Drinks and Then Grundy Lift Lethargic Marple!

Marple 139 for 2 (26.4 overs) 25 points beat Cheadle Hulme 137 all out (37.1 overs) 2 points by eight wickets.

A remarkable spell of 6 for 15 from Marple's up and coming seam and swing bowler Jack Grundy inspired Marple to what was ultimately to prove a thrashing of old rivals Cheadle Hulme last Saturday.

When Cheadle Hulme had reached the heady heights of 102 for 1 at the drinks interval, few in the good crowd at Grove Park could have predicted what was to follow. Jordan Potts had supported Taylor Williams in a dominant stand for the second wicket, despite the early loss of North of England age group player George Balderson to the nagging Wylie for only 3 at 9 for 1. Williams times the ball well, particularly through the off side, but also plays well of his legs. Once he got in, the Marple seamers were dispatched to the boundary with ease, and it looked as though a total of 220 plus was on the cards.

When the drinks break came, possibly Marple captain Paul Wood suggested to his team that it might be a good idea to sharpen up. The ground fielding had been distinctly ordinary, and even the normally reliable Morgan had spilled a relatively straightforward chance behind the stumps. What followed can only be described as total capitulation from the home side. Jack Grundy was introduced, and with his third delivery clean bowled Taylor (62) who aimed across the line. It was the shot of a man who had found the game just too easy. Another wicket followed in Grundy's second over, that of Ghafoor also bowled for one.

Jordan Potts had been becalmed on 31 for twenty minutes, and when the wily Greasley breached his defences on the same score, the game was up for Hulme. Grundy was unstoppable, getting late and awkward movement in the air. The last nine wickets fell for just 30 runs in twelve overs. His final figures of 6 for 15 could have been even better but for 6 wides and a no ball! Greasley did not bowl a bad delivery in support, with a miserly 3 for 23 from eleven overs. Jim Morgan redeemed himself to pouch four catches, and his "bag" of victims continues to grow rapidly this season.

With 62 overs available to score 138 runs this game was not going end in a draw! Marple openers Mark Bennett and Mark Makin were in little trouble from the start, although the early overs from Mo Ali had to be watched with care. Makin could actually have been run out for a duck, but was fortunate to get off the mark with a five as the run out attempt went for four overthrows. This quirky start to his innings obviously fired up Marple's mercurial stroke maker. When in this mood, all bowlers are just pure cannon fodder to him. It was regal entertainment for the crowd as a ten wicket win looked on the cards. Poor Balderson went for 24 in his fourth over with six fours dismissed to all parts of the ground by Makin. This talented young all rounder will surely come back strongly, but here he should console himself with the fact that more experienced bowlers than him have received similar treatment when Makin is in this form. 

It was a surprise when Makin was bowled by Beckley for 71, and although Jake Warner was lbw to the same bowler soon afterwards, there was no real alarm for Marple. Bennett (43 not out)was rock solid in defence, and put away anything loose in brutal fashion. Skipper Wood was not going to hang about and his rapid 19 not out brought Marple very welcome and dominant win.
Next week sees the team on the road once more, this time at Warrington, 1.00pm start.

In an excellent game of second team cricket, Marple lost by the narrow margin of just 7 runs at home to Timperley. A total of 224 was always going to be tough, but when Marple had reached 179 for 3, a much needed win looked on the cards. However, in form man Ryan Lindsay fell for 69, after Andy Wild had got things underway with a fine 56. Even with veteran Gary Cash making a fluent 44, scoreboard pressure got to the middle and lower order, and the last wicket fell with just three deliveries remaining.

A superb effort from the third eleven brought a seven wicket win over Cheadle at Bowden Lane on Sunday. Tom Travis and Jacob Combey had three wickets apiece in the visitor's 161 all out. A solid batting response from Matt Barrow, 57 not out, Mark Nicholson, 42, and Matt Leech 31, meant the result was never in doubt.