Frustrating defeat for D40s

Cricket Shropshire’s Disability D40 side slipped to a frustrating defeat when they travelled to Barnsley to take on Yorkshire at Higham CC.

Skipper Shaun Rigby lost the toss on a cool, dull day and Shropshire were inserted on what proved to be a slow, low wicket. 

Several batsmen made starts and got to double figures but nobody capitalised until another mature innings from Adam Marshall (75 retired) and S9 skipper Damon Morris (24 not out) took Shropshire to a useful 195-5 (40 overs) with a stand of 75. 

Cally Rigby soon removed the consistent Matt Bateman and we reduced the hosts to 54-4 with the dangerous Curtis Sugden (25) and skipper Owen Morris also dismissed (Shaun 3-49). 

But the side’s inability to finish teams off arose again and a stand of 95 between the aggressive Graham Whitfield (66) and Dairen Hurst-Spalding (18) wrestled the initiative back for the hosts.

Although Adam Marshall snatched two quick wickets (2-8), sturdy batting from Jamie Dillon and Jasper Spooner saw Yorkshire to victory by four wickets in the 32nd over. 

Coach Graham Furber said: “For the last two or three years, we have developed a tendency to fail to finish games off when on top. I am sure this is due to persistent unavailability problems leading us to field unbalanced attacks, coupled with a lack of mobility in the field. 

“Intelligent captaincy by Shaun has seen us through games that probably we should have lost, but there is a real need to recruit more D40 standard squad players from our local area. 

“Mention must be made of Charlie Vickers – small of stature but big of heart – who gave an amazing display of boundary fielding which was an example to us all. 

Yorkshire now leap-frog Shropshire to take second place in the table. Shropshire finish their league programme in a fortnight against Warwickshire at St Georges CC.

Graham added: “Higham CC are a welcoming club, true supporters of disability cricket, and who endure the constant hum of the nearby M1 but have wonderful views of the Yorkshire countryside. 

“Our grateful thanks to them for hosting the game and for providing that novelty now, a cricket tea!”

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