Home Sports Cricket Mexborough 117 Bullcroft 124 – Entertaining and Exciting

Mexborough 117 Bullcroft 124 – Entertaining and Exciting

June 1958

South Yorkshire Times June 21, 1958

Mexboro’s Spirited Response To Bullcroft’s 124

Mexborough Athletic on Saturday renewed acquaintance with Bullcroft Colliery for the first time in three years, and the match was the most entertaining and exciting at Hampden Road this season. Mexborough lost by seven runs, replying to Bullcroft’s score of 124.

The last Mexborough wicket fell to Bullcroft fast-bowler, F. Powell, with the fifth ball of the over when there were about 15 minutes left to play and eight runs were needed to win.

Bullcroft made a poor start, , scoring only 13 runs in the first 45 minutes, J. Russell was bowled by  A. Dobbs after 38 minutes, during which time he scored two runs. He was followed six minutes later by A. Shaw when the score was 13.

Then came a partnership between F. Gregory and F. Powell which completely reversed the style of play and put Bullcroft back on their feet. Nearly 70 runs were scored in the Gregory—Powell partnership in one hour. The partnership was ended when Gregory, who made 27. was I.b.w. to R. Hydes. Three minutes later Powell returned to the pavilion with 43 to his credit after being caught by Tompkins off Horace Vickers.

After this brilliant partnership had been dissolved the Bullcroft scoring became sluggish again and their wickets fell steadily. R. Hydes took 6 for 41 and A. Dobbs 3 for 47. F. Powell hit three sixes.

Mexborough responded magnificently and after just over an hour’s play they had taken the score to 63 for four. The 50 was reached after 44 minutes and the 100 after 79 minutes. A stand developed between j. Hempstead and D. Beldon and Hempstead had scored 22 before he was bowled by Gregory.

Twenty minutes later D. Beldon was out to Powell for a well deserved 47, the highest score of the match. Mexborough captain H. Vickers went for 14.

At the end 14 runs were needed to win when Hydes and Jenkinson were facing the Bullcroft bowling. They had taken the score to 117 when the last wicket fell,