Owls are flying high

Oldham District under 13s representative cricket match at Greenfield CC. Pic shows Joe Melling (Owls) batting.

SOME of Oldham brightest young cricketing talent was on show at Greenfield when members of the Oldham District Cricket under-13s squad were joined by a handful of the under-11s in a competitive development game.

Oldham Eagles captain Ben Brierley - from Royton CC - won the toss and put the Oldham Owls into bat on a sticky wicket.

It wasn't long before the Eagles saw success, with Sam Whitehead bowling the Owls' captain Daniel Stock for just five.

Jack Fawcett fell soon after and the batting team were 18 for two.

Some solid defence, while trying to capitalise on the rare bad balls, saw Joe Melling (18) and Thomas Mayor (22) lift the score beyond 50, before the latter became Will Potts' first victim.

PATIENCE

Batters came and went, with Jacob Rimmer (16) showing most patience with the accurate bowling.

The Owls were finally bowled out for 143, but with conditions improving they would have to bowl well.

Ben Brierley and Jo Aston opened up for the Eagles and looked assured until Brierley hit the ball into the air and a sharp catch was taken by Mayor with the score on 28.

Aston followed quickly with a sharp stumping from Stock, off the bowling of Adam Ali.

Nathan Walker came to the crease and looked confident and played the leg spinner Ali well.

It looked comfortable for the Eagles at 70 for two, but Walker chased a wide one and was caught behind off Livesey.

Suddenly the score was 90 for eight. It left Isaac Jones and George Partington - both of Delph - requiring 45 off six overs.

Some lusty blows got them close, with Partington finishing on 20 not out, but one too many big shots from Jones saw him bowled by Rimmer and the Eagles fell eight short.

Oldham under-13s start their league fixtures against Bury District tomorrow at Delph (12.30pm start).

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