During the hot weather of last week every weather forecast mentioned the possibility of showers,'heavy at times', but with the exception of ten minute sharp burst on Wednesday morning I saw no rain throughout the week. Yesterday, however my luck ran out for the Village Cup semi final between Sessay and Cumbrian visitors Cleator was plagued by a series of brief showers. Although none of these were particularly heavy they caused several interruptions to play.
Both these teams are past winners of the competition, Sessay in 2010, Cleator in 2013, and with the two sides having met twice before and the score at one all a very good crowd had come in anticipation of a keen contest, as many if not more from West Cumbria than from the locality. With exact timing the first shower delayed the start for 25 minutes when Sessay, who had surprised the visitors by choosing to bat, began their innings. Opening the bowling for Cleator was Darren Clark, brother of Jordan who in 2013 hit six sixes in an over for Lancashire II at North Marine Road, also in the side yesterday was their father, Ian. All six bowlers used by Cleator maintained a grip on Sessay that saw the run rate struggle to get much above three and whilst several of their fielders would be in the 13 stone division if they were Cumberland wrestlers there were few errors and one excellent catch to get rid of Sessay dangerman, Simon Mason.
Towards the end of the Sessay innings and after the fourth rain break the shackles were finally cast aside and the acceleration enabled the home team to reach 199 for 7 off their 40 overs. One loose over from opening bowler David Blackwell, who had bowled an economic first spell, cost 17 including four wides, and left Cleator with the nice round figure of 200 to win.
The Cumbrians' reply got off to a flier with ten off the first over and skipper Mark Wilkie was forced to bring himself into the attack after five overs, a move that bore immediate fruit with a wicket and from thereon Sessay bowled and fielded themselves back into the game. Another shower persuaded me it was time to head home but I was able to follow the closing overs on Live Sports FM, an online commentary broadcast from in front of the pavilion despite competition from some spectators who had clearly visited the bar.
Cleator lost wickets regularly and eventually fell forty short thus sending Sessay through to the semi final in which they will visit Pembrokeshire outfit Carew CC who were winners over Newtown Linford yesterday, a round trip of almost 600 miles. The other semi final will be between Sibton Park who beat Dinton by six runs and Miskin Manor who got home by two runs against Cookham Dene when a last wicket stand which had produced 52 runs was ended with a run out off the last ball. Thus the two surviving Welsh clubs, Carew and Miskin Manor are kept apart and Lord's on September 4th may yet be a feast of dragons and leeks.
Scorers are behind the door at Sessay
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