Marple 267 for 6 (55 overs) 12 points, drew with Timperley 250 for 6 (48.3 overs) 8 points
Stunning Easter weekend weather greeted the launch of the 2019 club cricket season, as Marple’s first eleven made the shortish trip to Timperley to get the new campaign underway.
The Timperley club have been amongst the strongest sides in the Cheshire County League in recent seasons. The ground has had some improvement work done on it, and, compared to 2018, it was in much better shape. The wicket was in a central position on the square, but recent unseasonably dry and warm April weather had left parts of the outfield rutted and difficult for the side in the field. A new look Marple side, with wicket keeper batsman Jim Morgan in charge, was relishing the prospect of cricket again after a tough second half to the 2018 season. Morgan jumped at the chance to bat first, after winning his initial toss as skipper.
Morgan was joined at the top of the order for Marple by Andrew Hall, and this combination of high class got the visitors away to a good start. The home side had just lost opening bowler Jack White, who has recently signed a contract with first class county Northants. However, New Zealander Scott Johnston lacked nothing in comparison speed wise with the volatile White. Fresh off the plane from down under, he has a smooth and easy approach and generates considerable pace from his high action. He is well over six feet tall, and the wicket keeper and slips were stood a good distance back from the stumps. Hall and Morgan were not totally in control against Johnston and his reliable partner in crime Chris Page, but they got Marple away to a good start. Both players located the boundary, with Morgan being especially harsh on Page, who not unnaturally kept to a fullish length. Morgan’s cover driving was out of the top draw, as he showed total commitment to the strokes, and drew admiring applause from the growing crowd. Hall was a little less fluent, but the pair added a confident 38 in good time before Hall (13) was surprisingly slightly early on a pull shot against Johnston. Asif Iqbal took a simple catch at square leg. Now Page, in particular, settled into a testing spell for the home team. Connor Ramsay (3) battled to try and establish himself with Morgan, but both he and Paul Wood (0) fell in quick succession to the nagging Page. At 49 for 3, Marple were faced with a potential uphill struggle. Although Mark Makin made only 19, he exhibited his usual disdain for the bowlers, and the scoring rate continued at a good pace, Morgan seemingly unfazed by the flurry of early wickets. The next period of play proved to be excellent for Marple. A solid partnership ff 44 for the fourth wicket between Morgan and Makin was followed by a heartening one of 67 between Morgan and Marple newcomer Andy Paulett for the fifth wicket after Makin fell at 93 for 4. Paulett, an experienced batsman having joined from Matlock in the Derbyshire County League, was the perfect foil for Morgan. Secure in defence, he did his job in supporting the skipper who was in top form. Timperley have a varied attack, with four good quality seamers, and also two handy spinners in Chidambiran, a recent participant in the under 19 world cup for Kenya, and the wily Furqan Shafiq. The former, a promising leg spinner, was harshly treated by firstly Makin and then Morgan, but Shafiq is a deceptive off spinner who needs careful watching. He was never really collared.
Paulett was not just a foil for Morgan, and he played a number of delightful strokes himself as the score progressed at a good rate. It was quite a surprise when he was deceived and bowled for 21 by Shafiq at 160 for 5. Mike Schofield now joined Morgan, and he looked in no difficulty. Morgan’s determination that his team should build partnerships continued as Marple’s new captain took charge. He demolished Ed Galley, the lively left arm seamer, who came on surprisingly late in the piece. One brutally despatched six did some damage to a parked car on the edge of the ground. Galley did not bowl badly, but Morgan was now in full flow. A new look Schofield oozed confidence, and he helped a tiring Morgan through to a superb century. This was his first for the club, and it was amongst the best by a Marple player in recent seasons, punctuated by glorious classical drives and some powerful hits over the top. When he fell for 116 to the persevering Page, he received a fully deserved ovation on returning to the pavilion. The fun was not over for Marple though, as new overseas allrounder Liam Brown joined Schofield. From 218 for 6 this pair added 49 in six and a half overs. Brown (15 not out) certainly seems to know how to wield the willow, and he helped Schofield (59 not out) through to an excellent and fully merited half century as Marple posted a formidable 267 for 6 after the full 55 overs. Chris Page with 3 for 52 was well supported by Dominic Ashling, Johnston and Shafiq for Timperley.
