Morahan Burst Sets Up Thrashing!

Marple 66 for 1 (9.4 overs) 25 points beat Weaverham 65 all out (27.5 overs) 0 points by nine wickets

Marple, inspired by a match winning opening spell from Patrick Morahan, completed a rout over struggling Weaverham at the mid Cheshire club last Saturday.

Morahan, who took a club best so far of 4 for 37, was once more given excellent support from Ed Saxelby. The first three home batsmen were back in the pavilion with only 18 on the board. To compound Weaverham’s misery, Aussie Cohen McElroy was taken off to hospital with a suspected dislocated knee. It had seemed as though lady luck was going to smile on him as he edged his first delivery past leg stump, was dropped at slip off his second and survived a confident appeal for caught behind off Saxelby next over. However, in attempting to keep out a yorker the following delivery, his leg appeared to lock and he was obviously in pain. There was a fifteen minute delay as the ambulance was summoned and the unfortunate McElroy was escorted away. It is to be hoped that his injury is not too serious.

After this, only Rob MacMillan, (34) with a few lusty blows, prevented total humiliation. Greasley weighed in with 3 for 7 and Jack Grundy gave nothing away when he replaced the tiring Morahan. Once more Marple’s catching was excellent, with seven different fieldsmen pouching chances.

Despite a rain shower between the innings, play got underway again at four o’clock.  Weaverham had little appetite for a battle as Crisall (15), Makin (25 not out) and Hall (21 not out) found the boundary with ease, the latter two memorably hitting huge sixes out of the ground. The target of 66 was reached in only 9.4 overs.

Marple remain in mid table, but there is very little between any of the top six sides. Conversely, the hosts find themselves already in a relegation battle. Next week Marple entertain Urmston with a 1.00pm start time.

Marple seconds continued their improvement with a fine six wicket victory over a useful Tattenhall side at Bowden Lane. With the Marple ground in superb condition, the visitors battled hard to reach a respectable 150 all out.  Skipper George Clarke and Andy Massey had four wickets each, and Mudassar Panchbaya two, with Conor Bergin providing solid support. Andy Wild (36) and Will Darby (57) shared an eighty plus opening stand against an impressive attack. When they, along with George Pearson were all dismissed, Tattenhall were well in contention, Marple on 92 for 3. However, a resolute Tim Radford (26 not out) with solid support from Jamie and Andy Massey, saw Marple home with three overs to spare.

Marple thirds were soundly beaten by Didsbury on Sunday. Chasing a mammoth 238 they subsided to only 67 all out.