Alderley Allrounders Swing Grim Battle!

Alderley Edge 133 all out (39.5 overs) 25 points beat Marple 101 all out (51.5 overs) 4 points by 32 runs

After the Easter heatwave and then the devastation wreaked by storm Hannah last week, cricket got underway again. However, the temperatures were in single figures, and a bitter northerly wind made conditions anything but pleasant for players and spectators. At Alderley Edge’s attractive Moss Lane venue, Marple faced a home team much changed from recent seasons.

Marple skipper Jim Morgan was lucky again with the toss, and this time he asked Edge to take first knock. The game had few batting highlights, and fluent strokeplay was very difficult on a sluggish, two paced pitch.  Marple used just the three bowlers in an Alderley total of just 133 all out. Andy Wylie, in his first game for two seasons due to injury, relished his return, and although he dragged down a couple of short deliveries early in his spell, he soon had the vaunted opening pair of Callum Rowe and Alan Day back in the shed. Day was lbw, a mode of dismissal that was to become common as the game progressed, and Rowe, smartly pouched by Makin at slip. Although Liam Brown did not pick up a wicket in his opening burst, he showed good pace, and even on this unreliable surface, there was good carry through to keeper Morgan. Greasley was introduced early on, as Wylie was getting good seam movement, and Marple’s legendary spinner showed that he is still a big turner of the ball. Today, he was right into his work. These two quality Marple bowlers, with years of experience, caused problems for all the home batsmen. However, the three players that managed to register double figures were to have a crucial part in the posting of a respectable total in trying conditions.

Firstly, Ed Foster, a very useful acquisition from Birmingham League side, Shrewsbury, ghosted his way to 26. This elegant left hander could well prove to be a superb signing for Alderley, and it was with some relief for Marple that he was adjudged lbw to Greasley at 52 for 3. This brought in Richard Wilkinson at number five. The former Cheshire allrounder is well known to Marple players, but today he looked fitter and sharper than in recent seasons. He clubbed Greasley for a brutal six, but the young, talented, home batsmen at the other end could not stay with him. It was left to veteran and former Lancashire opening bat, Mark Currie at number 8, to make a third vital contribution of 24. Wilkinson made the game’s top score of 35, and his frustration at being lbw to Greasley was apparent at 106 for 7. Currie was brilliantly stumped by Morgan off Greasley at 123 for 8, who was right on his game, spinning the ball sharply and being miserly with his length. Liam Brown returned to mop up the tail, and Marple were reasonably happy with having to chase just 134 for victory, although mindful that batting conditions were far from straightforward. Greasley had 5 for 42 from 14 overs, Wylie 3 for 53 from 17 overs delivered in a single spell, and Brown 2 for 26.

There was an element of farce to the start of the Marple reply. After just two overs, there was a problem with a damaged ball. It took more than five minutes to locate a suitable replacement, but this delay undoubtedly affected Jim Morgan’s concentration. He followed his superb century at Timperley two weeks ago, with a duck, lbw to Wilkinson, who settled immediately into a demanding spell. Ramsay followed, caught at slip, three balls later, and Marple were 1 for 2. The home attack gave absolutely nothing away, sensing that the game was there was the taking. Wilkinson’s partner, JakeHill was wicketless in his initial spell, but was nonetheless, very hard to get away. It took all the experience and nous of Marple’s third wicket pair, Andrew Hall and Paul Wood, to steady the ship with some gutsy and determined batting. Boundaries were rare, but Wood played a couple fine back foot drives off Hill to ease the visiting supporter’s nerves a little. Wilkinson and Hall, old Cheshire teammates, had a battle royal, with the batsman desperate not to give it away, and Wilkinson beating the outside edge regularly and also rapping Hall a painful blow on the fingers.

Keeper and Captain for Alderley, Adam Worrall now came into his own. He had made a duck earlier in the afternoon, but now set a largely defensive field once Wilkinson has established a degree of control on the proceedings. His played his trump card next with the introduction of Foster to replace Hill. Foster is a medium paced bowler of metronomic accuracy, and conditions suited him to a tee. Worrall is a fine keeper and he stood up to stumps as his bowlers found a length just short of being drivable, and delivered gun barrel straight at the stumps. Runs dried up, with a scoring rate of under two per over being the norm from now on. Marple’s normally free flowing scorers just could not get on top, despite battling to gain ascendancy. Wood (22) looked in good form, but both he and Hall (21) fell lbw. From 49 for 4 it was always going to be an uphill struggle, although Makin and Paulett also reached the 20’s showing commendable application. When Paulett was eighth out at 93 the game was up, despite George Clarke showing resolution with a hard fought 9 not out. Like Brown earlier, Hill with 2 for 19, returned to clean up the tail, and Marple’s determined battle of almost 52 overs for 101 runs was ultimately in vain. A rejuvenated Wilkinson had 3 for 22 from 13 overs, and Foster 4 for 27 from 17, being almost impossible to score off.

This was not a great spectacle as a game, with the pitch not conducive to free flowing shot making. However, the skill of the more experienced players of both sides shone through, with the all round performances of Wilkinson and Foster proving decisive. Next Saturday, May 11^th, Marple are at home to Grappenhall with a 12,30pm start.

Marple seconds were well on top in a drawn game against Alderley seconds at Bowden Lane. A total of 218 for 6 proved far too many for the visitors who could only manage 112 for 8. The Marple top three of Andy Wild, Matt Barrow and James Crisall once more enjoyed making hay on a good early season Marple track. The Marple bowlers all did a decent job, but could not quite prise out the last two wickets. Young seamers Ed Saxelby and Ryan Stringer looked a good combination, and off spinner Lewis Clarke bowled an immaculate line and length, also spinning the ball sharply.  Marple showed here that there is competition for places throughout the club. It is worth mentioning that legendary batsman Garry Cash made his first appearance of the season in this game. This will be his 43^rd consecutive season in the Cheshire County League, and although Garry has not played first eleven cricket since 2013, his aggregate total of runs at that level is unlikely ever to be beaten. One of the most destructive batsmen ever to play amateur cricket in any era, Garry’s devotion and dedication to the game is an example to any young player today.