23/06/2026
💚🖤Willey 3rd XI v Shelton 4th XI
Sunday 21st June
The 3rd XI took on opening day hosts Shelton 4ths back at the beautiful Barrow Park, both sides having a good mix of youth and experience in their ranks, on a very warm day. 🥵
Shelton skipper Michael Knight ( no not David Hasselhoff) won the toss and put the Barrow boys in to bat first on a hard used deck. 🏏
👬Father’s Day has it’s special moments and father and son duo Chris and Taylor Rudd opening the batting together was certainly one, ended unluckily when Taylor was bowled off his legs for 8. Rudd senior(32) then putting on a bright 50 partnership with the inform Rich Cooper (23), before both fell and others too to leave Willey wobbling on 82 -6. 🫣
This brought Ben Slater to the crease and priceless partnerships with Cam Ray (11) and then tellingly Patrick ‘Patch’ Evans (8) who hung in there valiantly supporting Slater (37) as he found his timing to take the score up to 150, and finished the innings batting with his dad, skipper Ian Slater, as Willey closed on 1️⃣6️⃣5️⃣ all out.
🔴 3 wickets a piece for youngsters Jacob Smith and Jack Stewart in the Shelton attack. Game in the balance.
Shelton started brightly in their chase aid by some inconsistent bowling until a brilliant run out by Cam ‘Sting’ Ray sparked a mini collapse, Taylor Rudd (2-22) taking two wickets in an over. Sting Ray bowled a miserly 8 over spell and was unlucky to finish wicketless.🧐
Then it was time for some Patch Magic (brand name?) as the young spinner bowled a fabulous 8 over spell taking 3-15 including a fabulous caught and bowled. 🙌🏼
He also took an excellent catch to remove top scoring threat Dave Reid off the bowling of skipper Ian Slater (4-23), as the Shelton resistance wilted under the barrage of slow bowling.
A stubborn innings, two excellent catches, and a wonderful bowling spell with career best figures! 🍾
Patrick Evans had a day out, his dad there to watch him, match ball safely stowed away.
Happy Father’s Day!! 🥰
