SKIPPER DEAN WINS THE DAY KEEPS 1sts ON COURSE

BY IAIN GREEN

NEVER-SAY-DIE Nuneaton recorded their second victory of the Warwickshire Cricket League season by edging a nailbiting encounter with Solihull Blossomfield by 5 runs.

Skipper Jason Dean performed heroics with the ball as the Weddington Roaders successfully defended their 143 total in tense fashion, in a game in which they refused to be beaten.

With spirit echoing the valiant Turkish team in the European Championships, Nuns' clawed their way to a 24 point maximum in a tie that looked lost.

Batting first, Town lost opener Mark Evans (12) early on, before Chris Osborne (28) and Sam Neale (11) steadied the ship for a short while.

When the twosome were dismissed, Nuneaton's middle-order stuttered yet again, leaving Michael Cook and the returning Lee Burridge to repair the damage. Cook nudged 22 from 61 deliveries, while Burridge cracked 20 from 31 as Nuns' fought hard against an excellent attack.

The tail wagged a little and added what proved to be priceless runs, with Lee McNeill adding 14 and Dean 8 as the Weddington Roaders made 143 from 48 overs.

In reply, openers Harris (22) and Edmond (26) reached 48 without loss, with 'Bloss' looking certain to claim the lion's share of the points.

However, Dean stepped in to claim the pair, allowing Nuns' a small glimmer of hope.

And by the time Reed (7), Khan (10) and Abassi (1) were all back in the pavilion, Town had somehow forced themselves into the reckoning.

Ahmed (29) threatened to take the game away from Nuneaton, before McNeill took ''the catch of the season'' to swing the match once more, leaving Dean's medium pace to rip through the tail and clinch a memorable win for the club.

A delighted Dean was ecstatic with a result that keeps Nuneaton's title aspirations afloat.

''We're only 37 points behind now in the craziest league on record!' quipped the 28 year old. ''We came in to today looking for a win to stave off a relegation fight, and now suddenly we're in with a chance again. We batted poorly but our bowling and fielding was nothing short of phenomenal and we got our rewards from it.''

''This was the good Nuneaton, the Nuneaton of old and the Nuneaton I know we can be. We've set the benchmark now and our standards shouldn't drop below that again in my opinion. It's a result that should kickstart our season and it's up to us to stay in the hunt.''

Next up for the Weddington Roaders is a trip to strugglers Old Edwardians, who lie second from bottom in the Premier Division table.

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