RETURN TO M.C.C

Posted by Brian Sanderson,

On numerous occasions Bob Procter had passed Milnrow cricket ground but had not seen a match there and his hero Ces Pepper played there after the war.So on Saturday myself , Bob and Ron Stansfield set off to see Milnrow play Radcliffe.We arrived early before the gateman arrived and had a chance to talk to the groundsman. He said the pitch had been under water at eight o,clock that morning.During the week he worked in Leeds.

Milnrow won the toss and Radcliffe batted.Milnrow were third in the league and Radcliffe were near the bottom.The opening bowler soon took control of the game and Radcliffe soon lost wickets.The best opening bowler was Scholefield who took four wickets for fifty-four.Milnrow overseas professional was Diwan who was due to leave the country in the next week. With his left arm spin he too five for thirty-six.Radcliffe scrambled to 111.

The ground has a large area with the tea-room separate from the club house.It is near the motorway and you can hear the traffic however there is a good view of the hills round the ground.

When Milnrow openers including Scholefield started batting they soon scored quickly .
Scholefield hit the Radcliffe leg-spinner for two huge sixes.He finished up at 58 and Milnrow won in twenty-four overs.

We moved on to Delph and Dobcross were the seconds were playing Micklehurst.The away side had scored 194 and Delph were 119 for 5 when we arrived with about twenty overs to bowl.Delph is another scenic ground with hills behind the tea-room were the sheep graze. The match came to the final over were ten runs were required with nine wickets down. There was a four struck on the first bowl which was inches short of a six.However the final wicket fell on the last ball with four runs short.

A excellent finish to a brilliant day.