A Good Game, But Neither Side Happy

Marple 147 all out (38 overs) 13 points winning draw against Sale 141 for 9 (38 overs) 8 points

Up to three inches of rain in the three previous days meant that the players were lucky to actually get a game of cricket at Sale’s Dane Road ground last Saturday. The game began at 2.25pm and was reduced to 38 overs per side.

In reduced overs matches it is always more difficult to bowl out the opposition, and Marple captain Paul Wood was probably disappointed to be asked to bat first on a freshly prepared pitch. Free scoring proved tricky, with Will Darby falling early to veteran seamer Mo Ali in the second over. James Crisall settled in to play a responsible knock, but Mark Bennett played the most fluent innings of the day. He made a classy 31 adding 51 runs with the determined Crisall.

The early threat of Sale’s Barrowman and Ali appeared to have been weathered when Bennett miscued to Wellings off first change bowler Adams. Paul Wood played himself in as Crisall expanded his strokeplay. They added a further 56 whilst not putting Marple out of sight. Wood fell for 26, but although Jim Morgan made a fluent 19, the Marple innings folded quickly after this. Crisall’s fine effort came to an end at 137 for 6 when he was caught and bowled by Macfarlane for 43. Maybe Mo Ali was reluctant to return for a second spell, but he rolled back the years as he took an astonishing 6 for 3 from his final eleven deliveries including the hat trick! The Marple lower order all fell quickly in the chase for quick runs, and Ali ended with remarkable figures of 7 for 27 from his ten overs. 147 all out represented a reasonable total, however, on a difficult track.

Sale are in a lowly position in division one, and the lack of confidence was evident during the chase of what was to prove a testing total. Opener Cannon took almost an hour and a half over his 21, and although Gyves and Spells attempted some aggression, they did not last long, both falling to Wylie. At 59 for and with only 17 overs remaining, the winning post looked a long way off. Lancashire second team wicket keeper batsman Brooke Guest represented his side’s best hope, but he too struggled to time the ball, only getting going once Barrowman entered the fray to throw the bat. Guest had been dropped first ball when Marple keeper Morgan uncharacteristically grassed a sharp chance off Wylie. Barrowman added 36 with Guest in quick time. When he fell or 21 at 102 for 5 less than eight overs were left, but Mo Ali, confidence high after his bowling, swung lustily, hoisting Morahan for the game’s only six. However, Ali (15) and Guest (37) were dismissed in quick succession and although the Sale lower order wielded the willow with gusto a home win was never on the cards. Marple needed two wickets from the final over, and when Jack Grundy comprehensively bowled Adams from the first ball, a win was a possibility. Despite a few scampered singles and leg byes from the final five deliveries, Marple frustratingly earned another winning draw, and Sale fell seven runs short at 141 for 9.

For Marple, Greasley was once more on target with 3 for 40. Mudassar Phanchbaya had 2 for 36 in a mixed spell, and Wylie 2 for 21. Wylie also injured his knee in following through, and only bowled 6.2 overs. Once again, Marple’s catching was first rate, with Mark Bennett taking two in spectacular fashion, a steepler, and the other a diving one handed gem at silly mid off to remove Cannon.

It will be of little consolation to Marple that both sides produced a decent game of cricket in difficult conditions. Another draw was not what the doctor ordered though. Results in the league have been unpredictable of late, and Marple now slip to sixth in the table. The next two weeks are likely to define the season, as they take on leaders Oulton Park at Bowden Lane next Saturday, 1.00pm start, and then visit Davenham, surprisingly in second spot, the week after.

Torrential rain meant that Marple second team’s game with Timperley due to be played at Bowden Lane on Saturday was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The weather also had the upper hand as Marple thirds were eventually washed out at Bramhall on Sunday. Bramhall made a useful 203 for 5 in 39 overs, Connor Bergin 3 for 50 and Joel Greasley 1 for 6 from seven overs. Marple were 110 for 4 when the rain finally put paid to the game, Rob Bradley 25 and Matt Leech 37 not out.