This was a certainly a fine performance against a varied attack that will probably cause a few problems to opposing sides this season. The main problem, aside from Morgan and Schofield’s quality in particular for home skipper Nathan Brown, was the appalling over rate. One wonders if the umpires had appealed to him to “get a move on”, but despite extra drinks breaks due to the weather, there appeared to be little urgency.
This problem with the over rate was instantly forgotten within four overs of the home side’s response to the distant target. Furqan Shafiq is a gloriously talented batsman; he hit over 200 in a minor county game for Cheshire last year. The Marple seam attack was despatched to all parts, as Shafiq was not remotely interested in “having a look” at the bowling. Anything marginally off line, and also some decent deliveries were despatched to and over the boundary edge. It was pure mayhem. A remarkable 75 came in only 8 overs, Shafiq’s share 51. It was almost an incredulous Marple side that saw him flick a simple catch to Paulett at short mid wicket off first change seamer George Clarke. Shafiq was crestfallen as he made his way from the arena. From this point on, a semblance of normality descended on the proceedings, despite the batsmen, Kulkarni and Brown being still in command of the situation. Clarke settled well after a nervous beginning for Marple, and Liam Brown showed a good turn of speed, having escaped some of the early carnage. The pitch seemingly offered little help to the bowlers, but Timperley were somewhat reined in. Greasley, although a little rusty, accounted for Kulkarni (33), caught by Brown, and although Nathan Brown for Timperley played fluently, the victory target still seemed distant. Godhamgaonkar (27) and Galley (46 not out) both played with secure confidence despite Brown (44) falling to the Brown of Marple, excellently taken by keeper Morgan.
It seemed to dawn on the Timperley batsmen, somewhat belatedly, that the light was drawing in. Despite some improvisation, particularly against Greasley, time was not the home team’s favour. In very dark conditions, the umpires called a halt at 250 for 6 with still five overs to be bowled. This proved to be a frustrating end for both teams, but Timperley have only themselves to blame for their earlier tardiness.
Despite some issues in the field, this was a heartening start for Marple against a very useful looking Timperley side. Morgan was superb with the bat, and also led the side with aplomb. Schofield played a destructive knock, and Paulett was solid and vital in the middle order. With the ball, Clarke stepped up well with 2 for 59 in 17 overs, and Liam Brown will certainly cause opposition players some problems in the coming weeks and months.
Marple are at home to newly promoted Widnes next Saturday with a 12.30pm start.
On a Marple ground in absolutely superb condition, Marple seconds defeated Wirral club Upton seconds by 17 runs in an excellent game of cricket. Marple got away to a good start, with stand in skipper Andy Wild making 36, James Crisall 37 and Max Fitzgerald 26. Upton were dogged in field though and Marple could not get away, slumping to 142 for 8. However, Ed Saxelby is an accomplished batsman, and although he watched the middle order collapse around him, he was joined by Mudassar Panchbhaya, a very skilled performer at number 10. The pair added 68 runs unbroken for the ninth wicket, and a solid total of 210 for 8 was posted, Saxelby 27 not out and Mudassar a fluent 50 not out.
Maybe the batting took some energy from these two, and they were both a little inconsistent as Marple’s new ball attack after the break. Wild though, like Ted Dexter in Australia in 1962/3, had three quality off spinners in the ranks! Newcomer Lewis Clarke was the most economical with 1 for 36 from 12 overs, and the canny Andy Massey had 3 for 61. However, the match winner for Marple was Joe Cash. Cash took 5 for 40, and in delivering the fortieth over of off spin and final over of the match for Marple, took the last two wickets in consecutive deliveries. This was a first rate win against keen opposition. One has to feel for Upton opener Talbot who carried his bat with a superb 104 not out in a losing cause.
Marple seconds are away to Didsbury seconds next Saturday at 1.00pm.
