Gutsy George Staves off Defeat for Marple!

Bramhall 232 for 7 (55 overs) 55 overs 15 points, winning draw against Marple 140 for 9 (52 overs) 5 points

A stubborn rearguard action from Marple, spearheaded by George Pearson, helped the side avoid defeat at local rivals Bramhall last Saturday.

What a difference a week makes. The previous week’s glorious weather seemed a distant memory as Marple visited Bramhall’s scenic, but exposed ground for the second game of the 2015 season. A bitter and strong westerly wind buffeted the players as home skipper Nick Cantello elected to bat first on winning the toss. Bramhall openers, Atiz-uz Zaman and Jack Harris got their side of to a quick start, as bowling in 7 degrees and the biting wind was a tricky business. It was not that Sam Harbinson and Paul Wood bowled badly for Marple, but just that anything off line was put away to the boundary. Indeed, Harbinson beat the bat regularly from a full length, and at 47, Harris was safely caught behind by Makin off Harbinson. 47 for 1 became 47 for 2 when Zaman, a Bolton League acquisition for Bramhall, skied Greasley for Bennett to safely take the catch. Bramhall’s two best players, New South Wales squad member, Dale McKay and Lancashire Academy and county second team player Danny Lamb were now together.  Lamb looked the more assured, and McKay was maybe fortunate to survive a confident appeal for a catch behind. Two rain delays made for a wet ball, and any possible spin or swing was negated.

The Aussie, McKay, despite playing some attractive shots, fretted against Greasley, and was well caught by Paul Wood from a skier at mid on. All the while, Lamb was settling well, and it became apparent that his wicket was the key to the game. He had the confidence to play all his strokes, and a number of beautifully timed on drives certainly had a good sized crowd purring in admiration. Skipper Cantello did not last long, but Reynolds, after a sticky start gave good support. From 123 for 4, the pair added 83 for the fifth wicket. Lamb passed a fluent half century, and then pressed on, even after losing Reynolds (29), to reach an excellent hundred. He had played many fine shots, but was maybe over confident in attempting to reverse sweep Greasley and be bowled at 224 for 6. A top class knock of 101 this for Lamb.  Although three overs had been lost to the weather, Cantello opted not to declare early. This decision was to cost him later in the day, even though he was no doubt happy with 232 for 7 at tea. For Marple Greasley finished with 4 for 71 in 23 determined overs.

When Marple replied after the tea interval, Bramhall spin wizard and former Marple player, Simon Wilkinson opened up against Andrew Hall. Wilkinson has few peers in the league for accuracy, and he varies his pace deceptively. All the visiting batsmen had to be wary of him. At the other end, West is a whole hearted bowler with some pace. It was not to be Mark Makin’s day today. From his second ball, Marple’s flamboyant keeper batsman was well caught at mid off by Harris. However, when Jim Morgan joined Hall, and proceeded to play with assurance and style, Makin’s early dismissal did not seem to be too much of a handicap. Hall gradually began to find his confidence, and the second wicket pair took the score to 45 with some attractive strokeplay.

Unfortunately for Marple, Hall was again adjudged lbw for 21 when the skiddy Lamb replaced West. Morgan looked to be in command of the situation though, and Eliot Young batted with responsibility in support. Morgan timed the ball beautifully, and Young seemed to have time to spare against the pace and also watched the canny Wilkinson carefully. They took the score to 90 with some comfort. However, Morgan (47) was caught at long on when Bramhall’s promising young spinner Lewis Clarke was introduced. This prompted a middle order collapse. Mark Bennett was lbw to Wilkinson for a duck and Paul Wood, despite looking comfortable, was sadly run out in a misunderstanding with Young. When Harbinson was deceived by Clarke,  and Tim Radford bowled by Wilkinson, Marple were 100 for 7. Defeat looked a formality. However, George Pearson and Young (28) both batted with resolve. Even when the determined Young was lbw to West at 116, Pearson took full responsibility. With solid support from first, Greg Marsland and then Greasley, Pearson battled through 16 overs for his 19 not out, rarely looking in trouble, despite Cantello using pace from both ends in dim light at around 7.30pm. 

