Victory at Last as Wood Stars!

Marple 162 for 6 (59.2 overs) 25 points beat Cheadle 161 all out (43.4 overs) 6 points by four wickets. 

Marple’s long awaited first win of the 2015 finally came over old rivals Cheadle at Kingsway last Saturday. Cheadle’s veteran skipper Paul Sperring elected to bat on winning the toss on the first June Saturday of the season. The pitch appeared to be well grassed although it was sluggish in pace, and the outfield, whilst lush, was fast, with the ball racing away to the boundary in the early overs of the home side’s innings. 

It was a good job for Marple that stand in opening bowler Paul Wood picked up three quick wickets. Joe Prince (19) and later Dan Brown (46) both played some extravagant strokes, with some off the outside edge,  against the new ball, and the scoreboard rattled along at over five runs per over. This was not what Marple needed in a crucial game against fellow strugglers in the league this year. A number of sharp catches were also missed, with Sam Harbinson and later Eliot Young failing to hang on to hard hit caught and bowled chances. Even after Wood had bowled the dangerous Elliot Bullock, the score continued to mount, and unfortunately for Marple, a back twinge meant that Wood had to be rested from the attack after taking 3 for 30 in just six overs. Only Andy Greasley was able to give his captain any real control, as fellow spin twin Eliot Young struggled with his length, possibly being affected by the strong westerly wind that blew across the ground in the early part of the afternoon. Brown and Will Holmes added fifty for the fifth wicket, but when both fell at 117, Marple may have felt that the back of the Cheadle innings was broken. Although Sperring did not last long, Ben Samuels (26) and Drew Carswell (11) showed character to give the home side a reasonable score of 161 on what was to prove a tricky surface.

Harbinson came back well to clean up the tail and finished with 4 for 44 from 11 .4 overs. The brilliant diving left handed catch by keeper Makin to dismiss Matt Fotia was the highlight of the day in the field for Marple. Greasley, in good form again this season, ended with 2 for 33 from 14 overs of guile. Marple had managed to take all ten wickets for the first time this summer, and were glad to have the use of eleven extra overs in the run chase. 

On the resumption after tea, Marple were delighted to have former Cheshire skipper Andrew Hall back at the top of the order again. Hall has been out of action for a month with a rib injury, and with Matt Fotia opening up for Cheadle, his skill and experience were much needed. Fotia, still only twenty years of age, has represented Australia U/19’S on a number of occasions with some success.  He has a strong and easy approach to the wicket, and even on this pitch with low bounce, got the ball through to keeper Bullock with good pace. He is also accurate, and Hall was particularly careful to leave any deliveries around off stump when he could. Mark Makin (5) was soon bowled by Fotia, and when skipper Bennett (5) was unluckily given lbw to Sperring at 27,

Marple may have feared the worst. However, Harbinson showed good technique and application along with Hall, and they led a recovery, seeing off Fotia’s initial burst. The scoring rate was kept below three runs per over though, as Will Holmes settled into an accurate spell of left arm spin. When Fotia returned, Hall effortlessly hooked a short delivery into the pavilion for six, and Marple began to breathe a little more easily. However, Harbinson’s (13) patience ran out when he chased a wide one from Fotia and was caught behind. Morgan (0) soon dragged onto his stumps, and when Hall (40) was brilliantly taken one handed by keeper Bullock off Holmes, Marple were suddenly 69 for 5, with not out batsmen Young and Wood both on nought. Cheadle, vociferous and sharp in the field, were now well on top. Marple’s sixth wicket pair now batted with resolution and skill though. Wood was absolutely secure in defence against the threat of Fotia. Using his experience, he gauged the pitch before attempting any attacking strokes, and Young also was solid, but ruthless as well whenever a scoring opportunity presented itself. Possibly Marple’s best stand of the season so far grew as frustration mounted for the home side. 

Sperring  used himself for a second spell, but was expensive, and was forced to bring back the willing Fotia for a third stint. The tireless Aussie produced a beauty to hit the top of Young’s off stump after he and Wood had added 66 priceless runs. Young departed for an excellent 34, made against tight bowling on a difficult pitch, and his improvement can be seen each game. With 27 still needed the game was far from won, but Wood now took charge. He waited for the time to pounce, cover driving Fotia for four and lofting Holmes for a straight six to see Marple almost to victory. With gutsy support from Jack Marshall (7 not out), the pair then added the few remaining runs in singles, the winning line being crossed in the sixtieth over. Wood’s innings of 47 not out was not his highest for Marple, but in terms of character and concentration in a winning cause, it may well be his best. For Cheadle, the excellent Fotia finished with 4 for 55 from 23.2 high class overs. 

Much needed relief this for Marple and a hard earned win. Next week sees another away fixture at Bowdon, a 12.30pm start. 

Marple were beaten by four wickets in the second team fixture with Cheadle at Bowden Lane on Saturday. The home side did well to recover from 50 for 4 to post 182 for 5, Will Darby 33 and Gary Cash 56 against his old club. Cheadle were forced to work hard for the win, but picked the right times to attack in reaching the victory target. Marple skipper George Clarke was again in form with the ball, picking up another five wicket haul in a losing cause. 

Marple thirds were in the runs against Urmston thirds on Sunday at Bowden Lane. Marple rattled up 246 for 8 in 45 overs with Urmston collecting losing draw points on 175 for 7.