Salford Jewish CC finish season 2013 in style as they overcame cup finalist Offerton CC by 3 wickets in the Greater Manchester Amateur League Division Three.
A blustery first day of Autumn saw Salford show their mettle in their final match of the season against Offerton at St Pauls. Once again, it was Salford’s bowlers who impressed, Daniel Paul and Josh Dansky restricting Offerton to just nine runs from the first nine overs.
Paul trapped opened David Scholes for a duck in the third over and, from that point, Salford stifled the father and son combination of Stephen and Andy Pickles. They only managed one boundary in slowly compiling a 60-run partnership in 20 overs. Then, in the 23rd over, Jonny Wineberg (2-26) bowled the younger Pickles and three balls later a superb catch by Alex Benjamin diving low at mid-off gave him his second wicket.
With Offerton looking to accelerate, Salford pushed home their advantage, Paul Heaps bowling the older Pickles, who top scored with 22, before taking three further wickets to end with 4-21. Daniel Paul returned to skittle out the tail and end with remarkable figures of 4-8 as Offerton were reduced to 91 all out in the 33rd over.
Needing 92 for victory at less than 2.5 an over, Salford recovered form an early wicket with Elliot Koffman and Rafi Dines building a 38-run partnership. Both connected with some lusty blows before Koffman (16) edged fast bowler Liam Scholes to first slip. Two overs later, Scholes clean bowled Dines (18) to leave Salford at 46 for 3, halfway to their target in just the 14th over.
The match then dramatically swung Offerton’s way as a middle order collapse saw Salford lose a further four quick wickets in as many overs and at 56-7 they looked to be in danger of succumbing to a third defeat in as many weeks.
However, veterans Jonny Wineberg (13 not out) and Shimon Harris (5 not out) had other ideas. They proceeded to build a 35-run partnership as they stifled the Offerton bowling as Salford’s bowlers had their batting. The victory was completed in the 27th over, ending Salford’s season on a high.
Anyone wishing to join the side for next season should contact Elliot Koffman at elliot@koffman.co.uk, 07977 074472.
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