Neston 188 all out (55 overs) 25 points beat Marple 133 all out (48 overs) 5 points by 33 runs
Two crucial contributions from Neston’s canny all rounder Chris Hackett turned this game the home side’s way after Marple had twice put themselves into a strong position.
Marple supporters have always enjoyed the visit to Neston’s attractive Parkgate ground on the Wirral. However, after having basked in temperatures of 25 degrees the previous week, the weather gods had a nasty surprise in store. After heavy rain during the week, single figure digits and a severe wind chill greeted the players. Unsurprisingly, Paul Wood opted to field first on winning the toss.
The Neston line up looked a strong one on paper. Dylan Moroney took his first Marple wicket early on though when Mark Bennett held a good catch to remove his old adversary Neston skipper David Hurst at 19 for one. The dangerous Will Evans found a staunch partner in Dom Smith for the second wicket, and the pair took the score along to 89 before Smith became Mudassar Phanchbaya’s first wicket in an excellent spell of bowling. Mudassar removed the home side’s middle order in quick time, and with Andy Greasley on the spot also, Marple were well in the game. Greasley had the prize wicket of Evans for a high class 58 at 120 for 6, and with two new batsmen, the game was in the balance. Hackett now made the first of his match winning contributions. With Jonny Crick, he added 60 priceless runs for the seventh wicket. Hackett, a mixture of aggression and watchful defence, clubbed five fours and two sixes in his 48. 188 was a useful total in early season conditions, despite a good all round bowling effort from Marple. Mudassar was the pick with 3 for 29, Greasley had 2 for 47 from 17 testing overs, Moroney returned extremely well to mop up the tail with 4 for 39, and Ed Saxelby bowled an excellent late spell of 1 for 18 in 7 good overs. A number of dropped chances did not help Marple’s cause though, and Neston were probably reasonably content at the break.
Neston’s opening attack of Ash Davis and Chris Finegan is one that certainly demands respect. The former has skiddy pace, and Finegan has replaced his own speed with a veteran’s guile as the years have passed. In Andrew Hall, Marple have as good a player as has played premier league cricket in Cheshire. With Mark Makin getting his season underway, some high quality cricket was on view in the Arctic conditions. Hall continued on from his knock against Toft the previous week, and Makin put his first game duck behind him. Forty runs came in good time before keeper Evans caught Makin off Finegan. First change for Neston, Stewart was ineffective, and so it was second change Hackett who soon had Bennett adjudged lbw for 5 at 69 for 2. Bennett had battled hard to establish himself, and may have been a tad unlucky with the decision. However, this proved to be the start of a horror period for the visitors as Hackett blew away the middle order. In no time Marple were 72 for 4, with Wood and Morgan departing for ducks. Mike Schofield made a useful contribution of 16, but fell to Hurst who contributed a telling spell of 3 for 13. The game was up for Marple when Hall was run out for another fine half century after a mix up with Mudassar, and although the latter made a valiant 23 not out to go with his wickets, the tail could not keep him company. Hackett would have been delighted with his decisive 4 for 22 from 10 overs, with the miserly Finegan battling through 17 overs and 2 for 28. 133 all out was a disappointment after such a promising beginning.
A full strength Didsbury struggled to beat a weakened Marple at Bowden Lane in the Cheshire Cup first round on Sunday. Marple made only 77 in testing batting conditions, with Hall making the game’s top score of just 17! With Moroney once more showing his mettle, wickets fell regulary in the Didsbury response. Victory was eventually achieved when visiting skipper Gregson smote the winning boundary at 81 for 7. Gregson had taken 3 for 12 earlier in nine overs of nagging slow left arm spin. Moroney, who will surely relish some firmer and dryer conditions as the season unfolds, had a fine 4 for 37. Marple’s young off spinner Connor Bergin weighed in with 2 for 12, both his victims being top order batsmen.
Despite a tricky start to the season, particularly with the top order batting and also the catching, Marple are not a million miles away from a win, and there is plenty of character and ability within the side to turn things around quickly. Next week sees another away game, this time at old local rivals Bramhall, 12.30pm start Saturday 5th May.
There were also testing batting conditions for the second eleven fixture between Marple and Neston on Saturday. Stuart Jackson made another fine contribution with 42 as Marple toiled to 119 all out. This proved to be a challenge for the visitors though, who eventually won by four wickets, despite a five wicket haul from Marple’s evergreen Matthew Shelton who is enjoying some vintage form.
In the early season third eleven round robin T20 competition, Marple were defeated by 29 runs at Heaton Mersey. Mersey totalled a useful 142 for four, and Marple replied with 113 all out, Jonny Arrowsmith 37 and Luke Greasley 33. Marple gave senior debuts to under fifteens Danny Cox, 1 for 21, and Jonny Monk who batted with promise.
No comments:
Post a Comment