Rainhill drew with Burton in annual charity event
Rainhill 183-7 (Andy Jones 50*, Nathan Lawler 37; Richard Glendinning 2-16)
Burton 129-5 (Ben Frampton 52*, Guy Tilby 22*; Ben Wilkinson 2-16)
Match drawn Scorecard
Rainhill’s Recreationals earned a draw in their annual charity match on Monday, this year in aid of the Whiston and St Helens Hospitals Charity. The fact that the game went ahead at all was testament to the efforts of Andi, Anna and Ben who arrived early and worked hard to remove small pools of standing water. After some uncertainty it was decided that the pitch was playable, with bowling taking place from only one end.
Rainhill won the toss and opted to bat. Sam Waine and Nathan Lawler put together a solid opening partnership worth 44. Charlie Evans made the breakthrough for Burton when Waine was caught by Guy Tilby. Matt Diggins was in next and he and Lawler played positively and scored quickly – unfortunately their wickets fell in quick succession: Diggins was out lbw to Richard Glendinning for 16 while Lawler, having made an excellent 37, was caught by Ashley Frampton off the bowling of Stephen Tate.
Rainhill’s middle order then lost momentum, finding scoring difficult amid a flurry of wickets. Ben Wilkinson was bowled by Tilby for 7 while Matt Lawler and Own Morrissey were out without scoring. However, Andy Jones played with aggression and determination, finding the boundary five times in his unbeaten innings of 50. He was aided firstly by Freddie Foulkes who played confidently as he contributed 15, and then by Kiran Nair (8 not out) before Rainhill declared on 183 for 7.
Burton’s openers Stephen Tate and Nigel Abel provided some resistance to some fairly accurate Rainhill bowling but weren’t able to score quickly. Sam Waine made the breakthrough when he bowled Abel for 3, which brought Ben Frampton to the crease. He proved to be the lynchpin of Burton’s innings and, frustratingly for Rainhill, immovable. At one point Rainhill thought they had him out when Matt Lawler held a catch off Ben Wilkinson, but the young pace bowler had overstepped.
Wilkinson did pick up two wickets and Owen Morrissey bowled Gerry Holton for 15. When Frampton retired on reaching 50, Luke Evans (playing his first senior game for Burton) and Guy Tilby came together and batted out the remaining overs.
Depending on your view, a draw in the annual charity match is either the perfect outcome or a frustrating disappointment. On this occasion players from both sides were pleased to have been able to play a game of cricket given the previous day’s heavy rain. The team have so far raised £300 for the hospitals’ charity – anyone who would like to donate to the cause can do so here.
Photos from the game can be found on flickr or viewed below.