Erratic Marple Suffer Early Reverse

Oxton 205 for 3 (46.1 overs) 25 points beat Marple 204 for 9 (50 overs) 9 points by seven wickets.

On a glorious April day at Oxton’s superb ground, Marple were ultimately comfortably beaten by the home side.

With the weather resembling midsummer and the Oxton outfield short and lightning fast, Marple skipper Paul Wood was probably not too displeased to be asked to take first knock in the first game of the new season. The returning James Crisall and Mark Makin took strike to Oxton’s bustling young left arm Australian seamer, Patrick Magann, and curiously, off spinner Richard Fennah. Both batsmen looked confident, and Crisall was watchful in defence, but did not allow either bowler to dominate. Some early boundaries from both players eased Marple into the season, but both batsmen fell to shortish deliveries. Makin (9) was bowled by Fennah attempting a pull at 14 for 1, and just as the second wicket partnership between Crisall and Andrew Hall was beginning to flourish, the former pulled a long hop from first change bowler Fraser to Hillyer at square leg at 43 for 2. This was a promising return for Crisall (22) after a spell away from the club.

Hall is still in his prime as a batsman, and Paul Wood has an innate ability to bat according to the situation at hand. Hall’s timing was effortless, as he found the boundary with ease. Both batsmen had played themselves in, and taken sensible opportunities to score up until the drinks break after 25 overs. Marple were 86 for 2 at halfway.  After the refreshment, a goodish crowd was treated to some excellent strokeplay from both players as the run rate increased. It took Oxton captain, Jack Smith, some time to find his best bowling combination, but when Fraser returned he immediately had Hall lbw for a terrific 78 including 11 fours at 164 for 3. With Dane Williams also having settled well in his second spell, scoring began to look a little more difficult. Morgan supported Wood well, but when Wood was well caught for 53 at 182, Marple’s free scoring was at an end. Morgan threatened a cameo, but he was smartly held by Gibson for 20. It was a disappointing end to the innings as the lower order struggled against tight bowling. 204 for 9 was maximum batting points, but probably about 25 short of what looked on the cards during the Hall and Wood stand. Dane Williams was Oxton’s most successful bowler with 4 for 48.

When Oxton replied, with the experienced pair of Gibson and De Brabander, Marple knew that they would have to be consistent in line and length.  Pat Morahan looks to be a good acquisition, able to bowl a testing line from his height. He had an early wicket when Gibson was brilliantly caught behind by Morgan diving to his right. However, this only brought in Dane Williams who must have been buoyed by his success with the ball. They say things come in threes. Firstly, Will Darby dislocated a finger making a brilliant stop, and had to go to hospital, second Andy Massey strained his side and was only able to bowl two overs. Thirdly, Morahan fell awkwardly diving to try and stop four byes. He took a while to recover, but in the meantime, the Oxton second wicket stand progressed rapidly. There was a flurry of boundaries as a hundred partnership came up. Only Marple’s veteran off spinner Andy Greasley was able to offer any control. At the halfway point, the home side were way ahead of the asking rate with only one wicket down. Marple came back well, with Morahan putting his fall and any initial nerves behind him to bowl a testing spell in partnership with Greasley. Only 16 runs were ground out from the next ten overs, and Morahan produced a good one to remove Williams for a solid 54. However, De Brabander, despite some alarms against both bowlers, held firm and rediscovered his fluency. He made an excellent 100 not out, being aided in two partnerships of 39 and 38 by Chris Williams and the secure Mahdi Quadri. Oxton ran out comfortable winners with almost four overs remaining.

This was a disappointing start for Marple, but they should not be too despondent. There were enough signs to show that with application and perseverance, success can achieved this season. Next week the side travel again, this time on Sunday 30^th April, to Warrington with a twelve noon start.

Marple seconds had a nightmare start at Toft, suffering a ten wicket defeat after being bowled out for only 74.

It was left to the third team to record the club’s first win of the season with a comprehensive 66 run victory in the round robin T20 competition. Marple 144 for 7 (Matt Leech 56) Heaton Mersey 78 for 7 (Albert Connor 3 for 17).