Wood and Morgan Fire up Marple!

Marple 197 for 3 (47.2 overs) 25 points beat Upton 196 for 5 (50 overs) 7 points by 7 wickets

At the tea break of this game, it was difficult to know who was the happier of the two sides. Wirral club Upton’s innings had progressed nicely, but maybe they were twenty runs short of a par score on what was an excellent home pitch. Marple, on the other hand, had kept the opposition to a manageable total, but had not really dominated proceedings.

With temperatures about 15 degrees cooler than the previous week, Marple captain Paul Wood opted to insert the opposition at Bowden Lane last Saturday. His decision was rewarded when Ed Saxelby picked up both openers, Matt Owen, brilliantly caught one handed by keeper Morgan, and the dangerous Stowell- Smith lbw for a promising 25. Marple were though unable to fully capitalise on this good start, as the Upton middle order of McArthur, Dan Owen and the experienced Neil Cross played sensibly. It was Cross, (58) who was the most dominant of the three after he came in at 92 for 3, McArthur being well held by Morahan off Greasley for 33. Cross and Owen (50) added 74 for the fourth wicket without fully getting away. Cross did hit three huge sixes, but did not inspire the other batsmen to aggression. Owen’s half century occupied 108 deliveries, despite some pleasing drives.  A final total of 196 for 5 represented neither feast nor famine. Greasley was in miserly mood, picking up 1 for 21 in his 15 overs. Morahan also picked up the late wickets of Owen and Cross, well caught by Crisall off a skier.

In Marple’s reply, Crisall and Makin were in watchful mood, but neither player appeared unduly troubled by the useful opening attack of Ingram and Sundue. However, things changed dramatically after Crisall (14) edged a good one from Ingram to keeper Marsland at 32 for 1. Makin, who was again looking in ominous form was adjudged lbw to first change Maguire for 28 at 45 for 2. Andrew Hall, also fell lbw, once more to a slow left arm bowler, Williams, for just 3 and Marple were in a hole at 45 for 3.

Maybe the visitors’ total of 196 was a good one after all? Williams settled into an accurate spell against Wood and Morgan. Maguire, although bowling some excellent deliveries, did help relieve the pressure on the batsmen with the occasional loose one. Paul Wood has such a presence at the crease this season, born of confidence in his technique against all types of bowlers, and the fact that he has a game plan and cool head to put it into operation. Of the two, it was Morgan who fretted at times, but as he increasingly found the middle of the bat, he began to play some glorious strokes all round the wicket. This period produced by far the best cricket of the afternoon. The bowling was good, but Marple’s fourth wicket pair was more than up to the task.  Upton’s decision to introduce Cross into the attack though did not pay dividends and his seven overs cost 39 runs and three lost balls as both players deposited him out of the ground!

After the 100 partnership was raised, the batsmen looking rock solid by now, Upton heads began to drop a little although they never threw in the towel. A good crowd cheered some searing boundaries from both players as the winning line came into sight. Fittingly, on his birthday, it was captain Wood who cut the winning 4 with almost three overs remaining. His stand with Morgan was worth 152 runs undefeated.  Both players hit ten fours apiece, and also Wood smote two sixes and Morgan one. Morgan ended 77 not out, and Wood 73 not out. This was the Marple captain’s eighth half century in eight innings this season, and sees him past 500 league runs, a remarkable sequence. Morgan’s powerful driving also drew audible gasps from spectators as the ball scorched the turf.

Match ball sponsor was former Marple and Cheshire wicket keeper Tom Hodson.

Marple are now in fifth place in what has become a very tight league. There is still very little between the top six clubs, but at the other end of the table, two or three sides are already looking in trouble. Next Saturday sees Marple visit old rivals Macclesfield with a 1.00pm start.

In a seesaw game at Upton, Marple seconds ended up on slightly the worse side of an entertaining drawn game. Two uneven scorecards saw the home team post 171 for 9 after being 21 for 4 and 61 for 6, Newhouse, 34, Williams, 39, and Livingstone 51. Jack Grundy was the pick of the Marple bowlers with 3 for 40. Marsland, Clarke and Bass had two apiece.

In the reply, Marple got away to a good start, with Will Darby 18, Mark Nicholson, 40, and Andy Wild 33 leading the way. The middle order collapsed though, and it was left to skipper Clarke and Tom Travis, 16 not out, to save the day, Marple closing on 142 for 7.

On Sunday, Marple thirds got back to winning ways with a nine wicket thrashing of neighbours Bramhall. The visitors struggled to 132 for 9, with Jacob Combey 3 for 29, Mike Smith 2 for 31 and Ryan Ellis 2 for 16. Despite being 1 for 1, Marple, led by stand in skipper, the inform David Brook (70 not out) and Jonny Arrowsmith (49 not out) cantered home to a welcome victory.

