Rampant Hyde Romp to Title!

Hyde 115 for 0 (16.4 overs) beat Marple 110 all out (42.2 overs) 0 points by ten wickets. 

Hyde were far too good for a Marple side that, despite its best intentions, was unable to mount a serious challenge as the home side coasted to the Cheshire County Premier League title. 

Mark Bennett won the toss at Werneth Low and elected to bat first on what looked to be an excellent pitch. Hyde have relied heavily on their opening bowlers Jason Whittaker and Matt Hanna this season. Not only have they been the club’s leading wicket takers, but run scoring opportunities for the batsmen have been at a premium. Today it was obvious that they were bowling to well thought out plans against their near neighbours. Andrew Hall was kept quiet, with many deliveries passing by the off stump, particularly from Hanna. Three early wickets fell, with Makin well caught at slip by Duffy, Morgan harshly adjudged lbw and Mummery caught behind to leave Marple 26 for 3. There then followed Marple’s only bright period of a miserable afternoon. Hall and Mark Bennett tried to repair the early damage, and they added 42 runs with sensible batting. However, Hall (28) was deceived by a slower delivery from Hanna and bowled at 68 for 4. This, after he had taken successive boundaries from the Aussie.

Subsequently, only Bennett, with a fine 43, provided any resistance against Hyde’s unstoppable momentum. It was a sorry procession for Marple, despite Jimmy Ormond finding the boundary on three occasions. 110 all out was a paltry score against Hyde’s top class batting line up on a tight ground with short boundaries. Mention should be made of Duffy’s superb one handed diving catch at slip to dismiss Barlow. This brought great applause from a decent sized crowd that had gathered. The excellent home bowlers Whittaker and Hanna finished with 6 for 56 and 4 for 49 respectively. 

Hyde were on no mood to poke around and accumulate the necessary runs. Today was their destiny, and they were going to put on the style of champions. Khalid Sawas and David Fitzsimmons were in blazing form, as Matt Whittaker in particular was made to suffer. Boundaries flowed all around the wicket from both players initially, but after the half century partnership was raised, Sawas took total command, seemingly hitting fours at will. He won the game for Hyde with an outrageous scoop shot for six into the pavilion, provoking loud cheers as a long awaited first Premier League title was confirmed. Sawas concluded on 75 not out, and loyal Hyde servant Fitzsimmons 31 not out as 115 for 0 wickets was reached after only 16.4 overs. Marple needed early wickets, but there were far too many loose deliveries served up to help Hyde on their way. 

Hyde have long wanted this championship. There are a number of players who have almost tasted success in previous seasons, but on this occasion the three main performers were each in their first seasons with the club. They are a fine side though, with a potent combination of discipline and flair propelling them to success this year. 

 For Marple, the season fell away badly in the last two weeks with heavy defeats against the top sides. As a result of accruing no points here, they slipped from fifth to joint eighth in the league.  However, with major improvements to the pavilion soon to begin there will most likely be a fresh feel to things in 2015. 

It was left to Marple seconds to restore some pride to the club as they comfortably defeated Hyde seconds by seven wickets at Bowden Lane. George Clarke produced a superb display of medium paced bowling to take 8 for 51 as Hyde were dismissed for 140. Clarke has relished having a more responsible role on the seconds this season, and he has kept improving with his hard work and application. This return was excellent reward. Despite a sticky start, two wickets falling for 25, Will Darby and Gary Cash gradually took control. Darby reached his half century first, and then Cash soon followed. There were fine strokes from both players all round the wicket. Cash was bowled for 56 when the scores were level, but Darby, with 53 not out, was still there as the winning runs came up, courtesy of four byes. 

The third team will still be playing in the Sunday Third Eleven Premier League in 2015. Results last week meant that relegation was no longer a possibility.

Hostile Henderson Undermines Marple!

Chester Boughton Hall 124 for 3 (24.3 overs) 25 points beat Marple 123 for 9 (40 overs) 5 points by 7 wickets.

A terrific spell of quick bowling from Queenslander Joshua Henderson propelled Chester to victory at Bowden Lane last Saturday. 

