Grappenhall 198 for 9 (42.2
overs) 25 points beat Marple 195 for 7 (50 overs) 10 points by one wicket.
A strange game of cricket at
Bowden Lane on Saturday saw the visitors complete a league double over Marple
with victory by the narrowest of margins.
Richard Green won an important
toss for Grappenhall, and asked Marple to bat first in what were to prove the
most testing batting conditions of the day. Overnight rain meant that the game
was reduced to 50 overs per side. Josh
McClelland and left arm seamer Sam Guest were right on the spot immediately,
extracting movement and bounce. Batting
was a tough business early on as the heavy rain of the preceding eighteen hours
had made conditions bowler friendly. Mark Makin grafted hard to see off the new
ball, but Jonny Marshall got one from McClelland that lifted nastily off a
length. He was caught behind by Grappenhall’s Cumberland wicketkeeper
Parkinson. Enter at number three, Andrew Hall. Hall has had limited
opportunities this season, but today he looked in prime form. As the sun
removed any remaining dampness from the pitch, Hall took total charge despite
losing Makin (10) to McClelland and Bennett (0) lbw to Guest when the score
reached 23. The Marple outfield was like a fine green carpet, and Hall found
the boundary with increasing regularity, although Guest continued with his
pinpoint accuracy. Hall memorably hit Guest for a straight six in one of the
few scoring strokes conceded by him.
First change bowler Barnes, a six feet eight inch giant was taken apart
by Hall with exquisite boundaries all round the wicket. Barnes’ final over went
for 18 runs including an effortlessly hooked six.
Paul Wood began his innings in
support of Hall, blossoming as the afternoon went on, and the sun warmed the
ground. After Hall, in a superb innings of 77 that included 11 fours and 3
sixes, chipped a full toss from McClelland to Bodha at mid on, Wood (72) came
into his own. He had helped Hall add 103 for the fourth wicket, and now took
charge, hitting 13 fours of his own.
After he was out caught on the long off boundary, Jake Warner and Matt
Whittaker added 22 useful late runs. Marple ended on 195 for 7 at tea and a
competitive total.
The second half of the game was
dominated by two Australians. For Marple it was Matt Whittaker, the left arm
paceman who bowled with hostility throughout his 15 overs. He had the dangerous
McCoy caught behind by Makin to the first ball he received, and then, in his
second over, Parkinson was caught in the gully by Hall with the score at 23 for
2. With Wylie absent today, Bennett opted to use Greasley as Whittaker’s
opening partner. Whittaker yorked Roylance (17} at 46 for 3, and then Greasley,
who had to toil hard this afternoon, caught and bowled Pennington (29) at 88
for 4. Marple may have felt that they were favourites at this stage, but
McClelland, the Australian who has been the scourge of Marple this season, had
other ideas. With Bodha applying himself well, McClelland began to dominate the
home bowlers. He hoisted Greasley for six, and then when Ormond went around the
wicket, despatched him for sixteen runs in an over. Grappenhall were romping to
victory. However, Whittaker returned for a second spell, and looked even
quicker than with the new ball. Short, nasty deliveries accounted for Bodha
(28) and McClelland a quickfire 53. Marple were right back in it. However,
Barnes made amends for his bowling with a brave 27 batting at eight. In attempting another audacious stroke he
skied the ball only for Makin to take a superb catch, and give Whittaker his
seventh wicket. At 189 for 9 it was
anybody’s game, but Baxter finally cut Greasley away for four to give the
visitors their one wicket win.
This was a disappointing defeat
for Marple. They had three of the game’s four best players in Hall, Wood and
Whittaker who had 7 for 70. McClelland though, was once again the star for
Grappenhall taking 5 for 83, and he received useful support from a youthful
middle order in his hard hit and decisive 53.
Marple drop to sixth in the
league, and visit Bowdon next Saturday, 12.30pm start.
Marple seconds avoided feat at
Grappenhall, but cannot have been happy with a below par display. Despite
losing early wickets, the home side posted a commanding 233 for 8. Marple lost
both openers with only 4 runs on the board, and although Gary Cash made a
valiant 38, it was left to Andy Bell with 34 not out to see out a losing draw.
On Sunday Marple thirds were
routed at Urmston. Wayward early bowling was despatched, and only skipper Hirst
with 3 for 13 from 12 excellent overs was able to rein things in. A horror show
with the bat saw the team rolled over for only 56 in eighteen overs. This on a
blameless pitch and with an outfield of pristine quality.
It was left to three Marple
veterans with a combined age in excess of over 160 years to oversee a victory
for the fourths on a tricky weekend for the club! Cheshire over 60’s captain
Chris Lees had four wickets in Ashton on Mersey’s 175 all out. In the reply,
Mike Booth with 40, and skipper Rick Major 49 not out, were the batting heroes
in a fine four wicket win.
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