Marple 207 for 4 (48 overs) 14 points drew with Alderley
Edge 205 for 9 (34 overs) 7 points
Marple edged the points in an exciting drawn game with
Alderley Edge at Bowden Lane last Saturday. This was supposed be the day before
the summer solstice. However, the game began forty minutes late in conditions
that would not have been out of place in mid November. Mark Bennett was
delighted to win the toss and bat first in the gloom and damp. Groundsman, Mike
Hibbert had though, prepared an excellent pitch that was well protected against
the elements. The visitors soon had to contend with a wet ball, but despite
this handicap, Alderley bowlers Windle and Foreman bowled tidily, and certainly
demanded respect from Andrew Hall and his new partner Jim Morgan. Both batsmen looked to be in good touch, and
settled well, although Windle was accurate and Foreman managed to get the ball
through to keeper Worrall with good carry on occasion. Hall (14), in
particular, seemed to be timing the ball well, but after taking two effortless
fours from Foreman, inexplicably played around a straight delivery and
deflected the ball into his stumps with the score at 19 for 1.
Skipper Mark Bennett then joined his former Loughborough
colleague Morgan, and the pair played with skill and application. Morgan was
the dominant partner, dealing in boundaries initially, but then rotating the
strike well with Bennett. Two superb cover drives from both players were
highlights of the partnership. The
bowling was steady, but neither batsman was unduly troubled. Alderley skipper
Worrall soon introduced his spin partnership of Reid and Aussie Chinaman bowler
Sean Sturrock. Off spinner Reid gave his
captain control, not turning the ball a great deal, but bowling a searching
line and length. Sturrock is an interesting bowler, and of the type rarely seen
in any form of cricket. Conditions were certainly against him today, with a wet
ball and temperatures in the mid teens. He was not economical, but seemed able
to produce some unplayable deliveries at times. One of these was a perfect
Chinaman to Bennett (25), which the Marple skipper snicked to Worrall when the
total had reached 103 for 2.
Morgan (63) had played possibly his best inning
for Marple, and looked set for three figures, when he miscued Reid to deep
midwicket where Rowe safely pouched the catch, with the score 113 for 3. Morgan
had hit ten beautifully timed fours in his knock.
This situation might have provoked a crisis for Marple, but
Sam Harbinson and Mark Makin, at five this game, continued almost without
incident. Makin took three fours from a Sturrock over, and the pair ran well
between the wickets. They were content to be watchful against Reid, but took
toll of some short deliveries from Sturrock.
Worrall’s decision to bring back Windle in place of Sturrock backfired,
as Makin took 28 runs from two overs including three sixes. Harbinson played in
controlled fashion throughout an excellent fourth wicket stand of 87, always
playing pure cricket strokes. Makin completed a superb and unselfish 52 before
falling to Reid at 200 for 4. Harbinson ended on 43 not out, once more showing
secure technique and good judgement throughout. The final total of 207 for 4
saw Marple bring up maximum batting points for only the second time this
season.
Two rain delays earlier in the afternoon meant that Alderley
had only 34 overs to reach their target. However, in Calum Rowe and Alan Day,
they have the two form openers in the league this season. Anything remotely off
line from Marple bowlers Harbinson and Chris Wood, was despatched to the
boundary, and both players looked in top form as a stand of 114 was posted for
the first wicket.
However, despite the batsmen’s dominance, it seemed that a
couple of wickets could change things dramatically due to the required run
rate. Spinners, Young and Greasley replaced the seamers, and it became apparent
that scoring was not quite so easy, as Greasley in particular managed to get
the ball to grip. Day (54), after a classy half century, was well caught by
Jack Marshall, and then Rowe was deceived in flight and bowled by Greasley at
136 for 2. Former Lancashire opener Mark Currie (32) threatened to win the game
for Alderley with his bold improvisations, but after Reid and Wildig fell
cheaply, he was well taken by Morgan with the score at 174 for 5. Marple had
put down a number of chances of varying difficulty, Young three times the
unlucky bowler, but the overs were running out for the visitors. With 29 needed
from two overs, a tame ending looked on the cards. However, Sturrock was not
about to give up the chase. 23 runs came from the penultimate over bowled by
Young, Sturrock (25) striking three mighty sixes. Crucially though, he was off strike for the final
over bowled by Greasley. When he managed
to get on strike, he lofted the ball to long on, only to be taken by
Bennett. From the last ball of the game,
Alderley managed to lose a ninth wicket to a third run out, as the batsmen
desperately hoped for miraculous overthrows. 205 for 9 was Alderley’s final total
as the game produced a frantic finale. Andy Greasley bowled with skill and held
his nerve to finish with 6 for 52, whilst Eliot Young was far better than his
final figures would suggest.
Marple were probably happy to come out just on top in this
game, with satisfaction at a solid batting performance. The number of missed
chances was once more a concern, but the tide seems to be turning as summer
takes over from spring. Next week sees a visit to league leaders Toft, with a
12.30pm start.
Marple seconds lost a tight game by two wickets at Alderley
Edge. A determined eighth wicket stand between Andy Wild (40 not out), and
skipper George Clarke (33) gave Marple hope as they recovered from 40 for 4
reach a competitive 143 all out. For
Alderley, the scourge of all Marple sides, left arm spinner Mark Warnes, had 6
for 52. Clarke led his bowlers after tea with another fine return of 4 for 35
from 14 overs. He was supported well by Greg Marsland and Andy Hayes who took a
couple of wickets apiece. Jonathan Usher was Alderley’s match winner with a
commanding 56 not out.
It was double defeat for Marple’s Sunday teams against
Cheadle. The thirds collapsed form 70 for 1 to 141 all out at Bowden Lane, Matt
Leech 33 and David Brook 29. Marple’s bowlers made their talented opponents
work hard for victory, but a five wicket win was achieved with three overs
remaining. The fourths were bowled out for only 49 at Cheadle and lost by eight
wickets.
No comments:
Post a Comment