Leaders Too Strong For Marple!

Didsbury 163 for 3 (34 overs) 25 points beat Marple 161 for 8 (50 overs) 5 points by 7 wickets. 

Marple lost their first home game of this so far truncated season when league leaders Didsbury were comfortable winners at Bowden Lane last Saturday. Visiting skipper Nick Anderson inserted Marple, openers Hall (31) and Bennett (22) putting together a solid 59 first wicket partnership before both batsmen fell at the same score.

 The hoped for acceleration then became a problem with two new batsmen starting from scratch against tight bowling. Marple captain Paul Wood made a fine 59 though, adding 40 for the fourth wicket with Mark Makin.

 The pitch began to ease, and the relative comfort shown by Marple young players Ed Saxelby and Jack Grundy at the end of the innings did not fill spectators with hope that 161 for 8 was enough. Simon Normanton was the most successful Didsbury bowler with 3 for 34.

This proved to be the case when the visitors replied. Although four overs were lost to rain the victory target was attained in only 34 overs, Normanton once more leading the charge with 68 from only 69 balls faced. Anderson weighed in with a rapid 36 to add to Marple’s misery. 

Marple are at home once more next Saturday when Davenham are the visitors, 1.00pm start. 

In the second eleven fixture between the two clubs, Marple once more battled to an honourable draw, posting 175 for 8 in response to the home side’s 187 for 8. A determined effort in the field meant that Didsbury never really got away. Andy Hayes, 3 for 45 was well supported by skipper Clarke and Andy Massey in a hard working bowling effort.

As in the previous week’s game at Hyde, all the top five passed the twenty mark, but no batsmen was able to make that match winning half century. Andy Wild and Jamie Massey were joint top scorers with 30 apiece.

In a rain ruined game at Bowden Lane on Sunday, Marple thirds drew with their counterparts from Sale. Marple battled to 114 all out, Tom Travis 42, skipper Andy Gichero 32 and Matt Barrow 23. With 29 overs lost to the weather Sale reached 79 for 8, with neither side particularly happy. Conor Bergin with 4 for 15 and Sam Stretton 2 for 19 once more impressed with the ball.