ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
Salford Jewish CC suffered a dramatic defeat in their first game of the season, and they only had themselves to blame.
Too many wides, dropped catches and some sloppy fielding cost them dear.
Wilmslow chose to bat and openers Rowe (66) and Metzalaar (22) made steady progress on the good backing track.
Last year's player of the year, Daniel Paul (0-44), was bowling well but Salford captain Joshua Henry (0-35) was struggling to find his length. It took a tremendous catch from Salford wicketkeeper Gideon Sacofsky, diving one-handed low to his right, to catch Metzalaar off Alex Goodman (3-61).
The rate slowed as spin was operating from both ends with Jonny Wineberg (0-33) bowling well without any luck. Pressure told as Robert Marks (4-31) took his first wicket of the day just before drinks.
Wineberg then had the dangerous Fitzpatrick (53) dropped twice and the Wilmslow score moved on quickly as the Wilmslow batsmen started to punish Salford's bowling. Goodman took the wicket of Rowe with a sharp catch at point by Wineberg and, eventually, saw the back of Fitzpatrick with a sharp caught & bowled.
With Wilmslow looking to push on, Marks had Griffiths (25) caught at long on by Jeremy Korn who, in the process, split his hand and had to go off for treatment. Two further wickets for Marks and one for Zack Gothelf (1-33) could not prevent Wilmslow posting an intimidating total of 255 for 8 off their 40 overs. This was exacerbated by 40 wides, which also led to Salford losing three overs of batting for slow over rate.
Needing just under seven an over, Alex Goodman (62) and Gideon Sacofsky (58) were commanding, playing quality shots all around the ground to bring up a hundred opening partnership at almost eight runs an over. A rare false shot from Goodman saw him top edge to mid-wicket, bringing the attacking Jeremy Korn (47) to the crease.
A tired Sacofsky was bowled out whilst looking to increase the run rate. Zevi Saunders (21) joined Korn at the crease in a useful partnership which saw the score creep ever closer to the total. Korn, despite his bandaged hand, was middling the ball beautifully until a back injury began to hamper him. Saunders and Korn were then bowled, in quick succession, by Fitzpatrick.
With 50 needed from the last nine overs, an unlikely Salford victory looked on the cards. Two more quick wickets put the game back in the balance as Jonny Wineberg (26) looked to shepherd the team home with the tail. However, with six needed from the final over, and three wickets remaining, he was bowled, exposing the tail, who could not help Salford over the line. A run out completed a lower order collapse, leaving Salford four short on a total of 251.
Wilmslow 255-8 Robert Marks 4-31, Alex Goodman 3-61
Salford Jewish CC 251Alex Goodman 62, Gideon Sacofsky 58, Jeremy Korn 47
Salford lost by 4 runs