Adel try to escape the drop

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday 3rd September

Adel v Collingham (Airedale and Wharfedale League)

Still unable to travel far from home, so very envious of Brian Sanderson's visit to the Esk Valley League. The game at Adel was very important for the home side lying next to the bottom of the league at the start of the day.

When I arrived the visitors were already 20-3 and Adel's Australian pace bowler Brad Robertson had taken all three. Opening bat Swain made 25 and number five Fairbank 21, but they were the only batsmen to reach double figures.

They reached their high point on 65-4, but the remaining six wickets fell for only eight more runs. Robertson finished with his best figures of the season with 6-22.
There were also two nonsensical run outs and Collingham looked to be just going through the motions with nothing at stake for them. All out 73.

Fortunately the tea had already been laid and it needed only a quick brew up for the earlist tea of the season at about half past two. The spectators, which suprisingly consisted of more from Collingham than from Adel, began making plans for an early finish.

This duly arrive by five minutes to four when Adel completed a very easy victory by six wickets, despite one or two unusual umpiring decisions. Stuart Howie top scored with 34 not out and the only bowler to achieve success was spinner Toby Jacklin, former Cambridge blue, who took all four wicket to fall for 27 runs.

Later in the day we learned that Adel's closest relegation rivals, Green Lane, had lost so Adel leap frogged over them out of the relegation places by just one point.
So, as with last season, Adel's fate depends on the last match of the season next Saturday at Beckwithshaw, the same venue as last season when the also just avoided relegation.

The other coincidence is that Green Lane have to travel to Collingham, so Adel will hope they put up a better show than they did today. However there was some good news in the fact that Adel's 2nd team clinched their league trophy - quite an achievement and possibly some of these players may be promoted next season. In addition the third eleven have won their section of the Sunday league and will be involved in the play-offs next weekend.