ON this page a couple of months ago I posed a question concerning Tonge in general, and Simon Anderton in particular, as to why, when he was in such excellent form, he didn't bat at number three writes Peter Stafford.
When next I bumped into him, he explained the theory behind his thinking, which was that Adil Nisar would, hopefully, monopolise the early part of the innings, leaving Simon free to make his mark a bit further down the order.
On Saturday, of course, Adil monopolised the whole 50 overs in the process of creating a new Bolton League record, and, as Henry Blofeld would say, well done him!
The following day, however, against Walkden, Simon's theory was put into practice to perfection. Nisar and Ismail opened confidently, taking the score into the 50s with neither of the two left handers appearing to be in any trouble.
The trouble arrived with the introduction into the attack of Bernard Reidy, who took five cheap wickets as Tonge subsided to 122-6. Danny Rees's dismissal was particularly disappointing when, after having got himself in, he played one extravagant shot too many and paid the price.
Danny has all the shots. I still remember his Flintoff-like 127 against Westhoughton five years ago as if it were yesterday. What he needs to do now is to take a leaf out of the recently published Andrew Flintoff Book of Responsible Batting.
Now Anderton was joined by Bob Waller, and together they began to build what was to prove, in hindsight, a match winning partnership. Batting with common sense and the odd bout of belligerence, they added 63 for the seventh wicket, taking the total to a highly competitive 185.
Walkden made a poor start, losing Ingram and Roach cheaply, after which Dave Smith and Mike Bennison began to put matters to right.
They had just completed a hastily run three and a scampered single when I overheard two Tonge supporters discussing the possibility of a run out. "These two don't do run outs," I assured them. It was the perfect kiss of death, of course, and sure enough from the very next delivery a brilliant pick-up and throw by Adam Street found Smithy half a yard short of his ground. I did apologise to him afterwards!
Next man in was Karl Bates, and on a wicket that was becoming more bowler friendly by the minute, he and Bennison buckled down to what was now a far from easy task. They took the score to 117 before the Walkden skipper, playing an uncharacteristic shot, was trapped in front by Nisar.
Now it was largely down to Bates and he responded magnificently, but three wickets in quick succession from Simon Anderton more or less destroyed Walkden's hopes, while at the same time entitling the Tonge captain to a Man-of-the-Match Award had there been one available.
Karl Bates' dismissal for 64 signalled the end of the game with 16 balls remaining and 11 runs the difference between the two sides. His had been an innings of quality, which thoroughly deserved to have won for his team what had been an enthralling match.
But Tonge stuck in there, and eventually got their due reward after a weekend during which everything
else was overshadowed by Adil Nisar's superb display on Saturday.
Only the fourth double century in the League's history, it contained 32 runs from one over, 14 sixes and as many fours, a second 100 from only 32 balls, and 78 per cent of his team's runs from the bat.
Two weeks ago, the headline over my article read "Nisar is set to join League Run Heroes". The psychic powers of the Sports Editor, or what?
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