SATURDAY, JUNE 6 2009MITFORD 264-4 BEAT WARKWORTH 150 ALL OUT BY SIX WICKETSMITFORD put Warkworth to the sword on Saturday, the day belonging to Mitford's opening batsmen putting on a first wicket partnership
of 185 in a total of 264-4.
Mitford won the toss and elected to bat on a dry Warkworth wicket.
Mitford's openers Mark Parrish and Matthew Ellinor were quickly into their stride moving the score past 50 with only some comedy running between the wickets to trouble them.
At drinks, Mitford, 100 without loss and Parrish already past 50, decided to push on the run rate.
Ellinor, putting his usual attacking instincts to one side, would nudge singles and the balding Parrish was to up the run-rate.
The watching Mitford fan club was not to be disappointed, Ellinor pushing singles and Parrish dispatching some lusty blows to the boundary. The Mitford supporters were no sooner on their feet to applaud Ellinor's half-century, when one ball later Parrish brought up his century, cutting the ball away for four. His 100 came from 85 balls and left Mitford in a commanding position.
Parrish's innings finally came to an end, stumped having amassed 115 from 105 balls including 22 fours, looking for another big blow.
Mitford were keen to capitalise on the excellent opening partnership and post a big score.
Dunn, Howliston and J Lees all perished looking to clear the Warkworth fielders camped out on the boundary rope. The innings came to a close at 264-4, Ellinor unbeaten on 87 from 115 balls.
Mitford took to the field buoyed by the batting of Parrish and Ellinor and set about the Warkworth batsmen hoping for an early beer.
M Lees and proud new father Lawson took the new ball and both saw their first overs disappear to various parts of the ground.
By over three, both had taken control of the swinging ball and were bowling with pace and venom.
Lees struck first with a grunting slower ball caught at mid-off by Dunn. Lawson, returning to the Mitford side to claim three wickets, bowled a tight line restricting the Warkworth run-rate.
By over 20, Warkworth never looked like reaching the total, but Mitford were struggling to take wickets. Nick 'Spock' Gaynor replaced the wearying old legs of Lawson, adding some pace to the attack and at the other end Ellinor and Dunn offered some slower, intelligent bowling.
Warkworth opener B Doyle batted for 34 overs, offering Warkworth some hope, before finally being dismissed for 25, stumped by the talkative J Lees off the bowling of the impressive Dunn.
As Warkworth looked for extra batting points and a total of 160, Luke McDonnell sent Gaynor into the field for three sixes before holing out, caught Snow, bowled by A Lees.
The day belonged to Mitford's old boys Parish and Ellinor, an example to the Mitford youngsters of fitness, professionalism, style and technique.
Mitford 264-4 (M Parrish 115, M Ellinor 87*)
Warkworth 150 all out (Luke McDonnell 28, S Lawson 11-1-37-3, T Dunn 4-2-4-3)
Mitford are sponsored by The Plough, Mitford.
