Cricket the Winner as Marple and Hyde Serve Up Thriller!

Marple 255 for 7 (55 overs) 15 points drew with Hyde 250 for 9 (55 overs) 8 points

For an excellent crowd of supporters drawn from both clubs, this was a terrific game of cricket, both teams having a chance of victory right up the final delivery. There were fine individual performances on both sides, with the two Australian quick bowlers showing their true worth.

After a grim afternoon the previous week against Neston, Marple captain Jim Morgan was mighty relieved to win the toss and bat first on an even hotter afternoon. He had also decided to change the batting order. Although not all the changes worked, there was a fresh feel to things, and one sensed the players relished the altered line up. Paul Wood opened with Morgan this game. Wood is not an especially lucky batsman, and bowlers always seem to be right on target when he comes to the crease. After appearing secure, he got one that lifted from Glen Hannah, and inside edged the ball to keeper Allcock for 8. Ramsay and Morgan were also both dismissed by Hyde’s tall Aussie. Ramsay (10) mistimed a pull shot and was caught by Baker at mid wicket ad then Morgan (14) fell, caught at gulley by Balderson, to a slower delivery which seemed to leave the batsman off the pitch. At 46 for 3, Marple were in some trouble, and when Andrew Hall shouldered arms and was lbw to Balderson for just 11 at 70 for 4, the situation became precarious. George Balderson, a young Lancashire starlet is a fine prospect. He has a smooth and easily repeatable action, not that dissimilar to England’s Chris Woakes. Here, he bowled a useful spell of 1 for 30 in seven overs, being somewhat quicker than he looked. Hannah’s initial impressive spell had brought him 3 for 21 from 8 overs.

Morgan had decided to promote Liam Brown to number 4, no doubt impressed by his sound technique and good judgment the previous week. He was joined by Mark Makin, keen to do well against his former club. Both batsmen did not allow slow left armer Cranmer to settle, and the bowler was noticeably frustrated, never bowling a consistent line or length. Makin began with a flurry of boundaries, and Brown timed the ball well finding the gaps.  The runs came at a good pace, although Eliot Young replaced Cranmer and bowled tidily. The batsmen were now set though, and there was not much spin for Hyde’s second left arm spinner. 56 runs came in excellent time, before Brown mistimed a full toss from Young to be safely pouched by Duffy at deep mid on for a very fine maiden 50 for Marple. Andy Paulett joined Makin and looked in control at once. Makin had reined himself in somewhat, seemingly determined on batting through the innings. This sixth wicket added 38 brisk runs, before Paulett (15) got a little ahead of himself and chipped a simple catch to Eliot Young at mid wicket off Cole Turner, who initially came back well after an inconsistent first spell with the new ball. At 164 for 6 the innings was in the balance. Max Fitzgerald though took his chance, and partnered Makin the the highest stand of the match. He hoisted a Turner for a big six over mid wicket, and square cut Hannah twice for four in successive deliveries when the paceman replaced Turner who had suffered somewhat. Fitzgerald made an excellent 29 before falling to Hannah at 223 for 7. Jack Grundy then gave Makin good support with 12 not out. Makin played a superb innings of 92 not out with 13 fours and one six. It was a trademark Makin knock, a combination of power and timing. Here, his management of the situation was first class. For Hyde, Hannah was the star with 4 for 54 from 14 overs. Marple will have been glad to restrict left arm spinners Cranmer and Young to 1 for 104 from 22 combined overs in the final tally of 255 for 7.

With Hyde having four left handers at the top of their order, veteran off spinner Greasley bowled the second over. Maybe this threw Hyde skipper Tom Partridge, for after heaving wildly at fresh air, he fell in similar vein to Brown earlier, from a top edged full toss safely caught by Wood at mid off and Hyde were 3 for 1. Greasley was removed from the attack after just two overs, and Grundy replaced him at the north end. Both Brown and Grundy bowled well, but in Luke Young and Balderson, Hyde have two of the best young batsmen in the league. Anything slightly wide was beautifully put away through the cover area. Brown did beat the outside of the bat though, and having had Young (23) pinned down for a period, managed to induce a thick edge from a hard slash outside the off stump. Makin took a spectacular catch above his head from a ball that flew to him at a rate of knots. Brown was now fired up and confident after his batting earlier. He produced a beauty to clean bowl Duffy who played loosely at 64 for 3, Marple were delighted to get the former Cheshire star early this game. Eliot Young now joined Balderson, and he played a fine innings in a good fourth wicket stand.

