Winnington Park Cricket Club round-up

Following impressive wins over neighbours Northwich and Weaverham last week, facing a Kingsley side from the division above proved a task too far.

Batting first, Park started brightly thanks to opener Sam Barnes, who looked promising before being clean bowled for a well-made 35 from 39 deliveries.

In the middle order, Tony King and Matt Atherton got themselves in but like Barnes, they could not push themselves onto a big score.

They fell for 25 and 31 respectively and after a lower order collapse, it took a rearguard action from James Hendry (13) and Matty Walker (8 not out) to get Park to a score of 148 all out.

Park needed quick wickets to be in with a chance of defending their total, but Kingsley openers Ben Stoddard and Haris Yassin laid a platform for victory.

Stoddard fell leg before wicket to Peter Room for 61 while Hendry had Yassin stumped for 45, but Kingsley were able to comfortable coast home by eight wickets.

Park will aim to bounce back from that defeat on Saturday when they travel to face Port Sunlight.

The seconds had a much better time of things, however, as they continued their perfect start to the new campaign.

They were given a scare by opponents Old Parkonians, but they eventually completed a three-wicket victory.

Park’s bowlers set up the victory, with co-captain Alex Unwin leading from the front as he finished with figures of 3-23.

Mark Hamblett may have only picked up one wicket but conceded only eight runs from his seven overs.

Dan Austen and Will Pimblatt took a wicket apiece while Jim Hanson claimed two scalps late on to bowl the hosts out for 125.

Despite chasing a low victory target, the Winnington top order failed to fire and it was left to teenagers Ernie Bratherton and Thomas Evans to steady the ship.

The more experienced duo of Unwin and Jonny Reissing took over, with the former finishing unbeaten on 31 to see Park home.

The seconds host Warrington’s fourths on Saturday.