Weaverham 227 all out (47.1 overs) 25 points beat Marple 141 all out (43 overs) 6 points by 86 runs
A stunning all round performance from Weaverham’s West Indian overseas player Wilden Cornwall sent Marple to a heavy defeat on their first appearance in division one of the Cheshire County League since 2011.
On a dry and sunny but cool April day, new Marple captain Paul Wood won the toss and invited the home side to bat first. The pitch appeared to offer little assistance to the bowlers, and opening batsmen Jamieson and Dean got off to a fast start. The Marple attack of newcomer James Menzies and Andy Wylie was inconsistent in line and length, no doubt due to some early season rustiness. However, a loose shot from Dean (22) saw him comprehensively bowled by Wylie at 45 for one. Jamieson rode his luck, playing some bold strokes although he was dropped twice and should have been run out. Skipper Eaton did not last long, being safely caught by Jamie Massey off another debutant Dylan Heginbotham. Heginbotham bowled a short spell, and showed some promise.
Wilden Cornwall came in at number four, and appeared in little trouble. He has time to spare in defence and produced a number of stunning, powerful straight drives. After Jamieson (59) was caught at 124 for 3, Cornwall monopolised the scoring with the lower order. Three huge sixes along with eleven fours contributed to his hard hit 88 runs from only 75 deliveries. Only when Wylie returned did Marple show any real consistency in the field. The veteran seamer picked up four late wickets to finish with a deserved 5 for 49. Greasley, not at his best, toiled to take 2 for 59, and Menzies, a little unlucky with 2 for 74. There were stunning catches from Heginbotham to dismiss Macmillan, and Mark Makin whose boundary catch of Cornwall was one to remember. Jim Morgan kept wicket tidily, making a smart stumping to remove Waterhouse
At least Marple had bowled out the opposition, giving themselves an extra two overs batting, but the feeling was that 227 was a bit above a par score.
Andrew Hall looked to be in great touch at the start of the Marple innings, stroking a number of glorious boundaries through the off side. He lost opening partner Bennett (0), bowled round his legs by Dean, and Morgan (8) mistiming a drive to backward point off the same bowler, the score 29 for 2. Paul Wood joined Hall, and the pair gradually rebuilt the innings without being able to totally dominate the nagging accuracy of Douglas and left arm spinner Macmillan. Macmillan’s persistence paid off as he had both batsmen, Hall adjudged lbw for 46 at 71 for 3, and Wood caught behind for 36, the total 116 for 4. Both Marple batsmen looked in good fettle though, and there should be runs this season. Mark Makin (24) also looked to be timing the ball well with a number of elegantly struck boundaries.
Eaton had held Cornwall back, but he was introduced in the 27th over. His first few overs did not hint at what was to come. However, once loosened up, he produced the most devastating bowling of the afternoon. He took four wickets for no runs when Marple had reached 125, including the hat trick. Bowling at the stumps, but just short of a driving length, he proved too much for Marple’s lower order. Heginbotham and Greasley batted with some application to take the score to 141, before the former became Cornwall’s fifth victim. Heginbotham again showed promise, this time with the bat.
This was a comprehensive defeat for Marple against a hard working side, but one containing a star man in Cornwall. The visitors may feel aggrieved with a number of decisions, but they never threatened to win the game. Next Saturday sees Marple host Oxton with a chance to react positively to this early loss, 1.00pm start. On Sunday they entertain Bolton League side Daisy Hill in the National Club Knockout Competition, also at 1.00pm.
Marple seconds were defeated by 9 wickets at home to Toft. Marple posted a competitive total of 190 for 5, George Pearson 65, Tim Radford 37, and evergreen Gary Cash a rapid 52 to boost the score after some quiet middle overs. Young second team debutant seamer Ed Saxelby then took a first wicket, to leave the visitors 6 for one. However, there was no further success for Marple as Toft knocked off the runs, not with ease, but batting with good application. Both players were dropped, when in the twenties which proved costly. Saxelby bowled well in his two spells to return 1 for 48.