Marple had a serious setback when George Clarke, Marple’s third seamer, suffered a nasty shoulder injury when diving to stop the ball on the boundary edge. Poor Clarke left the field gingerly, and it looks as though he will be out of action for the rest of the season. As a result of this unfortunate accident, Paul Wood, not himself 100 per cent fit, was drafted in to bowl a spell. He probably did not anticipate being asked to bowl 16 overs in two spells! The dual between Eliot Young and Greasley was a fascinating one. Young is a powerful batsman, but he seemingly just caressed the ball over boundary with exquisite timing for four huge sixes off the master craftsman.  Wood got into his work at the other end and managed to induce the excellent Balderson to chop a ball onto his stumps for a classy 54 at 115 for 4. Young mixed studious defence with his power, but Greasley had the last laugh  when the batsman skied the ball to long on and Brown cooly took the catch. Young was gone for 42 with the total 141 for 5.

The Hyde middle and lower order contains some dangerous players, and with the wily Fitzsimmons anchoring things, Turner was able to play with freedom. A further 45 runs came before Brown returned to shatter  the stumps of Fitzsimmons (29) at 186 for 6. With Turner set though, the scoring rate did not slacken, and wicket keeper Allcock continued the charge. Hyde now looked likely winners, and Marple seemed unable to stem the flow of runs. Both players cleared the ropes and were rapid in their running between the wickets. The heroic Wood managed to induce Turner to edge to Morgan for a fine 43 though at 230 for 7, and the spell was broken. Allcock fought gamely on, but ice cool Brown held his nerve to defeat Cranmer and Baker both lbw to full straight deliveries. Hannah, at number 11, and Allcock ran for everything though, including byes and leg byes. With one delivery of the game remaining six were required. Again, Brown kept calm and Allcock was unable to hit the winning boundary. He ended 23 not out. For Marple, Brown gave a fantastic allround performance taking for 5 for 59 and achieved the rare feat of a half century and five wickets in a game. He was well supported by Greasley 2 for 64, the courageous Wood 2 for 79, and a slightly unlucky Grundy with 0 for 33.

Both sets of players were applauded from the field by an appreciative crowd, in what was a terrific game of high class club cricket. Marple will hope to take the confidence gained into another home game next Saturday against Timperley, 12.30pm start.

Hyde defeated a young Marple second team at Werneth Low by seven wickets. Although Marple laboured to just 128 for 8, there were encouraging knocks from Sam Stretton (18), Ed Saxelby (34) and Lewis Braddock(17). The Hyde bowlers shared the wickets. Ben Balderson with 54, made the identical score to his brother in the first team game, as a solid response brought up a comfortable home win.

In the first game of the round robin under 19 T20 competition, Marple defeated Mottram by seven wickets. Mottram 105 for 6, Jordan Swann 30 not out, with Sam Ittig 2 for 20 and skipper Connor Bergin 2 for 16. Marple paced the reply well with Sam Stretton 40 not out and Ed Saxelby 40 leading the way, two overs remaining.

Marple women’s first team had a tough day against Ashton on Mersey women last Thursday. The home team rattled up 127 for 5 in their 20 overs, with Beth Caunce top scoring with 25. Bella Wood  with 2 for 10 and Freya Jones 2 for 12 bowled well for Marple.  The visitors were dismissed for just 33 though, with only Kat Axon (12) and Amy Seddon (8) offering much resistance. Jordy Matthews, 3 for 3, and Sarah Sutcliffe 2 for 3, were unstoppable for Mersey.