Cheshire to success

May 6 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

JASON Whittaker and Matthew Dawson led the way as Minor Counties champions Cheshire extended their winning start to the season.

Both batsmen hit half-centuries as the county beat Shropshire in the MCCA Knockout Trophy by a faster run rate in a rain-affected meeting at Neston Cricket Club.

Wicketkeeper Dawson top-scored with an unbeaten 59, while all-rounder Whittaker weighed in a with an important 52 as Cheshire, having been put in to bat, recovered from 100-6 to post a respectable 219-7 in their allotted 50 overs in their second group match.

Dawson and Whittaker, who both hit one six and four fours in their innings, shared in a spirited seventh-wicket stand of 103, before the latter was dismissed in the penultimate over of the match.

At one stage Cheshire were struggling at 23-3 and then having been forced to take an early lunch at 60-3 from 19.5 overs, resumed and lost three more wickets for 40 runs.

However, Danny Leech (35) and Nathan Dumelow (23) chipped in with useful runs to make sure of defendable target.

In reply Shropshire were struggling at 49-3 when heavy rain brought an abrupt end to proceedings.

SCORECARD: Cheshire 219-7, 50 overs (Dawson 59no, Whittaker 52, Leech 35). FOW: 5, 12, 23, 66, 99, 100, 203.

Shropshire 48-3, 18.4 overs (Syddall 1-18, Whittaker 2-8)FOW: 30, 41, 48.

Result: Cheshire (2pts), who lost the toss, beat Shropshire (0pts) on a faster scoring rate.