Marple 242 for 7 (50 overs) 25 points beat Oxton 125 all out (44.1 overs) 4 points by 117 runs
At last Marple’s first eleven managed some cricket! The place to be was very definitely in the far west of the county at Oxton’s superb ground. There can be few club grounds anywhere that can boast such a top class playing surface. The outfield is like a beautiful smooth green carpet, and the wicket itself was firm and had good carry for the quicker bowlers as well as some turn for the quality spinner. Marple captain, Paul Wood went against the modern trend, and elected to bat first, hoping that his batsmen would respond to the occasion. It was to prove a positive decision.
When Mark Bennett had been bowled by Roberts for 7 and Jake Warner adjudged lbw to Fernando for 4, he may have had second thoughts. However, Wood himself joined Andrew Hall and the pair soon rescued Marple from a precarious position of 15 for 2. Wood showed admirable determination at the start of his innings, being content to let Hall be the dominant partner. Marple’s star opening bat did not look like a man who had batted only once since the 4th of June. The weather of 2016 has been unkind to Marple, but Hall looked in prime form. Anything wayward was despatched to the fence, and when Roberts and first change bowler Fraser tested the middle of the pitch, they were ruthlessly put to the leg side boundary. Maybe the new restrictions on the bowlers overs in the league inhibits captains, but Oxton skipper Gibson did not introduce former Worcestershire slow armer Choudhry until the twenty second over. Maybe he reasoned that he could bowl throughout the rest of the innings. By saving the use of possibly his best bowler so late, much damage was done to the home side’s cause. Hall was imperious, stroking eight effortless fours, and Wood increasingly began to find fluency, lofting off spinner Shillinglaw over the top when Gibson brought in the field to try and keep Hall from the strike. By the time Choudhry was introduced, both players were in full flow, and the hundred stand came up in excellent time.
Choudhry did manage to deceive Hall in flight and had him stumped for a terrific 72 at 132 for 3, but Jim Morgan at number five, walked to wicket full of intent. The scoring rate barely dropped as Morgan settled in quickly. Another brisk half century stand was posted, and even though Wood (64) was bowled at 190 for by the returning Fernando, Marple were not put off their stride. This was a first rate knock from Wood, balancing watchful defence with aggression. He knows the old virtue of “getting yourself in” and then making hay. Morgan’s innings of 42, made in exactly one hour at the crease, was a delight. Smart running between the wickets was interspersed with some powerful pulls and drives. Oxton’s bowlers toiled away manfully, but some lusty hitting from James Menzies, who smote Choudhry for a huge six, and some stylish drives from Ed Saxelby helped Marple to an excellent total of 242 for 7 at tea. Choudhry had 3 for 68 from 15 overs, and Fernando battled away for his 2 for 60.
Even with the dampish outfield having dried up as the sun eventually made an appearance, a victory target of 243 is a daunting one. James Menzies was certainly fired up for this game, and with Andy Wylie nagging away at the other end, Oxton got away to a sticky start. Both openers, Gibson and De Brabender, were caught behind by keeper Morgan off Menzies. Shillinglaw and Choudhry threatened a revival, but Menzies was on the mark in the field with a superb direct hit to run out Shillinglaw who had dug in for a patient 22. Wylie produced a beauty that nipped back to remove Choudhry (15) lbw, and Oxton were in trouble, behind the rate and the top four back in the hutch. The home side’s last chance came with the fifth wicket pairing of Crawley and Fernando. Although they posted a fifty stand, the winning post remained a vast distance away. Maybe they did not know whether to stick or twist, as Crawley was bowled for 31 in Menzies’ second spell, and then next ball, Fernando was caught by Menzies off the bowling of Ed Saxelby, who mixed a little waywardness with some useful deliveries in his short spell. The end was not long coming, as Wood switched his bowlers around. Menzies was “quicker than he looked” according to the home players on the balcony, and he finished things off to record a fine individual afternoon with 5 for 33 from 12.1 overs. Greasley only took one late wicket, but he had to be watched with care, extracting some turn, and also using his arm ball to good effect. Like Andrew Hall, Wylie showed his quality and experience, not bowling a bad ball in his spell of 2 for 20 from 14 overs. This was a very welcome win for Marple, and showed what ability is there within the side when they can actually get out on the field in good conditions!
Marple are at home to Grappenhall next Saturday, 23rdJuly, with a start time of 1.00pm.
The Marple weather hoodoo of 2016 continued as the second eleven’s game with Urmston was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Four out of the last five Saturdays, and six in all this season, have failed to produce any cricket at Bowden Lane, surely an unprecedented statistic.
Marple thirds were comfortable beaten by 105 runs at home to Bramhall last Sunday. Chasing a useful 192, they could only muster 87 all out. For Bramhall, Sam Baker produced the remarkable figures of 8 for 21 from only 11.4 overs
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