Timperley get off the mark

On a chilly yet dry day TCC Captain Frank Gough won the toss and elected to take first use of what looked like another road delivered by the TCC groundsman.

Openers Bhatti & Khan were soon into their work & looked comfortable against the pace of Bickerton & the slow medium stuff from Velluri. The proceeded easily enough to 34 when Khan played around a straight one from Velluri to be Lbw for 12. This brought Usman to the crease and this is where he stayed for the next 35 overs mixing guile & brute force to score a potent 120 not out, containing 17 fours & 4 sixes. At first though he was outscored by Bhatti in a partnership worth 159. Bhatti grew in confidence the longer he batted and looked set to ton up when he slapped Bickerton to mid off to be well held by Watson for 91. His innings contained 14 fours & 4 sixes.

At 193 for 2, Fisher came in at 4 and in the main watched Usman club it around before he was Lbw to Hallam for 10. Ben Clark came in for the last five overs and played a nice innings of 14 not out (2 fours) to allow Timperley to close at 290 for 3 which is most probably just above par.

In reply Mellor openers Watson & Goodfellow were kept in check by Gough & Sajja with Goodfellow first to depart, Lbw to Gough for 11. Sajja bowled nicely for 0 for 22 off 7, delivering the odd unplayable ball. Watson looked to play some shots but then misjudged the line of a ball from Carr to be bowled for 22. C & J Bailey then rebuilt with a partnership of 76 from 16 overs which put them too far behind the necessary run rate to press for victory. C.Bailey was out for 53 bowled by Raman to make it 130 for 3 and 2 runs later J.Bailey was bowled by Bangee with a peach of a ball for 31. Howard & Marsland then pressed on and took the score to 200 before Howard was out caught off the last ball of the innings by Khan off Clarke at point for 21. Marsland played brightly for his 48 not out (7 fours & 2 sixes) and Timperley might have struggled if he had come in earlier.

Timperley bowled ok but looked very lethargic in their ground fielding and will need to do better if they are to win tighter matches.