This was a battling draw for a Marple side a little thin in the bowling department today. Bramhall were no doubt the better team on the day, but were frustrated by the visitors determination led by George Pearson at the end. The wickets were shared amongst the home bowlers. This week, Marple entertain newly promoted Macclesfield at Bowden Lane, 12.30pm start. 

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Marple second eleven’s tenth wicket pair of Andy Baron and Andy Hayes were unable to repeat the previous week’s heroics against Bramhall seconds at Bowden Lane on Saturday. A ten run defeat was a frustrating outcome after the visitors had been pegged back to 179 from the 50 overs, Jack Grundy once more bowling with penetration. Again it was Will Darby (37) and Andy Massey (40) who kept Marple in the hunt. A hard hitting 21 from Lewis Braddock could not take the side over the line this week.  

The third team made it two wins from two in the mini league early season T20 competition against Urmston 4ths. Matt Leech with 95 not out, and Lewis Braddock, 60 made light of the home attack. In Urmston’s reply of 87, veteran seamer Mike Smith with 4 for 10 and Joel Greasley 3 for 21, did the damage. 

Marple’s new Development Eleven (5^th eleven) enjoyed a great day out at Chester Boughton Hall against that club’s comparable side. In a thirty overs per side match, Chester emerged victors by one run! Marple hope that this team, a mix of promising youngsters, gnarled veterans and some parents, can help give the juniors greater experience of league style cricket, and also a lot of enjoyment.

Dominant Marple Frustrated by Pitch and Grappenhall Lack of Enterprise!

Marple 260 for 7 (55 overs) 14 points winning draw against Grappenhall, 148 for 7 (55overs) 5 points

The 2015 season began in glorious weather, and Marple’s first eleven completely dominated their Grappenhall rivals, but could not prise out the lower order. Groundsman, Mike Hibbert had prepared an excellent mid April track, but, not unexpectedly, it had little help for bowlers of all types.

Marple skipper, Mark Bennett was probably not too displeased to be inserted on the first day of the new season. Dry weather in the run up to game had left the ground looking in superb condition. The outfield was lightning fast, and the pitch held few terrors for the batsmen. The Marple batting line up all looked in fine form, although Andrew Hall was adjudged lbw to the accurate left armer Sam Guest for only two in the first over.  When Mark Makin is in this sort of form, the spectators had better be at the ground in good time, because he makes batting look ridiculously easy. Guest’s opening partner Matthews, was removed from the attack after only three overs that cost him 23 runs. Makin was effortlessly stroking boundaries all around the wicket, and Grappenhall’s new captain, Liam Parkinson, chose to try and take the pace off the ball by introducing Roylance with his slow left arm spin. The side’s quickest bowler on the day, Burns, was held in reserve.

Makin was well supported by Jim Morgan, although Morgan was at times a little frenetic against the part timer Roylance. The run rate rattled along at more than five an over, with even Guest receiving some harsh treatment. Makin scorched past a rapid half century, dealing mainly in boundaries. He eased Guest over the ropes for the first six of the season, and the pair added 99 runs in double quick time. Makin was disgusted with himself for holing out at 69 off Roylance, who had served up a mixture of reasonable line and length, but also several full tosses. Maybe the ease with which Makin had despatched the bowling caused Marple to think that a total of around 250 was needed. Apart from Guest, the visiting attack seemed dispirited, and Eliot Young, promoted to number four, settled well. He played a number of fine drives, and pulled another Roylance full toss for a huge six. Although Morgan and Young both fell for 30 and 31 respectively, at 141 for 4 there was still ample time for Bennett and Paul Wood to play themselves in. This they did without undue alarm. Initially Wood was the dominant partner, playing two particularly sumptuous drives off first Guest, and then Burns who was belatedly introduced. Wood (33) was eventually caught behind by Parkinson off the returning Matthews at 206 for 5. Mark Bennett then came into his own, being well supported by Marple debutant Jack Marshall. Bennett had looked in fine touch from the start of his knock, and now proceeded to demolish the opposition bowlers. Eight superb fours flowed from his bat, and it was quite a surprise when he was well stumped by Parkinson for a classy 59. Marshall, who hoisted Burns for a mighty six, was aided by Sam Harbinson, as they added 13 quick runs at the end. 260 for 7 was a huge total for Grappenhall to chase, for although the batsmen got full value for the shot due to the quick outfield, the pitch was slow. If the bowling was accurate, then run scoring was tricky. For Grappenhall, only Guest with 3 for 61 from 19 overs gave his captain any control. Burns looked to have some pace, but only appeared in the attack after 37 overs.

