Marple move onto T20 Quarter Finals

On a glorious Thursday June evening Marple travelled to last years losing finalists Hyde, for the final game of their T20 group stages. With a start time of 6.15pm many sides struggle to get teams onto the pitch due to players work commitments and finishing times but not so with Hyde who take all the competitions they enter with full commitment and as the Marple side began to arrive the Hyde team were already in full warm up.

The toss completed saw Hyde win and elect to bat first. Jack Grundy opened the Marple bowling and struck early with the dangerous James Duffy dismissed caught and bowled for 0. Although Hyde Captain, Danny Berry looked to threaten he was bowled for 23 by Muddy with Hyde 61 for 2. Ex Marple player, Elliott Young was next to the wicket but it was not to be his evening as he was soon caught for just 2. David Fitzsimmons and Dan Cramner looked to regain the Hyde momentum but when Fitz was caught by keeper Andy Wild on 9 the home side were 92-5. Early doors Marple looked as though they could have been facing a large total, but they fielded well and took regular wickets, their only downfall 29 extras gifted to the home sides total. Hyde eventually finished on 146-8 from their 20 overs, Danny Cramner 46* 

The Hyde crowd grew throughout the game with many of them there to celebrate a Hyde members 40th birthday in the clubhouse later in the evening. The PA announcer encouraging them to support the home team as music blared out around the cricket. Openers Ramsey and Bennett were out to the middle with the umpires before the fielding side appeared. From the off Marple kept up with the over rate, rotating the strike and Bennett especially striking the ball cleanly, dispatching his ex team mate, Youngs first ball of his only over for a mighty 6. 

This was to be the end of Youngs evening as shortly after bowling he fell awkwardly while fielding and had to leave the field with a nasty dislocation of his finger. Marple's first wicket fell at 46 and ex Hyde player Schofield joined Bennett at the wicket. The pair moving the away side onto 119 before Bennett misjudged one and was caught by Whittaker for 58. Berry rotated his bowlers using 8 in total but could not find a way through. With wickets in the shed Marple moved slowly towards their total and as they finished the 18th over they required 15.

Jason Whittaker was brought on to bowl the penultimate over and restricted Marple to just 3 runs. With the final over to come Marple needed 12 to win. The Marple side stood nervously on the balcony, had they left themselves too much to do. Tensions were eased when a single was followed by two fours, and then another two singles left Woody to face the final ball with the scores even and one required to win. Woody connected but only reaching Jason Whittaker who threw the ball in and the bails were taken, Woody run out and the scores tied. Mike Schofield 47*

As the sides shook hands and walked towards the waiting crowd who had witnessed an exciting game of cricket no one seemed to know with the Group points tied who of the two teams would progress, after talks of a super over where dismissed, suggestions of run rates etc were muted but in fact the handbook stated that the team with less wickets progresses. Marple therefore move forward as winners of Group 7 for a quarter final home tie on Thursday 21st June against the winners of a play off between Groups 6 and 9 (Alderley Edge and Timperley) to be decided Thursday 14th.

Lets hope that a full Marple crowd will meet on the 21st to support Marple in the next round of this competition. 

Report posted by Nicola Bennett