Second and Power partnership puts Milnrow into next round of Wood Cup

Rudi Second batting
Milnrow CC v Oldham CC - Wood Cup

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The partnership of Rudi Second and Milnrow captain Max Power, with both bat and ball, saw Milnrow progress to the first round of the Wood Cup with a hard fought victory over Oldham CC on Sunday, and in doing so made it three wins from three games so far this season.

On a beautiful summer's day, Milnrow won the toss and batted first.

It was clear that this was a good batting wicket but with the score on 14, Dryden was caught behind on 11 and this brought Milnrow professional Rudi Second to the crease. He produced a superb innings of great timing and shots all round the wicket. He moved through the gears with ease and really built his innings, never looking under any real pressure as he reached 50 off 68 balls but then accelerated as he went on. He reached his century off 103 balls and then battered the Oldham attack as he reached 151 off 130 balls.

After Crabtree was run out for 12, Second was joined by captain Max Power, and the two built an outstanding partnership of 162 off 28 overs. Power played his usual classy innings, placing the ball into gaps in the field and always looking to keep the scoreboard ticking over. He reached his 50 off 75 balls and moved on to 71 before holing out in the deep.

This brought Fanie De Villiers to the crease and he played a brutal cameo innings, smashing 30 off 13 balls, before skying one straight up in the air.

Second was caught on the edge for 151 in the last over, another innings of real class.

With Ian Helliwell making 10 not out on his debut, Milnrow reached 306 for five from their 50 overs.

The Milnrow crowd thought this would be too high a total for the Oldham team, but there were genuine concerns as Oldham's innings started with real pace, reaching 72 off the first ten overs and 120 in the twentieth.

De Villiers and Brown both took early wickets but then Tufail and Saddique built a hard-hitting partnership. After a partnership of 111, their stand was broken by an unexpected source. Skipper, Power, brought himself on for a rare bowl and took the wicket of professional, Saddique, in his second over, with Dryden taking the catch on the edge.

Power and Second both bowled excellent spells and slowed the run rate down. Second's figures of two for 28 from 10 were excellent, and he took the crucial wicket of Tufail for 76.

Power supported him ably and, as with their batting, they built another good partnership.

This meant that despite a good innings by Tufail and Boyce, Milnrow never looked in danger of losing, but were made to work hard for their victory by the Oldham batsmen.

Jack Wynn, 15, finished with excellent figures of three for 42 from his nine overs, as Milnrow confidently booked a place in the next round.