Marple 201 for 7 (55 overs)25 points beat Cheadle 143 all out (43 overs) 4 points by 58 runs
Marple made it back to back victories with a comprehensive defeat of nearby Cheadle at Kingsway last Saturday.
The weather was overcast and cool, but dry, and Marple captain Paul Wood elected to bat first on winning the toss. Even after a prolonged period of dry weather, the Cheadle wicket, despite appearances, was not the proverbial “shirt front.” Marple were forced, once more, to rejig their batting order, this time with Connor Ramsey opening up with Jim Morgan. From the way the early overs progressed, this seemed to be a good combination. Ramsey received the lion’s share of the strike, but was little troubled by the opening attack of Brown and O’Brien. A glorious extra cover drive, and a whip to mid wicket brought Marple’s new recruit early boundaries as Morgan watched in admiration from the non striker’s end. However, after his first couple of overs, Brown settled into an awkward spell, and with young leg spinner Josh Dooler soon replacing O’Brien, the scoring rate slowed. Morgan was unruffled, but Ramsey (19), seemingly set on a substantial score, fretted against Dooler. He aimed an ambitious drive over the top, but misjudged the length and was bowled at 41 for one. Morgan, relishing his opening role, was content to let Wood establish himself, and the second wicket pair proceeded in sedate fashion for a while. A further 48 were added, with this partnership just threatening to totally dominate, when Morgan was well caught behind by Bullock off Subhaan Mahmood for an excellent 45. Once again, Morgan had been in complete command, and was dismissed as the result of his only error in chasing a wide one.
Mark Makin joined Wood, and he played a breezy and entertaining knock of 26 in just nineteen minutes as 38 quick runs were added. Brown brought himself back for a second spell, and his accuracy was rewarded with the wickets of Makin (26) and Wood (28) both bowled, as Cheadle put Marple under some pressure. Andy Massey did not stay long, but Mudasser Panchbhaya joined Mike Schofield at 131 for 5, and Marple had their sights on around the 180 mark. They added 31 more, but Schofield had played himself in nicely. He is a strong right hander who can hit the ball with serious power. The Cheadle attack wilted in the closing overs as Schofield found the boundary with regularity. His jubilantly received maiden half century for Marple came up in the final over as Marple broke the 200 barrier for the first time this season. Despite the quickness of the Cheadle outfield, a final tally of 201 for 7 was well above what the home side anticipated, and their body language at the break suggested as much. Schofield (56 not out) became the sixth different Marple batsman to post a half century in 2018. For Cheadle, Dooler bowled an excellent spell of 3 for 42 from 17 testing overs, and Brown was also miserly with 2 for 38. The rest of the Cheadle bowling suffered some heavy punishment though, as Marple took control of the game. Cheadle are to be congratulated on their excellent over rate, bowling the 55 overs in ten minutes under three hours.
The Cheadle reply never once threatened to pull off a victory. Jack Grundy continued his happy knack of taking an early wicket, that of Brien (7), and with Moroney generating some good pace and lift to have Dixon (15) superby caught at slip by Greasley, the home side had two new batsmen in, and had to try and rebuild. Greasley, despite dragging down a couple of rare short deliveries in his opening over was soon into his spell. Carswell and Bullock are capable players, but seemed daunted by the distant target, batting in frenetic fashion. Marple’s spinning magician soon had both batsmen as Cheadle’s position worsened. Dooler continued his fine day with solid resistance with the bat and was joined by Muazzam who attempted to get his side back into the game with some unorthodox strokes. The sixth wicket added useful runs without looking totally secure, Muazzam dominating the scoring. A brilliant catch at short leg by Ramsey did for Dooler (16) though, the fieldsman scooping a one handed chance off the face of the bat. Mahmood was soon yorked by the returing Moroney, and Muazzam contributed a breezy 33, but spooned the wily Greasley to Massey at backward square leg. At 120 for 9 the game was surely up, but a stubborn last wicket stand of 23 in nine overs delayed Marple celebrations. Nicholson ended on 16 not out when Greasley had the final say, Burchall being lbw at 143 all out. Greasley had 6 for 46, but he was well supported by all the other bowlers, Moroney 2 for 33, Grundy 1 for 13, and Panchbhaya 1 for 20 who was right on the mark after a couple of stiff early overs. Ed Saxelby, although wicketless, was testing for all the Cheadle batsmen.
Marple are now seventh in the league and welcome Nantwich to Bowden Lane next Saturday 9th June, 12.30pm start.
Marple seconds made it a fifty point Saturday as they thrashed Macclesfield seconds by 83 runs at Bowden Lane. Another new opening pair, this time of Andy Wild and the returning Stuart Jackson, added 98 for the first wicket. Both batsmen made 48 apiece. After a couple of further quick wickets, Joe Cash joined Jamie Massey, and the fifth wicket posted a century plus stand as Macc wilted. Cash was 61 not out at the close, and Massey 56 not out. On the resumption, Macclesfield reached 110 for 2, but then crumbled to Joe Cash with four wickets, Josh Kirk two and skipper George Clarke two. 150 all out represented a serious collapse on a good batting surface, albeit against some quality bowling.
Marple thirds were unable to make it three from three for Marple sides as they went down by five wickets at Alderley Edge on Sunday. A below par performance saw Marple only able to reach the mystical score of Nelson, 111 all out. Sam Stretton top scored with 25, with Jacob Combey and DD Davies both reaching 16. Edge reached 115 for 5 in reply with Combey the pick of Marple’s bowler’s with 3 for 33.
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