Marple 164 for 4 (34.5 overs) 25 points beat Oxton 160 for 5
(37 overs) by 6 wickets
A superb undefeated 102, following three victims behind the
stumps, from Marple wicketkeeper batsman Mark Makin, guided the visitors to a
fourth win of the season at Oxton last Saturday.
When Marple left for Wirral club Oxton on Saturday morning,
there seemed little prospect of any cricket. Torrential rain had fallen during
the morning, and with more forecast, the thought of any sort of meaningful game
appeared fanciful. However, although it
was still raining at the scheduled start time of 12.30pm, the Oxton ground was
in absolutely top class condition, with the pitch well covered, and the
outfield looking better than on many first class grounds. The rain stopped
around 1.30pm, and a game of 37 overs per side was agreed with a start time of
3.00pm.
Mark Bennett won the toss, and asked the home team to bat.
With a reduced game in the offing, the home batsmen were in a hurry. Whittaker
was warned for running on the pitch, and he resorted to a round the wicket
attack. Maybe this, along with a dampish ball, slightly reduced his effectiveness
on the day. Wylie was a threat though, and he repeatedly beat the outside edge
of Hughes. De Brabander had been the more secure of the batsmen, but he was
brilliantly caught by Makin off Wylie for 19 with the score at 30 for 1. Alex
Money looked assured at number three, and he dominated the second wicket stand
with Hughes. They added 42 runs.
Bennett introduced spin at both ends, with the
off spin of Greasley, and the slow left arm of Young. Young settled well, and
when Hughes called his partner for a suicidal second run, he calmly collected
the ball from Morgan’s excellent throw to run out the dangerous Money. Soon
afterwards, Young had his wicket when Hughes was well stumped by Makin. The
remainder of the Oxton innings saw the rest of the top six reach double
figures, with Zimbabwean, Queri (32 not out) and Fennah (26) adding 50 for the
fifth wicket with some fluent strokeplay. 160 for 5 meant maximum batting
points for Oxton, but it was difficult to say whether it was a par score or
not. Greasley had two wickets, but they cost him 55 from 11 overs.
It looked to be a decent total when Oxton’s opening bowler
Gayon Fernando first clean bowled Jonny Marshall for 3, and then in the same
over had James Morgan caught behind for a duck. Marple on 10 for 2. Normally in
these situations, the batsmen try and consolidate. However, Mark Makin is not
batting according to any convention this season. Without taking undue risk, he
decided that Fernando had to be removed from the attack. Sixteen runs were
taken from his next two overs, and with skipper Bennett batting with good sense
at the other end, the initial crisis passed. Queri did not prove to be a threat
at the other end to Fernando, and Oxton captain Cashin opted for left arm spin
at both ends in the shape of Worcestershire’s Choudry and Fennah.
Makin then had a short period when he
appeared to lose control, being dropped at slip off Choudry, and then flirting
a couple off the edge past the stumps. However, when Bennett (25) was caught
from a thick edge at 84 that was caught by Queri, Makin took complete charge.
Firstly with Wood (12) and the Andrew Hall (15 not out) he picked the moment to
strike. Fennah was hoisted for a couple of huge sixes, and Choudry lost control
of length and line under the onslaught. Wood and Hall were excellent in
support, picking gaps in the field to collect singles in order that Makin could
face the majority of the bowling.
With only a few runs required, Hall
unselfishly gave Makin the strike, so that he could bring up the winning runs
with a swept boundary from Fennah, and also complete a magnificent century.
Makin’s innings included 14 fours and 2 sixes. It was
noteworthy not only for the superb clean ball striking, but also the clear
assessment of the match situation. He picked exactly the moments when to
strike, and such is his confidence at present, he had the belief to execute all
the strokes.
So, Marple are back on track on a day when only three
premier league games were completed. They move up to third in the league, and
face another Wirral side, Neston at Bowden Lane next Saturday, 12.00pm start.
Marple’s second team were not so lucky, as their game with
Macclesfield was abandoned without a ball bowled. They remain in second place
in the second eleven premier league.
Torrential rain ultimately put paid to Marple third’s game
against Grappenhall at Bowden Lane on Sunday. Consistent bowling restricted the
visitors to 132 for 9 in their 45 overs. However, with Marple on 75 for 3 after
only 14 overs the heavens opened and no further play was possible. There had
been some excellent strokeplay from James Travis, Andy Massey (35 not out) and
Mark Nicholson for a healthy Sunday afternoon crowd to enjoy.
The fourths emerged comfortable winners by 8 wickets at
Bollington, when a rapid run chase defied the weather.
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