This keenly contested match, the third successive home game for Marple’s first eleven, saw the star studded visitors Timperley, run out winners. After a sticky start, Marple, managed to get themselves into a position of strength, but the middle and lower order were unable to garner quite enough runs to seriously pressurize the opposition.
Despite rain having fallen during the morning before the game, Marple captain Jim Morgan had no hesitation in electing to bat first on winning the toss. The pitch was a good one, although there was certainly some assistance there for the visitors’ opening attack of New Zealander Scott Johnstone and the evergreen Chris Page. It was the nagging accuracy of Page that put Marple in some early difficulty when he first bowled Morgan (4) with absolute beauty and then had Ramsay (0) caught behind by Timperley’s new skipper Lancashire’s Brooke Guest. At 11 for 2 it was time for some serious application. Over the past few seasons, Marple have had no one more determined than Paul Wood. Here, in his new role as opener, he looked in total command of the situation. The pace of Johnstone was comfortably negated, and when the Kiwi erred in length, he was gloriously put away to the cover boundary by Wood. Wood received excellent support from Liam Brown at number four again. The third wicket pair managed to see off the early threat of Page, and were also not troubled by left arm seamer Galley who replaced Johnstone when the score was 49 for 2.
The half century stand was passed, and as conditions fully dried out, the goodish crowd was treated to some fine strokeplay, particularly from Wood, who was in superb touch off front and back foot. Dominic Ashling replaced Page, and whilst he was accurate, he did not pose a serious threat. The first spell of leg spinner Chidamibaran was also successfully negotiated, his initial six overs producing a return of 0 for 23. Guest brought his opening bowlers back, and Wood tucked into Johnstone again with relish. However, Page got one to nip back and Brown was adjudged lbw at 121 for 3 for a proficient and sound 45. Once more, his timing and placement were of a high standard. Chidamibaran was tried again for a second spell, and although he bowled a mixed bag, it was to prove a crucial part of Timperley regaining their early ascendancy. Wood took his personal score to 87 when he smote a huge six out of the ground. However, the very next ball, a full toss from the leg spinner, was hit firmly, but Furqan Shafiq at shortish mid wicket, took a fine catch and Wood was on his way at 151 for 4. Wood, out on the Aussie unlucky number of 87, was obviously disappointed to miss out on a deserved century. This was though, one of his best innings as a Marple player. Secure in defence, and playing wonderful strokes all round the wicket. He hit twelve fours and one six.
The remainder of the Marple innings was something of a disappointment. Whilst the middle order of Makin, Hall and Schofield all reached double figures, none of them were able to go on and get a score of around 40 or so. Marple were dismissed for 198 in the 54th over. This was a competitive score on a ground where chasing down a total is tricky, but probably around 30 or so short of being able to put real pressure on the opposition. The outfield was quick, and conditions for batting had
improved as the sun came out in the late afternoon. Page was excellent for Timperley with 4 for 44, and Chidamibaran was gifted one or two late wickets, finishing with a fortunate 5 for 58.
The top four in the Timperley order are a formidable quartet. It was ominous for Marple that Shafiq played watchfully. He is capable of blazing away right at the start of an innings, but here he bided his time. He and Kulkarni were content to rotate the strike and put away the loose deliveries. For Marple, Wylie was not quite at his best, and his first five overs cost him23 runs. Brown was also not quite as accurate as in the previous game against Hyde, and Morgan changed the bowling, with Grundy and then Greasley taking up the attack. Shafiq played two glorious on drives for four off Grundy, but Marple’s young seam bowler settled well after his first couple of overs, and troubled both players. It was Greasley though, at the pavilion end for a change, who looked the more threatening. He got the break through when Shafiq was trapped lbw for 34 at 67 for 1. Then at 82, his partner, the secure looking Kulkarni (34) aimed a drive over mid off, mistimed and skied the ball to Wylie who safely took the catch. The third wicket pairing of Grant Hodnett and Brooke Guest is one of players who are the opposite ends of their first class careers. Hodnett played first class cricket in South Africa, and also had a stint with Gloucestershire, whilst Guest has recently made his first class debut with Lancashire. They had to be watchful against Greasley who managed to exert some turn and bounce, and also Grundy who found some late movement. They added 47, before Brown returned and bowled a testing second spell. He yorked Guest for 35 at 129 for 3. Guest is a technically sound player, and keeps the ball on the ground, usually not giving the bowlers anything. Hodnett continued on his way, but Greasley found more turn and was lbw at 153 for 4 for a painstaking 36. When Godhamgaonkar was also trapped in front at 156 for 5, Marple had a sniff of victory. However, Nathan Brown and Galley saw off Greasley and then managed to press the accelerator when the Marple wizard had finished his stint of 17 overs returning an excellent 4 for 46. There were no real further alarms as Brown cover drove the part time spin of Makin for four to bring up a gritty five wicket win for the visitors. Brown ended 19 not out and Galley a stylish 26 not out.
Marple remain third from bottom of the premier league, and have a trip to Widnes next Saturday, 13th July with a 12.30pm start.
Marple seconds made the long trip to Wirral side Upton last Saturday. With a number of players unavailable, they were pleased to come out on top in a drawn contest. Marple made 204 for 5, with Joe Cash hitting a punishing 83. He was well supported by Jamie Massey 41, and Stuart Bass 43. Upton subsided to 121 for 7, but stout resistance from Rick Battersby, 22 not out and James Woods, 33 not out, ensured that no more wickets fell. Joe Cash had two wickets, but encouragingly for Marple, young bowlers Connor Bergin 1 for 22, Tom Reeve 2 for 19, and Sam Ittig 2 for 16 all picked up wickets and bowled accurately. Upton ended on 163 for 7.
A high scoring game at Bowden Lane between Nantwich and Marple’s third elevens saw some fine entertainment in glorious weather last Sunday. Nantwich reached a formidable 257 for 7 declared. Dan Cox took 2 for 55, Matt Leech 2 for 69, and Ed Saxelby 1 for 47. This was a patched up attack, with skipper Marsland unable to bowl his full stint due to injury. In reply Marple made a valiant attempt. Will Darby, 83 and Mark Nicholson 66, shared 149 for the first wicket. Saxelby 22, Grundy 17, and Jonny Monk 10 not out all acquitted themselves well, but in the end Marple were happy with a draw, closing on 226 for 7.
Marple’s under 19’s made it two from two in the T20 competition with a 9 wicket trouncing of Bredbury last week. Bredbury made just 82 all out in 18 overs with Dan Evans top scoring with 29 not out. For Marple, Max Fitzgerald had 2 for 12 and James Reeve an impressive 4 for 16. Marple made light of this total, and the winning runs were brought up in just 7.2 overs. Max Fitzgerald hit a brutal 49 not out, and he was well supported by Ryan Stringer with 25.
Marple’s two ladies teams suffered three defeats in the space of a week against Didsbury’s first and second elevens, and also Lindow last Sunday. Kat Axon and Alex Smith continue to be amongst the wickets, but run scoring remains a problem. Nicola Wilcox made two double figure scores, and Rebecca Edmonson was run out for 14 when in full flow against Lindow. Laura Cavanagh with 14 and promising young player Freya Jones with 10 not out, almost saw Marple to victory against Didsbury seconds. Team spirit remains high though, and there are still a good number of fixtures to be played this season.
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