Wylie Leads The Way On Day Of Double Delight For Marple!

Marple 110 for 5 (23.4 overs) 25 points beat Oulton Park 106 all out (33.5 overs) by five wickets. 

There was hope that the weather forecasters would be correct and no rain would fall during Marple’s final home game of the 2016 season.  Extensive renovation work on the square and outfield begins this week, and the first eleven have three away fixtures to follow in September, whilst the seconds will play at Mellor’s picturesque ground to complete their season. However, once more in this wet summer, rain interfered with Saturday cricket at Bowden Lane.

Although Paul Wood won the toss and decided to field first in the overcast and autumnal conditions,  his opening attack of Menzies and Wylie were not initially able to bowl the correct length for the wicket. Both bowlers overpitched, and one of the form opening partnerships in the league, East and Leech in particular, was able to get off to a fast start. The first three overs yielded 29 runs, and the normally mild mannered Wood must have had his patience stretched. The first of two rain delays then forced the players from the field just after it appeared that the bowlers had found some sort of rhythm.  No time was lost from the game as a result of this stoppage, and after a twenty minute break, it became apparent that further free scoring would be difficult. Although East hooked Menzies for a couple of fours, the bowler was generating some pace, and the ball carried waist high and above to keeper Morgan who was standing 20 yards back. Wylie meanwhile, found an awkward length, and no liberties could be taken with him. Leech was first to go, smartly caught at gully off Wylie for a promising 33 by his old Cheshire colleague Hall.

It was soon afterwards, at 43 for one,  that heavy rain looked to have brought an end to the proceedings. An early tea was eventually taken, but hope of further play looked unlikely, even though Park, in with a chance of promotion, wanted to wait as long as possible. When the elements finally relented, a game of only 60 overs was possible, although the visitors still had the opportunity of batting the full 50 overs. Wood resisted any idea of serving up some declaration bowling, instead keeping his slips in place and using Menzies and Wylie to attack. This strategy paid off handsomely, as both bowlers were still fresh and able to gain disconcerting bounce in Menzies case and movement and some awkward lift in that of Wylie. East (19) fell at 59 for 2, caught and bowled by Menzies trying to break the shackles. After this there was a dramatic collapse. Wylie did not bowl a bad delivery, and one or two lower order Park batters appeared unnerved by the extra pace and bounce generated by Menzies. With the help of two fine slip catches apiece from Greasley and Wood and a brilliant diving effort from keeper Morgan to remove Latham, it became a sorry procession for the visitors. Wylie fully deserved the excellent return of 6 for 47 from his fifteen overs.

Menzies recovered well from an uncertain start to take 3 for 55 from his fifteen. Greasley and Jack Grundy, who took the tenth wicket, allowed no respite, talking the final wicket at a combined cost of 1 for 2 from four overs. 106 all out after 33.5 overs was a below par score in what were testing conditions, but also on a pitch where the ball came onto the bat, and where the outfield was quick.

With just 26 overs available to Marple, victory was by no means a formality. Mark Bennett fell to a perfectly pitched off break from Blandford in the second over, and with Makin unavailable this game, Joe Cash was promoted to number three with a licence to attack with freedom. Although making only 12, he took Blandford by surprise, hitting him for a monumental six over extra cover. Andrew Hall, at the other end, seemed frustrated by the nagging accuracy of Guy Emmett. Emmett, a left arm seamer,  boasts excellent control, but in this situation he “hung” the ball outside the off stump with an 8-1 or 7-2 field. After failing to find the wide open spaces on the leg side, Hall (9) was caught behind by Roberts, edging an attempted off drive. Blandford had not settled, and so it was first change Hyslop who got his side into the game when Cash was also caught behind from a skier to leave Marple tottering at 22 for 3.

In the second half of this summer, Marple’s top order has all at various times stepped up to the plate. It has usually been at least two or three of the vaunted top five that have done the job. With the pressure on, it was this week the turn of Jim Morgan and captain Paul Wood to turn the game Marple’s way. Morgan has hardly needed to play himself in during recent weeks such is his confidence. He appeared to relish the situation facing him here, and he calmed any home nerves with some glorious strokeplay, particularly through the off side.

Wood then smote the unfortunate Blandford for two more huge straight sixes, and Park began to wilt. The fourth wicket stand advanced at a rapid pace, and although Roberts switched his bowlers around, a comfortable home win looked imminent. There was a slight wobble when first Morgan (41) edged Blandford to Roberts, and then Heginbotham (0) was adjudged lbw two balls later at 91 for 5. However, George Pearson (6 not out) showed fine temperament in what were now very dark conditions in support of the unfazed Wood (40 not out). The remaining runs were gathered without further alarm in the 24th over. A powerful square cut for four fittingly from Wood brought Marple a victory that had seemed unlikely during the rain break earlier in the afternoon. Park’s most successful bowler was Blandford with 3 for 57, but he was subjected to some heavy punishment from Morgan and Wood.

Marple visit another side with promotion hopes at Sale next Saturday, 3^rd September with a 12.30 start.

 In the drier climate that prevails over in the west of the county, George Clarke’s industrious and enterprising second eleven got their just rewards after several weeks playing good cricket without a win, with a 140 runs trouncing of high flying Chester Boughton Hall at Filkins Lane. Keeper batsman Andy Wild has been in terrific form this season, and with a score of 109 here, he went past 500 runs for 2016. Although Tim Radford, (13) and Jake Warner (25) gave good support early on in the innings, it was the century plus fourth wicket stand between Wild and evergreen Garry Cash (65 not out) that turned the game well and truly Marple’s way. Cash is still a big headache for opposition bowlers, and he batted with great application during this partnership. Although captain Riley’s six bowlers all battled hard, they suffered some serious hammer and were glad to come off at tea with Marple having reached a formidable 238 for 4 in the fifty overs.

Faced with the unusual task of chasing down this target on their home ground Chester buckled, as Clarke used himself and the wily Andy Hayes to open the bowling. Only Metcalf (22) of the top order stayed any length of time, and it was veteran seamer  Alex Kegg, at number ten, who was top scorer with 24. Chester subsided to only 98 all out with 16 overs remaining. Clarke had 3 for 26 and Hayes 4 for 37, with Andy Massey 2 for 29 mopping up the tail.  This important win moves Marple clear of the bottom two in the second eleven premier league.

Marple thirds were once more narrowly defeated on Sunday. This time they lost a close contest by three wickets after posting 151 for 6. Sale recovered from 39 for 4 to clinch the victory. The excellent Mark Nicholson made 67 for Marple. In Sale’s reply Joe Cannon had 61 not out and Dan Newton 41, whilst Ed Saxelby took a valiant 3 for 40 for Marple.