Marple too Strong for Lowly Neston

Marple 95 for 3 (23.5 overs) 25 points beat Neston 92 all out (45.5 over’s) 1 point by 7 wickets

Neston skipper David Hurst probably surprised his opposite number Mark Bennett by electing to bat after winning the toss at Bowden Lane last Saturday. Once again, wet weather had made preparation for the game tricky, and rain was in the area on commencement of the game. Matt Whittaker and Andy Wylie have been a handful for pretty well every side this season, and today proved no exception. Mark Makin took another stunning catch behind the stumps to account for Hurst for a duck off Wylie.

Then, in the next over, Wales Minor County player Will Evans aimed an expansive drive at Whittaker and was bowled for 8. A further wicket each for the openers came when Williams was safely caught by Bennett, and Murphy was lbw after shouldering arms to a straight one from Wylie. Luke Camden watched in horror as two further wickets fell to Greasley to leave Neston in the mire on 24 for 6. There was some sort of revival as Hawley rode his luck in joining the responsible Camden to add 56 runs for the seventh wicket. Eliot Young replaced Whittaker, and once again settled well. He eventually had the battling Camden brilliantly caught at slip by Greasley for 37. Then, in his next over, Hawley (23) drilled the ball to mid wicket, where Morgan safely pouched the catch. Greasley had numbers 10 and 11 lbw soon afterwards, and Neston were sent packing for only 92.

Although fluent stroke play proved difficult, this was a poor batting display from the visitors, well as Marple bowled on the day. Greasley had 4 for 22 from 15.5 overs, Wylie had 2 for 7, Young 2 for 17 and Whittaker 2 for 43. The fielding and catching was of a high order, with everything being caught, and Bennett keeping a check on the batsmen with his field placing.

After the interval Hurst opted to open up with his two experienced bowlers, veteran seamer Finnegan, and slow left armer Stimson. Not for the first time this season, Mark Makin took a liking to the slow left arm attack, and Stimson was replaced by Hurst after being despatched for 17 runs in his first two overs.  Finnegan had the fluent Makin lbw for 20, and then Marshall chipped Hurst to mid on to leave Marple  42 for 2. James Morgan (9) had once again looked to be settling in well when he charged down the pitch to Stewart, who had replaced Finnegan, and was well stumped by Evans. 44 for 3 was the high point of the afternoon for the visitors. Mark Bennett, in determined mood this season, was then joined by Paul Wood. The fourth wicket pair mixed good sense with excellent running, and also put the rare bad deliveries to the boundary. Bennett was 22 not out and Wood 27 not out when the winning runs were hit. Marple closed on 95 for 3 in the 24^th over. 

They move up to second place in the Cheshire County Premier League, and visit champions Chester Boughton Hall next Saturday, 12.30pm start.

A lacklustre performance saw Marple exit from the Cheshire Cup at Toft on Sunday. Only Mark Bennett with a fine 77 not out, stayed for any length of time as Marple reached 173 for 8 in a game reduced to 40 overs per side. Tim Radford, batting at nine, gave Bennett useful support in adding 46 for the eighth wicket to give the visitors something to bowl at. Toft openers, Drummond and Hancock, however, added 147 for the first wicket, as the home team romped to victory by 8 wickets.

Marple seconds were soundly beaten by 8 wickets at Neston’s Parkgate ground on the Wirral on Saturday.  Andy Bell rescued the innings with a gritty knock of 51 not out coming in at number 8 as Marple eventually reached 148 all out after the full 50 overs. For Neston, Gill was severe on all the Marple bowlers, hitting a forceful 88, before falling to George Clarke. A comfortable home victory was brought up in the 34^th over.

There were two sensational performances in Marple’s Sunday teams. At Nantwich, Mark Nicholson hit a breathtaking 120 in Marple’s 247 for 5 in only 40 overs. Skipper James Hirst sensibly declared early, and this was to pay dividends as Nantwich were bowled out for 185 to give the visitors victory by 62 runs. Chris Barlow had 4 for 38.

However, even Nicholson’s 120 had to take second place to a bowling spell of dreams by Jack Grundy in Marple fourth’s win by 7 wickets over Woodley thirds. Jack had 6 for 17 with his six wickets coming in the space of only 8 balls including the hat trick! Woodley were all out for 135. In Marple’s run chase, Tom Travis hit a fine 42 and Luke Greasley a rapid 42 not out.