The Rain Finally Had Its Say, But Urmston Still Made the Headlines

Duncan Hood at Manchester Pride Weekend

After the driest, hottest summer in years, the rain came back this weekend and made sure everyone remembered it was still in charge. The county newsletter's verdict said it all: precious little cricket played, but plenty still at stake as the season runs into its final weeks

Division 1 lost all six fixtures to the weather. Division 3 of the 2nd XI competition was washed out completely. Elsewhere sides fought for points through revised targets and shortened overs, none more dramatically than at Kingsway, where Cheadle held off Hyde by four wickets after two hours were lost to rain, keeping their title hopes alive going into the final fortnight.

Urmston did not escape the weather either. But not before Saturday handed the club something worth shouting about.

Away at Ashley, Irfanullah Khan and Chris Turner batted together for what must have felt like an age, building an unbroken stand of 233 for the 2nd XI, Khan making 91 and Turner 128. It is the second highest partnership Urmston have recorded all season, behind only Omair Mohammed and Pyush Anand's 251 for the 3rd XI back in May. Given everything else the weekend threw at the club, it very nearly slipped by unnoticed. It shouldn't have. Two batters, one stand, the best part of a Saturday afternoon. That deserves its own headline.

Spare a thought, too, for George Holmes, who spent Saturday afternoon padded up and waiting, the price you pay for batting before the two above you refuse to get out. Four hours in whites will do that to a man, and George reportedly finished the day with a pad rash to show for his patience. He was straight back out in the whites on Sunday, this time facing Woodley, and made a fine 69 before getting out just before the rain returned and abandoned the match.

Off the field, there was plenty to be proud of too. 2nd XI captain Duncan Hood swapped his cricket whites for something of more of an amber hue at the recent Manchester Pride Festival. Urmston has always been a club for everyone, and it is good to see that reflected by the people who lead it.

Elsewhere, the newsletter brought a reminder that Urmston's 2nd XI still have a faint chance of catching the second promotion spot in Division 2, alive for at least another week. After a weekend like this, the club will take it.

Everywhere you go, you always take the weather with you.... Let's hope for some sunshine this weekend!