Oxton 205 for 3 (46.1 overs) 25
points beat Marple 204 for 9 (50 overs) 9 points by seven wickets.
On a glorious April day at Oxton’s superb ground, Marple
were ultimately comfortably beaten by the home side.
With the weather resembling midsummer and the Oxton outfield
short and lightning fast, Marple skipper Paul Wood was probably not too
displeased to be asked to take first knock in the first game of the new season.
The returning James Crisall and Mark Makin took strike to Oxton’s bustling
young left arm Australian seamer, Patrick Magann, and curiously, off spinner
Richard Fennah. Both batsmen looked confident, and Crisall was watchful in
defence, but did not allow either bowler to dominate. Some early boundaries
from both players eased Marple into the season, but both batsmen fell to
shortish deliveries. Makin (9) was bowled by Fennah attempting a pull at 14 for
1, and just as the second wicket partnership between Crisall and Andrew Hall
was beginning to flourish, the former pulled a long hop from first change
bowler Fraser to Hillyer at square leg at 43 for 2. This was a promising return
for Crisall (22) after a spell away from the club.
Hall is still in his prime as a batsman, and Paul Wood has
an innate ability to bat according to the situation at hand. Hall’s timing was
effortless, as he found the boundary with ease. Both batsmen had played
themselves in, and taken sensible opportunities to score up until the drinks
break after 25 overs. Marple were 86 for 2 at halfway. After the refreshment, a goodish crowd was treated
to some excellent strokeplay from both players as the run rate increased. It
took Oxton captain, Jack Smith, some time to find his best bowling combination,
but when Fraser returned he immediately had Hall lbw for a terrific 78
including 11 fours at 164 for 3. With Dane Williams also having settled well in
his second spell, scoring began to look a little more difficult. Morgan
supported Wood well, but when Wood was well caught for 53 at 182, Marple’s free
scoring was at an end. Morgan threatened a cameo, but he was smartly held by
Gibson for 20. It was a disappointing end to the innings as the lower order
struggled against tight bowling. 204 for 9 was maximum batting points, but
probably about 25 short of what looked on the cards during the Hall and Wood
stand. Dane Williams was Oxton’s most successful bowler with 4 for 48.
When Oxton replied, with the experienced pair of Gibson and
De Brabander, Marple knew that they would have to be consistent in line and
length. Pat Morahan looks to be a good
acquisition, able to bowl a testing line from his height. He had an early
wicket when Gibson was brilliantly caught behind by Morgan diving to his right.
However, this only brought in Dane Williams who must have been buoyed by his
success with the ball. They say things come in threes. Firstly, Will Darby
dislocated a finger making a brilliant stop, and had to go to hospital, second
Andy Massey strained his side and was only able to bowl two overs. Thirdly,
Morahan fell awkwardly diving to try and stop four byes. He took a while to
recover, but in the meantime, the Oxton second wicket stand progressed rapidly.
There was a flurry of boundaries as a hundred partnership came up. Only
Marple’s veteran off spinner Andy Greasley was able to offer any control. At
the halfway point, the home side were way ahead of the asking rate with only
one wicket down. Marple came back well, with Morahan putting his fall and any
initial nerves behind him to bowl a testing spell in partnership with Greasley.
Only 16 runs were ground out from the next ten overs, and Morahan produced a
good one to remove Williams for a solid 54. However, De Brabander, despite some
alarms against both bowlers, held firm and rediscovered his fluency. He made an
excellent 100 not out, being aided in two partnerships of 39 and 38 by Chris
Williams and the secure Mahdi Quadri. Oxton ran out comfortable winners with
almost four overs remaining.
This was a disappointing start for Marple, but they should
not be too despondent. There were enough signs to show that with application
and perseverance, success can achieved this season. Next week the side travel
again, this time on Sunday 30th April, to Warrington with a twelve
noon start.
Marple seconds had a nightmare start at Toft, suffering a
ten wicket defeat after being bowled out for only 74.
It was left to the third team to record the club’s first win
of the season with a comprehensive 66 run victory in the round robin T20
competition. Marple 144 for 7 (Matt Leech 56) Heaton Mersey 78 for 7 (Albert
Connor 3 for 17).
