Top Class Marple Too Good For Alderley!

Marple 184 for 6 (50.5 overs) 25 points beat Alderley Edge 183 all out (54.2 overs) 6 points by four wickets. 

Marple produced arguably their best all round performance of the season to defeat a talented Alderley Edge side at Moss Lane last Saturday. Although other results in the league were not favourable, Marple still have a chance of survival in the Cheshire County Premier League going into next week’s final home game against Toft. 

Once more, Mark Bennett won a crucial toss, and invited the home team to bat first on a fine early September afternoon.  Alderley’s opening pair of Calum Rowe and Alan Day have been two of the form batsmen in the league this season, and have also done the job of opening for Cheshire. Today, Day looked to be more at ease, as Rowe struggled with his timing against Sam Harbinson and Chris Wood, who did an excellent job for Marple in his first bowl for several weeks. The ball was not coming onto the bat, and also the outfield was not as quick as usual due to persistent rain during the week leading up to the game.  Rowe and Day were not as fluent as they have often been this season, and although posting a half century stand, Marple had a measure of control. Rowe (16) fell to a fine catch at short mid on by Paul Wood off his brother Chris’s bowling at 52 for 1, and then Day (36) mistimed a drive off the same bowler, to Pearson at 65 for 2. Scott (2) was soon lbw to Harbinson, and when the league’s leading allrounder this season Richard Wilkinson (13) was well caught at gully, also off Harbinson by Makin, Alderley were in some trouble at 73 for 4. Foreman fell at 88, but the home team’s batting is deep, with former Lancashire opener Mark Currie at number seven and skipper Worrall at eight.  Charlie Reid chipped in with 27, the dangerous Currie 24 and Worrall 30. Many sides would have folded for less than the final score of 183, but Marple were pretty happy at tea. Harbinson produced his best bowling of the summer to finish with 3 for 60 from 20 overs, and Chris Wood gave his captain control with 2 for 41 from 15. The spinners, Greasley and Young appeared later than has been the norm, but both performed well. Greasley polished off the tail with 3 for 40, and Young picked up two vital wickets again in Reid and Currie. He ended with 2 for 38.  

A total of 183 was around about par, but Marple, once again led by Andrew Hall, showed first rate application. After hitting Wilkinson for a couple of sweet early boundaries, Morgan played across a delivery from the same bowler and was lbw at 13 for 1. Sam Harbinson though, showed great concentration when joining Hall for the decisive partnership of the game. Despite having bowled twenty overs at good pace, Harbinson knuckled down to the task ahead. Hall, after realising that the bowling and the pitch needed respect, took root. This was not the effortless Hall of the week before, the conditions did not allow it. He was content to wait for the bad ball and rotate the strike with Harbinson. The early threat of Wilkinson was nullified, and when Sturrock came on first change, his left arm chinamen proved inconsistent, allowing both players scoring options. Home skipper Worrall curiously delayed the introduction of Foreman and Reid, preferring Day’s off spin. The second wicket partnership added 95 precious runs, before Foreman had Harbinson caught behind for another fine knock of 48. In order to accommodate Reid, Worrall switched Foreman round, but Hall memorably hooked him for six into the pavilion. Skipper Bennett (2) did not last long, but Mark Makin coming in at 115 for 3, was positive from the outset. With Hall looking as though he would once again see Marple through to victory, the fourth wicket added 48 in good time. Maybe Hall was fatigued, but he fell caught behind to Forman for a terrific 70 at 163 for 4. Hall hit only four fours and one six, but had the measure of all the home bowlers, once more showing his class in this vintage season for Cheshire’s former skipper. 

Although Reid accounted for Young and Paul Wood, Makin did not allow Wilkinson to settle when he returned. His 38 not out was chanceless, with five fours and contained some excellent running between the wickets.  Coming in at 181 for 6, Joe Cash deftly cut Reid for three to bring up a fine win for Marple to make it three on the trot for the Bowden Lane outfit. 

The final game of the season sees Marple entertain Toft next Saturday with a 12.00 noon start. 

