Incredible Hall Lifts Marple!

Marple 287 for 4 (55 overs) 25 points beat Bramhall 251 all out (53.2 overs) 5 points by 36 runs

Andrew Hall hit a second successive century for Marple as they beat local rivals Bramhall at Bowden Lane last Saturday.  Records tumbled as Hall flayed the visiting attack to the tune of 182 runs! His remarkable innings contained 126 runs in boundaries, made up of 21 fours and 7 sixes. Visiting captain, Nick Cantello must have rued his decision to insert the home team on a fine, sunny July afternoon. The Marple ground was in excellent shape, with the outfield lighting fast and a pitch that encouraged strokeplay, but also provided hope for skilful bowlers.

Bramhall’s Rupes Kitzinger is one such bowler, and his opening spell was a testing one. He bowled a searching length, and managed to achieve some awkward bounce due to his height of six feet 8 inches. His partner,Danny Lamb was pacy, but both the Marple openers appeared untroubled. Jim Morgan was looking in good touch, but a mix up with Hall saw Morgan (7) run out when the score was only 12. Ryan Lindsay (4) could not stay with Hall this week, and edged a lifting delivery from Kitzinger to stand in keeper uz- Zaman at 29 for 2. This was the high point for Bramhall in the field. Skipper Mark Bennett joined Hall and although Simon Wilkinson settled well at the start of his spell, neither player looked concerned. In fact Bennett was the player to initially attack the normally accurate Wilkinson, hitting him over the infield on a couple of occasions.

 Hall was obviously set on a big score, and a good sized crowd was treated to some top quality batting, with both players finding the boundary with increasing regularity. Kitzinger’s worthy spell gave him 1 for 34 from 11 overs, but although Cantello tried several bowlers at the pavilion end, none were able to exert any further control.  Wilkinson was unusually expensive, and even a change of ends was of no benefit to him today.  Youngster, Clarke began well for Bramhall, but he too was soon given harsh treatment as the third wicket raised 148 in quick time. When Bennett was stumped off Clarke for a fine 61, Mark Makin played an unselfish innings of 26 not out, all in singles, in support of Hall. In the fourth wicket stand of 109, Hall became even more dominant. The combination of timing and power on view in this fantastic innings will long be remembered by those present. When he was well caught by Hughes at deep mid wicket in the final over for 182, a Marple individual league record, he received a long ovation on his return to the pavilion.

To chase down a total of 287 requires excellent batting over a long period. Bramhall set off in pursuit with a positive intent with West (34) finding the boundary a number of times. Marple welcomed back Andy Wylie after a long time out with injury, and he settled as though he had never been away. A beauty accounted for Oxford Blue Matt Hughes, caught behind by Morgan standing in for the injured Makin. Runs came at a decent rate, but wickets also fell, and when Bramhall reached 131 for 5, it seemed just a matter of time for Marple. Zaman had made a spirited 25 and former Marple man Crisall a valiant 29, neither player able to go on to a big score. Joe Cash earlier took a sensational one handed diving catch to dismiss Lamb for only 5. 

However,  Bramhall skipper Cantello was joined by Lancashire Thunder’s Emma Lamb. Initially Cantello found his touch with a number of well struck boundaries, and then Ms Lamb after some early good fortune, also played a number of attractive strokes. She timed the ball well, showed courage after receiving a painful blow, and also ran quickly between the wickets, as Marple lost the initiative. Was a miraculous victory on the cards? Both players reached half centuries as a stand of 103 was posted.  However, when Wylie returned, he took three quick wickets, including that of Cantello, bowled for 55. Ms Lamb (59) was eventually deceived by Greasley and stumped by Morgan. This was an innings full of character, skill and timing and contained eight fours. The Bramhall tail was not able to resist, and Greasley took the final wicket when Makin caught Clarke at second slip with ten deliveries remaining. Wylie was the most successful bowler with 4 for 38 from 12 overs and Greasley was not far behind taking 4 for 55 from 18.2 overs.

This was a welcome win for Marple, and moves them out of the relegation places. Next week sees another crucial game with a visit to Macclesfield, a 12.30pm start. 

Marple seconds continued their terrific season with a comfortable 6 wicket win at Bramhall on Saturday. Bramhall struggled to 131 all out in the final over, with the innings following a now familiar pattern in the field for Marple. Matthew Shelton and Greg Marsland bowled useful opening spells, and then skipper  George Clarke, 3 for 46, and Andy Hayes 4 for 27 cleaning up.  Tim Wood with 61 was top scorer for Bramhall. In Marple’s reply, all the batsmen contributed, George Pearson’s 34 being the top score. It was also uplifting to see Jake Warner finish off the game with a flurry of boundaries in his first game of the season. This victory consolidates the team  in second place in the second eleven premier league.

Marple thirds gave a much improved performance, just having the edge in a high scoring draw with high flying Didsbury on Sunday at Bowden Lane. A solid batting card of 206 for 8 was dominated by the Massey brothers, Andy 76 not out, and Jamie 39. Didsbury made a valiant effort to get the runs, but ended on 194 for 8, Arshad  50 and Johnston 49 not out. The wickets were shared, but Andy Massey took two excellent caught and bowled.

The fourths were narrowly defeated at Didsbury by three wickets despite totalling a testing 200, Lewis Braddock 32, Rick Major 42, Animit Kulkarni 32 and Jacob Combey 34. In the Didsbury reply Daniel  (“DD”) Davies was the most successful bowler with three wickets