The Great Escape: 2nd XI Clinch One-Wicket Thriller at Tintwistle

The 2nd XI staged a heist of such audacious proportions in Division 3 this weekend that even the local constabulary might want a word. Charlesworth emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins, successfully hunting down Tintwistle’s 162-6 in a finish that aged the travelling support by roughly a decade. Tintwistle’s innings was a disciplined affair, as they managed to milk 162 runs from their allotted 40 overs. It was a solid total that required our boys to show some iron in their resolve, though for much of the afternoon, it looked like we’d left our steel in the kit bag. The run chase was less a steady climb and more a frantic scramble up a greased flagpole. Wickets tumbled with alarming regularity, and at nine down, the Tintwistle faithful were already chilling the celebratory beverages. However, our tail-enders showed the kind of stubbornness usually reserved for trying to get a round in at 11:00 PM. We scraped over the line with just one wicket and eleven balls to spare. A win is a win, regardless of how many heart palpitations it causes. We’ll take the points back over the hill, even if we did make a meal out of a light snack. Next time, lads, let’s try to keep at least two batsmen on the pitch at the end, shall we?