Marple seconds were defeated by 83 runs at home to Alderley seconds. Led by Adam Wildig with 65, the visitors posted a challenging 198 all out, the wickets being shared amongst Hayes four, Shelton and skipper Clarke three apiece. Marple never threatened a win, despite a number of players getting starts, and were bowled out for only 115. 

There was an end of season feel as the thirds were beaten at home to Hyde thirds on Sunday. No batsmen dominated in the home side’s 135 all out. Despite slumping to 81 for 4, Hyde rallied to ease to victory by five wickets with overs to spare. Ed Saxelby impressed for Marple with his promising quick bowling.

Peerless Hall Sees Marple Home!

Marple 219 for 1 (45 overs) 25 points beat Bowdon 216 for 8 (55 overs) 6 points by 9 wickets. 

Whatever Marple’s fate at the end of the season, fellow players and spectators alike have enjoyed batting of unrivalled quality by Andrew Hall in the second half of the campaign. With a score of 130 not out, and superbly supported by Sam Harbinson who made a high class 71 not out, Hall’s fourth century of 2015 guided Marple to a comprehensive victory over old rivals Bowdon at Marple last Saturday. 

Mark Bennett’s fortune with the coin has changed, and after winning a second successive toss he invited his opposite number, former Lancashire all rounder, Simon Marshall to bat first. Although Ball was smartly caught at mid off by Eliot Young off Greasley at 9 for 1, his partner Crozier was well supported by Carl Hey.  Crozier was the dominant partner, racing along to 28 out of a total of 44, before cutting Wylie to second slip, where Paul Wood took a neat catch. Hey was joined by Marshall, and the pair looked to be in good touch. Hey (23) though was adjudged lbw to Wylie at 67, and when Patrick Ashling was deceived and bowled for 7 by Greasley at 86 for 4, Marple fancied that they could dismiss the visitors for a modest score.  Marshall, however, was ably supported by Leathley. He was careful in defence against Wylie, but when Greasley gave him any chance he pounced quickly, lofting a number of sixes down the ground. Marple missed a couple of sharp chances, and the fourth wicket stand proceeded along well without taking Bowdon out of sight. Marshall played a fine knock, and despite losing Leathley (36) caught by Hall at 201 for 5, completed a century of high class. The overs were running out for the visitors though, and Marple did well to restrict the final total to 216 for 8 in the full 55 overs. Marshall was stumped by Wild for 104, an innings that included six sixes and nine fours. It was an up and down afternoon for Greasley who was harshly treated by Marshall at times, but bowled far better than his figures of 5 for 122 from 27 overs might suggest. Wylie performed with great control and stamina to return 2 for 52 from 20 overs, and Eliot Young, with 1 for 34, bowled tidily when Wylie was finally rested.  

Although faced with a challenging target, the Marple top order is in fine form at present. The wicket was a good one, and, as usual, the outfield super fast. George Pearson now supported Hall well against Bowdon’s testing new ball pairing of Chris Ashling and Matt Tully. With Hall continuing his imperious form, a largely untroubled stand of 44 was posted before Pearson edged first change seamer Leathley to Marshall at slip. Sam Harbinson has found a niche for himself at number three in the second half of the season, and he proved an excellent foil for Hall. Such is Hall’s form at present that the ball has to be only fractionally off line or length to be despatched to the boundary. In fact even the good deliveries from Bowdon’s seam trio disappeared to the fence. Marshall tried Hey’s left arm spin, and promising young leg spinner Alec Makin in an attempt to force an error. However, with Harbinson looking increasingly secure and fluent, and all bowlers coming alike to Hall, the victory target was in sight in quick time. After passing his century, Hall took Marple to an emphatic victory with three consecutive fours off Tully in the 45^th over. There will not be many days when an innings of the quality of Marshall’s is overshadowed, but this was one of them. Hall, seemingly effortlessly, stroked 25 fours in his 130 not out to control the run chase, and Harbinson hit 11 of his own in making his highest score for the club so far of 71 not out. An unbeaten stand of 175 for the second wicket provided wonderful entertainment for the good crowd of Marple and Bowdon supporters. 

Marple face a trip to another old adversary, Alderley Edge, next Saturday, with a noon start. Despite the lowly position, there still remains hope that they can maintain their premier league status.  

