ON A sun-stroked West End, the home of Church CC, Mount Carmel failed to claim a place in the final of the Lancashire Schools under 12s cricket competition.

Unfortunately, they never produced the quality of play that had seen them cruise past opponents Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, Sharples High, Bolton, Moorhead High and Manchester Grammar School in previous rounds.

On a perfect batting surface, Mount Carmel won the toss and elected to bat.

However disaster struck early and the team never really recovered. After just three overs, the team were stranded on just eight runs with three wickets down.

But, more significantly, they had lost two of their top batsmen, Joe Byrom and Chris Burton for just one single run added between them.

This is a competition where batsmen retire after 25 runs and each of the previous rounds where the team has batted first, both Byrom and Burton have reached the position where they had to retire.

With six wickets down for just 40 runs, the game was all but over. However Mount Carmel's tail-enders mounted a spirited fight-back and showed great resolve as Adam Sanderson, Chris Beaghan and Kieran Brown ensured the team reached a respectable total of 74.

Captain and county player Ryan Duxbury top scored with 18 but, in reality, Mount Carmel's total looked 20 runs short on an afternoon for batting. However credit has to go to Hulme as they bowled and fielded well.

If Mount Carmel were to reach the final, a real effort would have to have been made in the field but once again they made a poor start.

With Hulme's total of one, captain Fancy lofted a simple catch to cover which was dropped by a Carmel fielder.

Fancy and opening partner Michael Ford took this opportunity to the full and progressed impressively to 25 before Andrew Metcalfe bowled Fancy for 15.

Ryan Duxbury and Joel Byrom were then introduced to the attack and their impressive spell made it look at one stage as the game would be close. Some excellent bowling reduced Hulme to 34 runs for four wickets.

However, they once again threw away the lifeline they had given themselves. Hulme's Simon Perry came to the wicket at a delicate stage of the game. On only his second ball he gave an easy catch to mid on and the chance to put pressure on Hulme was missed as the chance was again dropped.

Perry really made Mount Carmel pay as he blasted his way to a quick-fire 21 and a well deserved victory for the visitors.

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