After the tea interval, Marple’s new overseas opening bowler, Sam Harbinson began from the pavilion end. Not surprisingly, there were one or two nerves, and the Victorian under twenty player began with a wide and then a no ball! However, he soon settled into a testing spell, showing a good turn of speed from an economical action. All batsmen had to be wary, although Roylance showed good judgment in leaving the ball around off stump. Sadly for Marple, Andy Wylie was forced out of the attack after bowling only three overs. This ever dependable seamer suffered a recurrence of last season’s back injury. He had taken the first wicket when makeshift opener Barnes was caught behind for a duck. Greasley’s off spin was introduced in only the eighth over, but the veteran showed that he still a force to be reckoned with. There were no looseners, and he was bang on the spot from ball one. This despite the fact that there was little turn in the pitch. Harbinson claimed his first wicket for the club, when Sharp was lbw to a full delivery. Soon afterwards his second followed, when the dangerous McCoy was caught at mid on by Marshall. At 36 for three, Grappenhall’s two best players, in Roylance and Green were now together. However, apart form Roylance taking three boundaries from a Greasley over, there was little enterprise from the visitors. 260 was out of sight, and avoidance of defeat was the only option. Although Roylance and Green played some attractive strokes, the asking rate was too high, and both players were dismissed by Greasley. Roylance lbw for 31, and Green eventually stumped by Makin for 52 after charging down the pitch in a moment of madness.

The game had meandered for a long time, and on such a surface, Marple were unable to prise out the lower order. Stubborn resistance from Jamie Bye and later Arthur Pennington, left Marple frustrated, but still reasonably happy with 14 points from the winning draw. Greasley was in miserly form with 3 for 45 from 24 tight overs, and Sam Harbinson made a fine debut, returning 3 for 71 from 21 overs in two spells. In between, Paul Wood had bowled a useful spell of 0 for 16 from 7 overs.

Marple will take heart from a fine early season performance, when most of the side were able to contribute. Although sterner tests await, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Next week the side visit Bramhall, with a 12.30 pm start.

Marple legend Andy Hayes was the hero as the seconds pulled off a remarkable win at Didsbury on Saturday. Didsbury totalled 160 for 9 after 50 overs, with Hayes returning a superb 6 for 39 from 17 overs. Marple were in deep trouble at 90 for 8, with only stand in skipper Will Darby with 36 showing any resistance. However, Andy Baron supported Andy Massey, and a rearguard action was begun. However, when Massey fell for a fine 43, 31 were still needed by the last pair. It was Hayes’ day though. He made 17 not out in support of Baron, 15 not out. To great delight a one wicket win was achieved with two overs remaining. Earlier, Jack Grundy had also shown up well with the ball, and in the field for Marple.

The thirds comfortably beat Prestbury thirds in the early season T20 competition. Marple knocked up 135 for 7, with Jamie Massey top scoring with 41. He was well supported by Jonny Emmerson, 35 and Luke Greasley  38. With the ball, James Hirst, in his final game for the club, was the star with four wickets, as Prestbury were bundled out for only 93.