PEOVER produced a much improved performance in a dramatic win at Old Parkonians.
Delayed en route, Peover arrived to be greeted with the news that they had lost the toss and had been invited to bat on what appeared to be a very wet track.
Stephen Price held the Peover innings together as wickets fell at regular intervals on a track offering exaggerated lift, turn and bounce. Several Peover players were hit as the ball spat off a length.
Price scored a valuable 46 supported by Harshit Sharma, 16, who batted on despite a nasty blow to the head.
Peover were dismissed for 94 in the 33rd over.
Despite the small total there was always hope given the nature of the wicket and slow outfield.
Parkonians' response started steadily as the wicket seemed to be drying – the opening pair of Rees and D Berkson dug in albeit scoring very slowly.
Nilesh Suryavanshi provided the first breakthrough, taking advantage of some poor running to effect the run out of D Berkson.
Suryavanshi (3-26) dismissed Saeed and Lindop in quick succession, giving Peover renewed belief.
Nightingale (3-16) and Jones took further wickets as the Parkonians reply began to stutter.
With 12 of the 57 overs remaining, three wickets remaining and 34 required to win. a sharp shower forced the players off. Play resumed and Parkonians dug in for the draw.
As the game entered the final over Peover required one more wicket for the win, and on the very last ball of the game Sharma (2-5) produced an in-swinging yorker which dismissed T Berkson.
Parkonians were dismissed for 74 in the 53rd over.
Peover host Audlem at Wellbank Lane on Saturday.
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