That curse of Saturday mornings at Marple this season, rain, once again interfered with a first team game. Persistent drizzle was still falling at the scheduled start time of 12.00 noon, but with use of the rope to remove surface water from the outfield, and the rain relenting, a game of 40 overs per side was agreed, beginning at 1.45 pm. Mark Bennett has lost more tosses than he has won this year, and sure enough, in helpful bowling conditions, he lost another one here. In what seemed no time at all, Marple were 20 for 4, all the wickets falling to Henderson. This powerfully built fast bowler has been the most potent threat in the league this season. In the earlier game between the two sides at Chester in dry late June, he tested the batsmen’s mettle with some short stuff. On this slower pitch he was still quick enough through the air, but bowled to a fuller length with great success. Andrew Hall was caught at cover, Makin was bowled, Morgan caught at slip and Mummery castled middle stump by a full delivery. At the other end, Jordan Clark bowled in support of Henderson, but with less attacking threat. The Lancashire T20 man had to be watched, but rarely threatened the stumps. 

A recovery of sorts was begun by Bennett and Wood. With the ball losing some of its hardness, and also becoming damp, they batted with composure, Bennett superbly pulling Clark for successive boundaries. They added 28 before Henderson eventually got one through Wood’s (15) defences. Jimmy Ormond was lbw next ball, and Henderson was probably eying up all ten wickets! However, Matt Whittaker prevented the hat trick, and in company with his skipper produced the home side’s best batting. The opening bowlers were eventually rested, and although the young spinners Williams and Killoran landed the ball well, there was little spin for either in these conditions. Thirty-seven runs were added, and a good recovery seemed possible. Bennett though, after making 38 excellent runs, flashed hard at change bowler Goodwin and was caught behind by Rowlands. It looked like curtains for Marple. However, the determined Whittaker was now well supported by Chris Barlow. Marple’s own Aussie saw to it that the full 40 overs were used, and also gave the home side something to bowl at. He struck Henderson for several boundaries when he returned for a second spell, and 34 useful runs were added for the eighth wicket. A well deserved half century eluded him as he lost the strike in the final over. Whittaker ended 49 not out in Marple’s 123 for 9 at the interval. Henderson had 7 for 50 from 14 high class overs, spoiled slightly by Whittaker at the end.

Faced with having to defend a modest score against such a talented line up, Marple needed a fast start. However, two chances went down before Chester had reached double figures. Rowlands was dropped at slip by Greasley at slip off Whittaker, the ball travelling at a fairly comfortable height. Then in Wylie’s next over, the same batsman was dropped from a skier at mid off. Barlow seemed to have the ball, but then it fell from his grasp. These let offs seemed to take the edge of Marple’s effort in the field, and both Rowlands and Goodwin found the boundary with some regularity. This lethargy was still apparent even after three excellent catches that reduced Chester to 72 for 3 with two new batsmen in. Firstly Morgan took a stunner, inches from the turf to remove Rowlands (22), and Mark Makin safely pouched a steepler to dismiss the classy Goodwin (31) off Wood. Then Greasley had Jordan Clark (29), also caught from another skier by Barlow. This, after Clark had harshly dealt with the Marple offer, smiting four fours and a huge six over the pavilion. Without further addition to the score of 72, Law was dropped at mid on by Whittaker from a firmly struck drive off Wood who was proving a handful for the batsmen. Marple just didn’t seem to believe a miracle was possible. After a number of alarms, Law (21 not out) and Ross Dixon (13 not out) took Chester to victory in the 25^th over. 

Chester are a formidable side, but in order for them to win the league this season, they will have to hope that Marple can produce a much better performance and defeat leaders Hyde at Werneth Low in the final game of the season next Saturday. Chester, who added the Cheshire Cup to their collection on Sunday with a ten wicket demolition of newly promoted Macclesfield, are at home to already relegated Oxton.

Marple seconds chased leather at Filkins Lane Chester on Saturday. The home side rattled up 258 for 7 in the 50 overs. A dispirited Marple side were routed for only 90 in reply.