Whittaker leads rout on Nantwich

Marple 106 for 2 (25.5 overs) 25 points beat Nantwich 105 all out (31 overs) 0 points by eight wickets.

Marple’s Victorian left arm paceman, Matt Whittaker, was the star of the show on Saturday, as Nantwich were heavily beaten at Whitehouse Lane.

On a perfect mid May Saturday afternoon, home skipper Raymond Doyle elected to bat first on winning the toss. However, he must have been regretting his decision, when in the ninth over he found himself facing a hat trick delivery from Whittaker. Whittaker and his partner Andy Wylie had kept a strangle hold on the Nantwich top order, with both bowlers right on the mark. The pitch was proving tricky for batting, and Whittaker and Wylie both extracted movement and variable bounce. The whippy left armer struck quickly, having Shaw lbw, and then soon afterwards clean bowling Farrington and also Hunt first ball. Doyle survived the hat trick, but then in the next over, Wylie had the prize wicket of Lancashire starlet, Liam Livingstone, palpably lbw for one. Nantwich on 10 for 4.  Although Doyle (14) became one of only three home batsmen to reach double figures, he didn’t survive long, following Atkins (0) to leave his side on 25 for 6. Both these fell wickets to Wylie, who had at this stage figures of 3 for 8 from 8 overs. Paul Wood was introduced to give Whittaker a breather, and he soon had Johnston safely caught by Eliot Young at square leg, the score 35 for 7.

Nantwich were indebted to Cook-Sievewright (25) and top scorer Goode (42 not out) to enable the side to reach three figures. Wylie’s figures were slightly spoiled as both players found the boundary. However, when Whittaker was reintroduced, he quickly cleaned up, with Warrington well caught at long on by Marshall, and number 11 Griffiths comprehensively castled. Nantwich all out 105 in only 31 overs, with Whittaker, superb this afternoon, 6 for 36 from 13 overs. His partner Andy Wylie was equally impressive with 3 for 43 from 14.

On the resumption, all eyes were on the home opening attack of Warrington and Shaw. Could they find similar movement to the Marple seamers? The answer was definitely no. Jonny Marshall and Mark Makin are in confident mood this early season, and both found the boundary with regularity. A partnership of 32 came up in only six overs. Both players were probably slightly careless with Marshall (15) playing on, and Makin (17) mistiming a drive to mid off as the wickets went to Shaw.

Shaw, along with the experienced Warrington, then bowled steadily to new batsmen Jim Morgan and Mark Bennett. Maybe the sun had taken some of the spite from the pitch because both batsmen were able to play themselves in fairly comfortably. The highlights of their unbroken partnership of 73 were successive boundaries by Morgan off Warrington, one a perfectly timed cover drive, and the second an exquisite back foot shot just in front of point. On a ground on which he likes batting, Bennett also played a number of delightful pulls and drives. Morgan ended with a fluent 41 not out with eight fours, and Bennett 21 not out, as victory came in only the 26^th over.

Next Saturday, Marple face Urmston at Bowden Lane in the first of two consecutive home games, 12.30pm start.

Marple seconds were victors by four wickets against Nantwich seconds in an excellent game of cricket at Bowden Lane on Saturday. The visitors reached a testing target of 215 for 6, with Andy Newton leading the way with a hard hit 77. He was well supported by Cowap with 45, and the very promising Fergal Madden with 40 not out. Matthew Shelton was Marple’s best bowler with 3 for 60.

 When Marple replied, James Crisall looked in top form against the pace of Chris Connolly, and Will Darby was in stubborn mood at the other end. Crisall fell for 27, and then skipper Wild was soon bowled by Connolly. Gary Cash was in vintage form for Marple, as he dominated a stand of over 80 for the third wicket. Darby went for a battling 24 and then fatigue caught up with Cash when he had reached a classy 84. Ryan Lindsay is in fine form this season, and he defied the returning Connolly and a blow on the helmet, hitting a fine 37 not out to guide Marple to a four wicket victory with five deliveries remaining.

Marple third eleven lost by three runs in a tight game at Didsbury on Sunday. Chasing 203 for victory, they were bowled out for 199 with just two deliveries remaining. Andy Mummery made a valiant 84.

Brooklands fourth team conceded the the game to Marple fourths, being unable to raise a side.