Brooklands 196 all out (47.3 overs) 25 points beat Marple 107 all out (34.4 overs) 4 points by 89 runs
Marple’s first visit to Brooklands in over a decade ended with the home side inflicting a heavy defeat over the visitors by the sizeable margin of 89 runs on another gloriously sunny late April afternoon
Brooklands skipper Jack Bagshaw elected to bat first, the large expanses of the Whitehill Road ground never having looked in better condition. Appearances can be deceptive though, for despite having the look of being batsman friendly, there was plenty in the pitch to interest the seam bowlers. The ball did not come readily on to the bat, and there was some variable bounce. However, Marple’s opening attack of Jack Grundy and Mudassar Panchbhaya, whilst bowling some good deliveries, were possibly striving too hard to bowl the “magic ball.” Both men were guilty of serving up a mixed bag, and the opening batsmen for Brooklands, Alex Edwards and Dave Cunliffe feasted on some wayward bowling. The outfield was like greased lightning, and anything that pierced the infield raced away to the boundary. Although Joe Cash, who came on as first change, settled immediately, the first wicket pair added 65 runs in quick time. This partnership had Marple on the back foot, and with the ground fielding not up to the usual level, it looked as though a long afternoon in the field chasing leather was in prospect.
It is to Marple’s credit that they did drag themselves back into the game. After a nervous initial over, Ed Saxelby bowled an excellent spell replacing Grundy. He removed both openers, Edwards for 36 and Cunliffe for 22. He also, fortunately, picked up the scalp of the hard hitting South African Kevin Carroll (29), who chipped a full toss to mid off, where Grundy took a safe catch. Carroll had earlier despatched Joe Cash for two massive sixes, and looked in ominous touch. Age restrictions meant that Saxelby had to be rested after seven overs, but he had done a good job.
George Clarke continued the good work though with a fine spell. He took four wickets in his ten over stint, and ended with 4 for 32, as Marple clawed their way back. At 154 for 8, they were almost on an even keel. Then, for the second week running, a fine undefeated innings from a middle order batsman, on this occasion Tom Starkes (41 not out), took the game away from Marple. Starkes looked as good as any batsman at the top of the order, and with gutsy support from the tail, took the total up to 196 before Mudassar took a brilliant caught and bowled to end the innings. Andrew Hall pouched three good catches at first slip for the visitors.
Whilst Marple had come back well, taking eight wickets for 89, the final tally looked to be some way above a par score considering the variable nature of the pitch. In A.J Hart, Brooklands have a seasoned opening bowler. Strongly built, with a good repeatable action, he knew exactly the length to bowl on his home turf. AJ managed to consistently hit that area around off stump, and just short of driving length. No Marple batsman was comfortable against him. Hall, lbw for 2, and Fitzgerald, caught behind for a duck, went in his second over. Crisall was joined by Jim Morgan, who began with a flurry of boundaries off AJ’s partner Leach. It looked a different game at the other end, and with Crisall looking secure, Marple began to repair the early damage. Crisall’s first mistake cost him his wicket though, as he carved a rare wide delivery from AJ to point when on 19 to leave Marple 45 for 3. Paul Wood, at five, is not a lucky batsman. Maybe bowlers up their game when this quality performer appears at the crease, but he rarely gets any “freebies.” Today was no exception, as AJ and his namesake Chris Hart, the off spinner, kept Wood pinned down. Wood battled for 30 minutes for a solitary single, Morgan doing the scoring, before falling lbw to AJ. It was downhill after this point for Marple, although Saxelby looked secure in company with his skipper. A brilliant direct hit run out from Cunliffe at square leg did for Saxelby (6). The tail was blown away again, by Chris Hart, and the end was not long coming at 107 all out.
All the while, Jim Morgan played a lone hand for Marple. He ended on 75 with ten fours, being the ninth wicket to fall, comfortably the highest score of the game. He played some glorious strokes all round the wicket, and was solid in his defence.
The winning post of 197 was always a long way off, and without any real help at the other end, he could not win the match on his own. For Brooklands, AJ Hart, with 5 for 24 from 13 overs, showed the age old virtues of line and length, never striving too hard, but maintaining the pressure at all times. Chris Hart, was also accurate, and he had slightly flattering figures of 4 for 30, the tail offering little resistance.
Marple are back at Bowden Lane next Saturday, May 1st, when they face another South Manchester side in Urmston, 12 noon start.
Marple seconds were also comfortably defeated by 71 runs in their home fixture with Wirral side Neston. In the visitors’ substantial 231 for 4 declared in 47 overs, there were two centurions, the two Matthews; Strong, with 110, and Brookes with 100 not out. The Marple bowlers toiled manfully, Kaiser Chowdry again picking up a couple wickets in his 2 for 52.
When Marple replied, several players got good starts, but were not able to go on and get the big score to threaten a win. Matt Barrow top scored with 44, skipper Bergin showed his development as an all rounder with 28, Mark Nicholson looked good for 22 and James Hirst weighed in with 20. A draw was almost earned, but the tenth wicket fell with four overs remaining.
A high scoring game of T20 cricket saw Marple/Compstall thirds make it a hat trick of defeats for the Bowden Lane club over the weekend.
Hyde thirds blasted a commanding 169 for 7, with Hatley taking 2 for 20 for Marple. Faced with chasing this daunting total, Marple mustered a creditable 131 for 9, Will Darby 48 not out, and Andy Massey 26.
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