Run Fest Then Frustration For Marple at Widnes!

Marple 270 for 7 (50 overs) 15 points had a winning draw against Widnes 193 for 9 (50 overs) 6 points

On the first really hot day of the 2017 season, Marple captain Paul Wood was probably happy to win the toss and elect to bat first at Widnes’s Beaconsfield Road last Saturday. The home side’s pitch was to prove tough for the seam bowlers all day, and Marple’s opening pair of James Crisall and Mark Makin were not unduly troubled as they amassed a first wicket stand of 123. Crisall was slightly the more dominant during this partnership, although he did receive the lion’s share of the strike. Both players though, were in top form with the boundary being found regularly. There were also a number of threes run which did not impress the batsmen in the heatwave, the home outfield not being as short as it could be.

The Widnes seam trio of Moore, Nawaz and Hewitt posed few problems, and the Marple travelling support was royally entertained. Both batsmen drove exquisitely through the covers, and Makin pulled the ball brutally through the leg side when anything short was served up. However, when Widnes skipper Kirby introduced the off spin of Naughton and the slow left arm of Fourie, the complexion of the game changed. It was not as though the ball was turning square, but that both bowlers bowled a testing line and length. They had to be treated with respect. Naughton first deceived Crisall in flight and had him stumped for a fluent 70 at 123 for 1. Before Andrew Hall had time to settle, Makin was also beaten in the air and bowled for an entertaining 52 at 130. For once, Andrew Hall (3) lbw to Fourie, failed and at 132 for 3 Widnes were back in the contest. Paul Wood is unstoppable this season though, and with Jim Morgan gradually establishing himself, the Marple wobble seemed to be over. The fourth wicket stand advanced the score to 170 in the fortieth over before Fourie’s nagging accuracy brought him the wicket of Morgan (21) also lbw.

Now came the most entertaining cricket of the afternoon. A fit and single minded Mark Bennett strode to the middle. There was no respect for the bowlers, just a determination to post the highest score possible. Bennett did not play himself in with care, but was in top form from ball one. Paul Wood did not need a second invitation to pounce on anything off line either. The final ten overs of the innings produced 100 runs in 39 minutes.  Fourie’s figures were dented as he was despatched for huge sixes by both players, and when Nawaz returned to relieve Naughton he was pummelled by both batsmen. It was not just the boundary count that hurt Widnes, but that two players in prime form ran brilliantly between the wickets. A chastened Widnes team were relieved when the carnage was over at 270 for 5, Wood, 53, being caught at deep square leg from the final ball of the innings. Marple’s captain now has seven half centuries in seven innings this season, a remarkable achievement, but he is not the type to rest on any laurels. Mark Bennett (52 not out) could yet equal him, as he has two first rate fifties in his two knocks this year so far. For Widnes, Fourie ended with 3 for 59 from 13 overs, and Naughton a hard earned 2 for 66 from 15.

As is often the case when one side has scored a large total on a hot day, the side batting second invariably struggles. Marple’s opening attack of Morahan and Wylie were fresh and raring to go. Wylie, in particular, seemed to have the measure of the conditions. Here is a bowler, full of skill and experience. He bowled straight, but on a length just short of drivable. He was rewarded with the wickets of Burns and Fourie who was brilliantly caught at slip by Wood. Morahan chipped in with the wicket of Kirby, and Widnes were in dire straits at 37 for 3. However, Alex Hewitt, after surviving a couple of close decisions, added 60 runs with Moore.  For Marple, young off spinner Connor Bergin, making his first eleven league debut, bowled tidily as did Ed Saxelby who did not enjoy good fortune. Bergin was rewarded with the wickets of Moore and Naughton as Widnes slumped to 109 for 5. When the returning Wylie bowled Cain at 114 for 7, all seemed lost for the home team. However, Hewitt had grown in confidence during his innings, playing a number of pleasing drives. He now found a determined partner in Anders. Marple’s frustration grew as it seemed as though there was no way through. Morahan tried some short stuff at Anders (20) who eventually lost patience and was lbw to the part time spin of Makin at 173 for 8. Although Yandell fell soon afterwards, number eleven Nawaz comfortably blocked the last over to see Widnes to a losing draw.  Hewitt, 78 not out, made the highest score of the match, and displayed an admirable temperament.  Wylie, not often a lucky bowler had 3 for 34 from 12 overs. Morahan, hampered by a lack of pace in the wicket battled hard for his 2 for 64. Bergin had a commendable 2 for 29 from his seven overs.

Marple played some excellent cricket in this game against the league leaders. The home side’s tail proved stubborn though, and Marple remain in mid table. Next Saturday sees Wirrall club Upton visit Bowden Lane, 1.00pm start.

