Dove Holes continued their Twenty 20 campaign at home against neighbours Chapel-en-le-Frith on a fine but rather chilly night.
Critchlow lost the toss and Chapel elected to bowl first on a lively deck. A. Critchlow and Jack Gregory opened up for Dove and soon got the scoreboard ticking over at a nice rate. The first wicket fell with 53 on the board with Gregory holing out to deep mid-off which brought Hawkes to the crease. Critchlow continued to find the boundary with regular ease and raced to 42 in no time before playing what can only be described as a shoddy shot which left his stumps parted like the red sea. Hawkes and Joe Gregory now went about the job of trying to get Dove up to a respectable total but the partnership was soon broken with Chesney coming down the track to cut a spinner but getting stumped in the process.
Turner quickly came and went but fortunately the older Gregory found his batting form which usually is shown in the latter parts of the season and starting cutting loose, with some lusty blows onto the ‘court’. Joe finished with 56 along with Rick Forder also playing a good hand at the end of the innings finishing 19 not out, which left Dove defending 160 at the interval.
Dan Waterhouse opened the bowling at the bottom end and got rid of the Chapel opener with his second ball getting the pink nut to swing back in and bowl him. Chapel’s no.2 soon went in the same fashion with Waterhouse really settling into a good line and length. Good middle order resistance from Hibbert and Hawtin left Dove in a difficult position with the required run rate dropping quickly, but Dove clawed their way back with Hibbert and Hawtin both run out in consecutive overs. The rate quickly rose up to near 10 an over and Waterhouse was tasked with bowling the final over with Chapel needing 25 to win. Some good hitting from Emmett meant they needed 10 off the last 2 deliveries but Waterhouse bowled a good final 2 balls and got Dove over the line. Dove weren’t at their best with the ball but a win is a win, and we march onto Whaley at home on the 5th of July with finals day still in our sights.