Following a bad day at the office against local rivals Carnforth, it was the quarter final against Arnside.
The Hyningmen wanting to progress further in the cup after knocking out Westgate, last year’s League champions in the previous round, decided that having to go back to basics and warm up properly.
Veteran Skipper Crowther had a firm word with the lad’s childish behaviour in the changing rooms and get them out to carry out an efficient warm up.
The weather was scorching as ever and when it came to the toss, veteran Crowther made up for his mistake from Saturday and won the toss and elected to bat first.
New opening partnership of Price & Matthews trying to improve from the previous day looking good until Matthews (2) bowled going back to a good ball by C. Howsley (1/25) Warton 1/15 off 4 overs brought Finney to the crease, after a relaxing break watching Ed Sheeran and missing Saturdays game high expectations were in order following his retirement in the previous round was slow to get going due to his lack of backing up and no wonder the slowest within the Hyning squad.
Price (21) looking fatigued after carrying his bat the previous day was the next to fall with a lazy shot caught by Bingley of R. Hodgson bowling (1/30) with a partnership 45.
Score looking good at 2/60 of 13 overs with the run rate over 4.6 T. Barnfield (17) & G. Finney quick fire29 partnership in 6 overs until Barnfield's lack of concentration, thinking of the homemade quiche at teas got bowled by K. Fallows (1/27).
This brought the experience of S. Mayor (experienced in what?) to the crease to move things along, pushing Finney to run the first one harde. Another quick partnership 34 of 5 overs, lifting the run rate above 5.1, but after pushing Finney(45) to run more, his tiredness set in with close to only 10 overs remaining. Trying to push on, Finney popped up a dolly to be caught out by Bingley to Hart (1/30) ,bottling the chance to retire. 10 runs later Mayor (18) was bowled by the experience of Arnside’s main bowler R. Shepherd (3/33)
This meant 2 fresh batsmen at the crease with J. Bolton after a day of rest and claiming brownie points at home and the Veteran Crowther . The partnership ending when Crowther decided to hit the ball straight to a fielder and shout run, then with a bad throw from Arnside decided to go for a second and J. Bolton (10) caught in no man's land.
The legend of R. Nelson Senior arrived to partner Crowther to add a further 23 runs in 3 overs until Nelson was caught LBW to become Shepherds second victim.
With Crowther wanting to get Warton to 200 S. Partridge came to the crease but after 1 ball turned round bat under arm, bowled for a Golden Duck
With just 2.2 overs left Shepherd on a hat trick ball A. Weatherill (4 Not Out) stood firm and blocked out and kept Crowther (38not out) on strike to get a quick fire partnership of 25 with a break within that time for Crowther to rest and grasp some oxygen, Warton finished on 196 /8 of 35 overs,
While the Hyning men were having fun in the sun, the Tea was being prepared and what a tea it was, so far the best this season, with homemade cakes, quiche, plenty of moat loaf. Not a single item left on anyone’s plate.
After tea, Warton prepared to get ready but Veteran Crowther didn’t communicate there was a change of plan and decide to swap wicket Keeper, this ended to be a good decision as Barnfield took 3 catches and 2 stumping’s throughout Arnside innings.
Opening bowler for the cup games was Finney (3/18) only taking him 5 balls to get his first victim J. Bingley (0) ct. behind.
G. Price (2/13) came on to bowl and kept it very tight with a maiden in his first over then clean bowled Arnside Captain R. Shepherd (6) to reduce Arnside to 2/12 of 4 overs.
Finney wasn’t to let his work colleague Price get the better figures and took his second wicket in his 4th over and bowled M. Shepherd (0) to heap more pressure on Arnside 3/14. Price was thinking the same and within his 4th over struck again and took the wicket of K. Fallows trapped him LBW just as Fallows was building a partnership with R. Hodgson.
Finney finished his 5 over spell with a 3rd wicket with the assistance of Barney stumping D. Smith (4) just after being hit for 4.
Next 2 bowlers for Warton was S. Partridge(0/25) and Yorkshire Pro P.Graseley producing some quality bowls getting the wickets of E. Hart (11) & C Howsley (0)and being part of the run out of J. Whincup (7).
There seemed to be a concern that Warton weren’t able to get the Wicket of R Hodgson as A. Weatherill had a rare chance to get some wickets as Hodgson was put down at mid wicket and S. Mayor running 30 yards and diving full stretch, dropped L. Pidgeon in his one and only over. (He actually only had to run forward 10 yards tops, and that was because he wasn't fielding where he was asked by the captain).
Veteran Skipper gave A. Matthews an over to finish the game and with plenty of flight and I mean flight as some never pitched and with the superb hands of Price R. Hodgson was caught and then the last ball of his over finished with Barney stumping L. Pidgeon (11).
Excellent all round performance from Warton, who can now look forward to the Semi Final away to Milnthorpe in 2 weeks.
All players & supporters enjoyed a good game of cricket in the sun with a few drinks and finished off with an awesome BBQ.

By Stuart Mayor