Cricket Loses Out as Football Takes Centre Stage

This Premier League game between Toft and Marple was shrouded in the mist of World Cup 2018 fever. Toft gained 25 points for the victory, and Marple garnered 4 points. The real winner on yet another glorious July day though was football.

After starting at 11.15am, Marple made 155 all out, and Toft replied with 157 for 5. The game began earlier than normal in order to accommodate the main event of the day. At 2.50pm there was a “break in play”. Before this, the Toft batsmen had followed most of the Marple players to self destruction, as the home side reached 104 for 5. After this break, the home sixth wicket stand violently reached the winning post in just a handful of overs, mercifully bringing proceedings to an end.

Marple now have two home games in succession, starting with a fixture with Wirral club Neston next Saturday at 12.30pm. Sunday sees the side compete in finals day of the Fred Graham T20 trophy at Bramhall with a game against the host club, 10,30am start.

The second eleven game between the two clubs produced a far better contest. Against the Toft opening attack of Dunkerley and Wasilewski  Marple were reduced to 10 for 5. However, Mudasser Panchbhaya, at number seven,  made a courageous 70. He was well supported by Matt Shelton (19), George Clarke who contributed a supportive 4, in a stand of 30, and Joel Greasley with a hard hit 18. Marple reached a commendable 152 after a disastrous start. For Toft, Dunkerley had 5 for 20.

Marple responded well in the field. Ed Saxelby got amongst the top order, and he ended with a Marple best of 5 for 39. Panchbhaya was unlucky with just 1 for 29, but skipper Clarke weighed in with 3 for 40. Ewan Williams with 62 held the Toft innings together, and Dunkerley topped his fine day with 25 in support. A tense one wicket win for the visitors brought to an end a fine game of second eleven cricket.

Marple thirds gained the club’s only victory of the weekend with a 9 wicket demolition of Oxton last Sunday.  Oxton made 184 all out, with returning veteran slow left armer Andy Hayes 3 for 60, DD Davies 2 for 36, and skipper Greg Marsland 3 for 6. Another player returning for Marple, Will Darby held the innings together with 36 not out. However, it was brutal at the other end, with Luke Greasley creating mayhem with 70. This carnage was continued by Matt Leech with 60 not out. Only 23 overs were required to reach the victory target.