Neston 279 for 6 (55 overs) 25 points beat Marple 103 all out (31.2 overs) 2 points by 176 runs
With dry and warm weather finally returning after successive washed out games, the Marple ground looked in superb condition for the visit of high flying Neston. The Wirral micro climate meant that the visitors had played the previous week, comfortably defeating Hyde, when almost all other games in the league were cancelled. The wicket was dry, very firm and had a whitish appearance. Frustratingly, Marple captain Jim Morgan lost the toss and his team were set for a long afternoon in the field.
Morgan had chosen to field just the four front line bowlers, and such a tactic needed them to be firing on all cylinders from the start. For Neston, Will Evans the Cheshire wicket keeper batsman is one of the most dangerous and destructive batsmen in the premier league. He began with a flurry of boundaries as Liam Brown, striving for extra pace, was a little rusty after the enforced three week layoff. He bowled an initial spell of just three overs. Andy Wylie was his usual self accuracy wise, but there was precious little assistance for the bowlers, and both Evans and his partner Smith had time to play their strokes. Wylie did get the wicket of Smith (7), caught behind by Morgan at 31 for 1, but Dane Williams, formerly of the Oxton club, did a good job in support of Evans.
The pair were rarely troubled, and Evans, after missing a big shot against Greasley, was content to play sensibly, reining himself in. They added 90 before Greasley picked up Williams for 41, once more smartly taken by Morgan. The arrival of the technically secure Luke Camden to partner Evans did not see the scoring rate falter. These two classy left handers took Neston beyond 200, and Evans, with eleven fours and three sixes brought up a quality and at times violently struck century before he was bowled by the returning Wylie for 117. South African Michael Eckard joined Camden, and although this hard hitting batsman briefly threatened to run riot, he fell lbw to Wylie for just 17 at 231 for 4.
It was from this point onwards that Marple’s fielding began to wilt visibly. Camden came into his own now, timing the ball beautifully. Hitting seven fours and a six in his 72, he dominated the final stages of the innings as Neston cruised to a formidable 279 for 6 in the full 55 overs. For Marple, Greasley was accurate with 1 for 40 and Wylie was not particularly flattered with just 3 for 81 from 15 overs. Both Brown and George Clarke struggled without much assistance from the pitch, although Clarke did pick up couple of late wickets including that of Camden, well caught by Wood in the deep from the final delivery of the innings.
Almost three and a half hours chasing leather on a warm afternoon had a detrimental effect on Marple’s reply to such a formidable total. Andrew Hall was yorked for 0 second ball by Neston’s paceman Ash Davis. Jim Morgan did play a cameo innings of 27, some anger being taken out on Davis as he unleashed some glorious boundaries. However, a checked drive off the same bowler was well caught, high above his head, by Eckard at extra cover. Morgan looked in top form, and it was a real pity for a good crowd that he could not go on.
After this episode there was little to cheer for Marple. From the depths of 59 for 6, Paulett and Brown added 39, not looking in trouble, and probably making the top order wish that they could have batted some time in the middle. Paulett hit off spinner Eckard for two gigantic straight sixes in his 28 not out and Brown was stylish with his 16. Slow left arm spinner Luke Jones completely mesmerised the tail in quick order though, ending with a flattering 5 for 17. Once again, a bowler of this type had completely out foxed half the Marple bastmen. 103 all out was a very depressing response on a good if slowish surface and a lightning quick outfield.
This was a chastening defeat for Marple, and they will now have to accept, even before the halfway point of the season, that they are in a battle for premier league survival along with probably three other clubs. From this aging hack’s observations, the general standard of play in the league this season is consistently higher than that of 2018. This appears to be particularly true of the bowling, with runs generally hard to come by. There are no easy games.
Next week, Saturday 29th June, Marple are at home once more with a game against near rivals Hyde, start time 12.30pm.
Marple seconds made the long trip to Neston. This is one of the most attractive grounds in Cheshire, and a good game of cricket between two good second eleven teams ensued. Neston took first knock and rattled up 215 for 9. When Marple responded they were in good shape at 110 for 2, James Crisall and Stuart Bass hitting half centuries. However, a middle order collapse followed and it was left to Sam Stretton and Joel Greasley to see out a draw, Marple ending on 178 for 9.
On Sunday Marple thirds battled hard to reach a competitive 144 all out from 40.1 overs against Didsbury thirds. Lewis Braddock top scored with 43, and the lower order dug in to get Marple out of a hole at 75 for 5, Tom Reeve 25, Connor Bergin 13 and James Reeve 11 not out. For Didsbury, Mohammed Hoque had 3 for 15 and Rab Nawaz 3 for 31. When Didsbury replied, all the Marple bowlers did a good job, however they could not dislodge opener Jordan Harrison. He made a match winning 90, only being dismissed by leg spinner Paul Roberts four runs short of victory. Didsbury winners by four wickets with five overs to spare.
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