Read won by seven wickets

Atherton

K Brown c Payne b Bennett ...8

P McLoughlin b Bennett ...0

P Wakefield b Bennett ...1

Diwakar c Walton b Bennett ...5

P Walsh c&b Eastham ...8

P Williamson c&b Walton ...12

D Marsh not out ...32

G Greenough c Marsh b Eastham ...2

P Brown b Walton ...12

I Nuttall not out ...5

Extras ...18

Total (for 8)... 103

Bowling: P Sleep 9-5-16-0; A Bennett 9-6-3-4; W Eastham 9-1-35-2; Q Ahmed 9-1-16-0; C Walton 9-2-19-2.

Read

T Little st Williamson b Baines ...22

N Marsh b Baines ...26

P Sleep b Diwakar ...25

Walton not out ...15

M Whaley not out ...0

Extras ...17

Total (for 3) ...105

Bowling: Diwakar 9-0-31-1; I Nuttall 3-0-14-0; P Brown 1-0-3-0; D Baines 7-1-21-2; P Walsh 6-1-20-0; G Greenough 2.3-0-6-0.

WITH the early morning rain clearing, the wicket was difficult under a drying wind, and it was obvious that the toss would have a crucial bearing on the result.

This went the way of the visitors, and the home side found themselves having to bat on a difficult track.

They were soon reduced to 30 for 5, but a stand between Williamson and Marsh doubled the score, and the innings closed on 103 for 8 with Marsh not out 32.

When the visitors batted the wicket was considerably easier, and they had no trouble in knocking off the runs for the loss of three wickets.

For Atherton the best bowling was Baines' two for 21.