Jason Whittaker and Andy Stocks kept both batsmen on their toes. The pitch was both lively and unpredictable and runs were hard to obtain with the occasional fluent stroke from Scuse gracing the occasion.

Thornton was the first to go, being adjudged lbw to Whittaker followed at 25-2 by Scuse who tried to cut a ball too close to his body, which came back and bowled him.

Worse was follow when next man in Mike Davies set off for a run which his partner had called to find himself at his partner's end, but alas, with him there also!

Wickets fell regularly to Whittaker who was obtaining lift off good length balls and at 56-7 Edgworth were in serious trouble.

It was at this point that David Critchley, surely batting too low at number nine, joined Chris Locke. They both adopted the policy of careful defence and pulling or cutting the shorter balls to such effect that they put on 66 when Critchley holed out to a Jason Whittaker delivery in the penultimate over.

Six further runs were scored and tea was taken with Chris Locke 30 not out, and Jason Whittaker having bowled 24 overs for a return of five for 45. Andie Stocks and Nick Fawcett occupied the other end with skill which belied their tender age. Stocks in particular bowled his first ten overs at pace and had one for 16.

The game at this stage was delicately balanced. Darcy Lever, appeared to have young players in the side who lack experience at first team level and Edgworth seemed short of bowling strength.

Jamie Taylor and Nick Fawcett faced the attack of Chris Locke and Peter Scuse. Scuse bowling slow off spin drifting to leg was asking the batsmen to get after him and take the risk.

Unfortunately, Fawcett got an edge and was well caught by Jackson off Scuse, a combination which gave the deputy pro his three wickets. Taylor and Whittaker took the total to 18 when Whittaker departed the same way as Fawcett.

Jamie Taylor played sensibly and looked in little danger until he top-edged a ball from Locke which climbed on him and Kernick took a good catch over his shoulder which he seemed unlikely to reach.

A disastrous five overs saw four wickets fall for the addition of 15 runs and Darcy Lever were 30 for five.

The Edgworth bowling combination was proving to be a match winning pair. An off-spinner putting a brake on any opportunities of scoring from his end, complemented by a bowler making maximum use of an end with unpredictable bounce.

A good leg-side stumping by Simpson, celebrated by all his team-mates was soon followed by a nasty blow to the temple which left him lying in a heap on the floor.

Trying to get after Locke, Smethurst holed-out to Davies and then two more victims to Locke via the wicket keeper had Darcy in disarray at 49 for nine.

At this stage Malcolm Simpson, who wisely had started to wear a helmet when receiving Locke's deliveries received another blow on the helmet which caused some mirth to his colleagues. It was fortunate he had decided to wear the head gear as the noise from the boundary edge was frightening.

Gavin and Prendegast adding 14 runs for the last wicket featured the second highest stand of the innings until Barlow who had replaced Scuse trapped Gavin lbw for ten.

Locke finished the game as man of the match with 30 not out and six for 27 off 19 overs.

It was good to see him enjoying himself and letting the ball do the talking for him.