OULTON Park duo Martyn East and Ben Gibbon were part of a Cheshire side that suffered a disappointing start to their latest Unicorns T20 campaign.
They lost both games against Cumberland at Carlisle on Sunday and must seek to take maximum points from their remaining group-stage matches to keep alive their hopes of making progress.
“It just didn’t happen for us,” reflected captain Rick Moore, who played for the Little Budworth club previously.
“We know we have to perform better.”
His opposite number, Gary Pratt, amassed 72 in the first match when the hosts set a target of 145.
Moore was the pick of seven bowlers used, including Gibbon, taking 2-23.
However Cheshire’s reply never had momentum and they closed on 107-9.
They fared little better second time around after Cumberland posted 115-8 with new recruit David Wainwright, a former Yorkshire slow bowler, bowling tightly.
He top-scored at the crease with 19, while East contributed 14 and Luke Robinson 13, as Cheshire misfired in a total of 88 all out.
They will hope to perform better when they begin the defence of the Unicorns Knockout Trophy they won in spectacular style last September when Northumberland visit Toft on Sunday.
Play starts in Knutsford at 11am.
Results
Unicorns T20
Sunday, May 5
Group One: Cumberland 145-4 Cheshire 107-9, Cumberland 115-8 Cheshire 88; Lincolnshire 161-4 Northumberland 120-8, Lincolnshire 148-5 Northumberland 128
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