Stubborn Panda Frustrates Dominant Marple!

Marple 236 for 9 (55 overs) 14 points drew with Urmston 187 for 8 (55 overs) 7 points

A rearguard defensive innings from Urmston’s Sumit Panda kept a resurgent Marple side at bay at Moorside Road Urmston last Saturday.

On winning the toss, Marple skipper Mark Bennett elected to bat first on a glorious early August afternoon. The Urmston ground looked in superb condition, with the outfield resembling a bowling green, and the wicket firm, but having a greenish colour to it. Mark Makin’s opening partner today was James Morgan, and he was able to watch a fair number of deliveries from Urmston skipper, and Cheshire opening bowler, Adam Sydall, pass harmlessly by the off stump. Makin then eagerly tucked into some erratic bowling from Sydall’s partner Sumit Panda, effortlessly driving him twice through the covers.

Makin was the dominant batsman in a good opening stand for the visitors, and Sydall stood in mid pitch looking in disbelief, as the Marple keeper took him for two boundaries in an over with quality strokes. Morgan was never fluent, surviving a couple of appeals from Panda, but he hung in there to support Makin as the fifty was raised in good time. Sydall was bowling in an essentially defensive manner, with a field of seven on the off and just two on the leg. He made little attempt to attack the stumps, being content to wait for a mistake from the batsmen. Panda had been inconsistent, and after five overs that cost him 29 runs, he was replaced by the young leg spinner Matt Parkinson. Parkinson is in confident mood at present, and he has enjoyed recent success with Staffordshire and Lancashire’s second eleven. He was also celebrating his call up to the England under 17 squad, a terrific achievement. Parkinson settled well, but his first wicket was a fortunate one, as Makin pulled a long hop to mid wicket where Downes took a good catch. A fluent 40 runs this for the back to form Makin. There was no luck attached to Parkinson’s second wicket though, as the battling Morgan (16) edged a beautifully pitched leg spinner to slip one run later. Marple were 58 for 2, and with two new batsmen at the crease.

Andrew Hall then continued his good form, and skipper Bennett carefully played himself in. Runs began to flow again from both batsmen, and a good travelling Marple support began to enjoy the best partnership of the afternoon. The pair added 97 excellent runs in quick time, with Hall being dominant against Parkinson, hoisting a huge six, and cleverly picking out the gaps in the field. Bennett also cut twice to the cover boundary, and a huge Marple total beckoned. However, both batsmen would have been disappointed at being dismissed after reaching fine half centuries. First, Hall (51) was well caught by Jackson at long off, trying to hit Parkinson for a further six, at 155 for 3, then Bennett (54) misread the length from Sydall’s replacement, Jibran Khan, and was bowled at 172 for 4. Paul Wood, mixing defence with aggression then played a fine knock of 41, although his partners at the other end did not always give him the best support. Wickets fell steadily, and Marple probably felt that they were about par with 236 for 9 at tea on a normally high scoring ground. For Urmston, off spinner Khan was the pick with 5 for 58 from 16 overs, always needing to be watched with care. Parkinson kept going valiantly, ending with 4 for 88 from 21 overs.

On the resumption, Callum Turner looked to be in good touch as he took early boundaries off both Whittaker and Wylie. However, both bowlers soon found a testing line and length, showing that there was movement to be had on this pitch if the old fashioned virtues of attacking the stumps were followed. Wylie struck first, producing a beauty to have the fluent Turner caught behind by Makin for 29 at 34 for 1.  Turrell did not last long, being comprehensively bowled by the same bowler at 42 for 2. Whittaker got in on the act when Makin took another catch to remove the struggling Downes at 52 for 3. Panda then joined Lewis Jackson, and they looked to rebuild the innings. Jackson (25) seemed to be finding his feet when a sensational slip catch from Jimmy Ormond did for him. Jackson aimed a full blooded drive off Whittaker, and the ball flew quickly, inches from the ground. Ormond brilliantly caught the ball right handed as the goodish crowd were looking at the boundary edge. Urmston were now 67 for 4 and in some trouble. Maybe this dismissal coloured Panda’s thinking during the remainder of the innings, for after hitting Greasley for a couple of early fours, he barely played a shot in anger for the next hour and a half. Dickinson (20) played a few bold strokes, but the awaited onslaught never came. 

Bennett shuffled his bowling attack, and all the visiting bowlers did a good job, with Wylie ending with 3 for 58, and Whittaker 2 for 58 from 18 overs of pace and aggression. It was only in the final few overs that Panda (71 not out) unleashed a flurry of boundaries as Marple set ultra attacking fields in an attempt to prise out the last couple of wickets.

This was a strange innings from Panda. One cannot question his undoubted class, but with the Urmston lower order all looking to be useful batters, his early decision to shut up shop was difficult to fathom.

It was, however, a welcome return to form for Marple. Although none of the batsmen went on to a really big score, the top five looked in good order, and the Marple seamers outbowled those from Urmston. Next week they have another away fixture at Bramhall, 12.30pm start.

Marple seconds thrashed Urmston seconds by nine wickets at Bowden Lane. The visitors were routed for only 82, with Greg Marsland having five wickets, and Matthew Shelton three. Although opener George Pearson fell early in the reply, James Crisall and Jake Warner made light of the target with 30 odd apiece. Marple reached 86 for 1 in only the 16^th over. This result further consolidated Andy Wild’s team in the top half of the second eleven premier league.

Torrential rain caused the abandonment of both the third and fourth team’s fixture on Sunday.