Damp Squib at New Mills as Evans Shines Before the Deluge

It was a case of ‘stop-start’ at New Mills this weekend as the 1st XI’s pursuit of a Division 1 victory was ultimately thwarted by the only thing more stubborn than a Charlesworth middle-order collapse: the British weather. In a contest that felt more like an afternoon at the car wash than a cricket match, the points were shared as the rain had the final, soggy word. New Mills managed 156-9 in their 36.1 overs before the heavens initially opened. Our very own Gareth Evans was the standout with the cherry, claiming a tidy 3-29 and making sure the hosts didn’t disappear into the distance. He bowled with the kind of precision usually reserved for a master watchmaker, consistently asking questions that the New Mills batsmen struggled to answer. When we finally got out there for our reply, the run chase was more of a crawl in the mud. We reached 60-5 after 25 overs, showing plenty of grit but perhaps lacking the turbochargers needed to overhaul the revised target. The fifty-run milestone was toasted after 21 overs, but before we could truly launch an assault, the clouds closed in for good. A rain-affected draw is never the thrill-ride we hope for, but we’ll take the points and run for the warmth of the clubhouse. Rumours that the skip was seen performing a rain dance when we were five wickets down remain unconfirmed!