Marple second eleven continued their resurgence with a 15 run victory over Didsbury in an excellent game at Marple on Saturday. In front of a good crowd, Marple made a challenging 185 for 8. Max Fitzgerald (35) and Will Darby (27) shared a half century opening stand. However, some accurate Didsbury bowling reduced Marple to 81 for 6. The second team has some resilience though, and Jamie Massey (46 not out) was very well supported by Stuart Bass and Mudassar Panchbhaya as a commendable total was eventually posted.

Didsbury got away to a good start, but another Marple captain, George Clarke with six wickets took his side to a deserved win. He was ably aided by Jack Grundy,  Mudassar and Bass, and also some fine catching from his side.

Marple thirds, with a gritty 57 from David Brook dug themselves out of a hole to post a score of 137 all out against Alderley Edge at Bowden Lane on Sunday. From the depths of 26 for 3, Brook and Lewis Braddock (24) added 75 for the fourth wicket. Despite an early success for Marple in the reply,  Alderley ‘s fine young batsmen George Bell  (41 not out), a Lancashire age group player, and Ollie Pooler (63 not out), saw the visitors to a nine wicket win with excellent temperament and strokeplay.

Torrential Downpour Scuppers Marple!

That rare pairing, the month of June and a Marple first eleven home game once more proved elusive last Saturday. A rainstorm of tropical proportions caused the cancellation of the team's game with Urmston. They will hope for better fortune next Saturday when they visit league leaders Widnes, 1.00pm start.

Marple seconds made a decent fist of their game at table toppers Chester Boughton Hall, despite only mustering 142 all out. As is the norm, the weather proved kinder in the west of the county, and a full game was possible. The Marple innings never really got going with the top order struggling against tight bowling. It was left to Stewart, Bass, 42 and Mudassar Panchbhaya, 27, to rescue things after a slump to 60 for 5. Gary Cash bravely contributed 21 not out at the end, despite a nagging shoulder injury. 

With the ball, Marple almost almost pulled off an unlikely victory. A collapse followed a comfortable start, with Jack Grundy, 4 wickets and Mudassar, 3 hitting the stumps six times between them. Chester regained their equilibrium, and ended victors by three wickets.

Once more, the third eleven's batting fell apart, this time at Nantwich on Sunday. Only Matt Barrow with 33 and Conor Bergin 15 not out reached double figures as Marple slumped to 80 all out. The home side cruised to a seven wicket victory.

Morahan Burst Sets Up Thrashing!

Marple 66 for 1 (9.4 overs) 25 points beat Weaverham 65 all out (27.5 overs) 0 points by nine wickets

Marple, inspired by a match winning opening spell from Patrick Morahan, completed a rout over struggling Weaverham at the mid Cheshire club last Saturday.

Morahan, who took a club best so far of 4 for 37, was once more given excellent support from Ed Saxelby. The first three home batsmen were back in the pavilion with only 18 on the board. To compound Weaverham’s misery, Aussie Cohen McElroy was taken off to hospital with a suspected dislocated knee. It had seemed as though lady luck was going to smile on him as he edged his first delivery past leg stump, was dropped at slip off his second and survived a confident appeal for caught behind off Saxelby next over. However, in attempting to keep out a yorker the following delivery, his leg appeared to lock and he was obviously in pain. There was a fifteen minute delay as the ambulance was summoned and the unfortunate McElroy was escorted away. It is to be hoped that his injury is not too serious.

After this, only Rob MacMillan, (34) with a few lusty blows, prevented total humiliation. Greasley weighed in with 3 for 7 and Jack Grundy gave nothing away when he replaced the tiring Morahan. Once more Marple’s catching was excellent, with seven different fieldsmen pouching chances.

Despite a rain shower between the innings, play got underway again at four o’clock.  Weaverham had little appetite for a battle as Crisall (15), Makin (25 not out) and Hall (21 not out) found the boundary with ease, the latter two memorably hitting huge sixes out of the ground. The target of 66 was reached in only 9.4 overs.

Marple remain in mid table, but there is very little between any of the top six sides. Conversely, the hosts find themselves already in a relegation battle. Next week Marple entertain Urmston with a 1.00pm start time.

Marple seconds continued their improvement with a fine six wicket victory over a useful Tattenhall side at Bowden Lane. With the Marple ground in superb condition, the visitors battled hard to reach a respectable 150 all out.  Skipper George Clarke and Andy Massey had four wickets each, and Mudassar Panchbaya two, with Conor Bergin providing solid support. Andy Wild (36) and Will Darby (57) shared an eighty plus opening stand against an impressive attack. When they, along with George Pearson were all dismissed, Tattenhall were well in contention, Marple on 92 for 3. However, a resolute Tim Radford (26 not out) with solid support from Jamie and Andy Massey, saw Marple home with three overs to spare.

Marple thirds were soundly beaten by Didsbury on Sunday. Chasing a mammoth 238 they subsided to only 67 all out.