It was a hard day at the office for Marple seconds at Urmston on Saturday. On a featherbed of a pitch a total of 183, Will Darby 49, proved no problem to the home side who cruised to victory by eight wickets.   

Marple thirds had a great day at the third eleven T20 finals day at Neston on Sunday. In the first game, exellent bowling and fielding enabled them to defeat Hyde by 14 runs after posting a modest 119 all out. Skipper Andy Gichero was top scorer with 26, and Andy Massey with three wickets was well supported by Adit Kulkarni and Mike Smith with two apiece. 

In the final, Gichero’s men put up a valiant effort, but Stockport proved to be the best of the four sides on view on the day to lift the trophy. Marple returned home beaten, but determined to be back again next season. 

Marple fourths, totalling 126 all out, were defeated by one wicket by the league leaders in a nail biting final game of the season at Heaton Mersey thirds on Sunday. A tigerish performance in the field meant that Mersey had to go the last wicket pair to attain victory at 127 for 9. Although the fourths will drop a division for 2016, a number of very promising young players will be available to play senior cricket for the first time next season.

Marple Find Ruthless Streak to Demolish Lacklustre Cheadle!

Marple 107 for 1 (24.3 overs) 25 points beats Cheadle 104 all out (47.3) overs 0 points by nine wickets

Marple gained a welcome win with a nine wicket thrashing of in form Cheadle at Bowden Lane last Saturday. Skipper Mark Bennett, won a rare toss, and on electing to field first, opted to use his two senior and experienced bowlers, Andy Wylie and Andy Greasley, with the new ball. Although Cheadle openers, Prince and Dixon attempted to bat through these testing early overs, neither was fluent. Both though, were the only Cheadle batsmen to reach double figures after posting 34 for the first wicket. Dixon (14) was the first to go, and then the floodgates opened for Marple. Greasley, with his off spin, and Wylie with his no nonsense seam, found assistance from the pitch. Other than Dixon with a determined 49, none of the other opposition batsmen were able to suggest any permanence, all falling in single figures. Greasley in particular was unstoppable, and Wylie after returning 3 for 49 from 19  menacing overs was given a breather shortly before tea. Greasley ended with 6 for 36 from 23.3 overs, proving that he still has few peers in the league amongst his style of bowling. Morgan also had a fine day behind the stumps with three catches and two stumpings.

On the resumption, Marple openers, Andrew Hall and Jim Morgan safely dealt with the potential threat of former Aussie under 19 paceman Matt Fotia. His five overs cost 27 runs, with Morgan being the freer scoring on this occasion. After Morgan fell at 49 for a fine 31, Sam Harbinson joined Hall. Hall was not going to be dislodged, and Harbinson continued his recent good form with the bat as the second wicket pair took Marple to a comfortable win after just 24.3 overs. Hall remained 36 not out, and Harbinson 39 not out.

This was a crucial win for Marple, and whilst they remain in eleventh place in the league, all is still to play for. Next week sees another home game against Bowdon with a 12 noon start.

A determined innings of 30 not out from Paul Pugh denied Marple seconds a win against Cheadle seconds at Kingsway last Saturday. On a testing pitch, Marple struggled to 167 all out in 47 overs., Jack Marshall 29, Tim Radford 34 and Luke Greasley 27. Van Eck had 4 for 41 for Cheadle. Despite having an extra three overs, Marple could not prise out Pugh, who rescued his side after coming in at 64 for 7. George Clarke continued his excellent summer with 3 for 20, and Jacob Combey responded well to his promotion with 3 for 19. Cheadle closed on 108 for 8.

On Sunday, Marple thirds and fourths were also in action against Cheadle. Rain ruined what looked like being an exciting finish in the third team meeting. Marple were sent packing for only 90, but responded well to have the hosts on 26 for 3 before the heavens opened.

Cheadle fourths won a good game of cricket at Bowden Lane by five wickets. Marple reached 177 for 5, David Brook with 74 being well supported by Mike Booth with 35. Cheadle were ultimately comfortable winners, although club steward Matthew Scruton in a rare appearance, took a useful 3 for 39 for Marple.