Competetive club cricket made a welcome return last Saturday after a three month delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, for Marple, the games did not quite produce the desired results, although for the second team the Massey brothers shone in victory in the first of the two T20 matches.
Marple groundsman Mike Hibbert has kept the Bowden Lane ground in top notch condition during lockdown and in the preparation time before the start of this truncated season. Old rivals Macclesfield were the visitors, and the clubs opted to play two T20 matches. This form of the game has rarely been a favourite or strong suit for Marple, although the side featured a number of very promising young players, now with some good experience behind them.
This first match saw Marple slump to 25 for 7! However, some doughty rearguard action from Ed Saxelby (23) and Jack Grundy (21) saw a recovery to 79 all out after 19 overs. For Macclesfield, opening bowler Pat Turner was unstoppable with 5 for 9. The visitors made light of this target despite Joe Cash picking up an early wicket with his off spin. The hard hitting John Birchall (49*) was severe on all the bowlers, and a nine wicket victory ensued in only the twelfth over.
In the second game, Marple fared a little better, restricting Macc to 125 for 8 in the full 20 overs. Most of the batters reached double figures, but Marple would have been hopeful of gaining some revenge. It was not to be though, as accurate bowling always kept the reply in check. A total of 88 for 8 never threatened to win the match for Marple. Sam Stretton had a good overall day for Marple with 3 for 29 to go with scores of 16 and 19. Of the other bowlers, Max Fitzgerald took 2 for 33 and George Clarke 2 for 21, whilst Mudassar Panchbhaya was miserly with 0 for 11 from his four overs. Mike Schofield hit a valiant 30 in the reply, but he was hampered by the fact that wickets fell at regular intervals, and he could not mount a serious charge on the target.
It was a slightly better story for the second team away to Macclesfield seconds. In the first game Marple posted 116 for 5, Jamie Massey 38. Macclesfield were sent packing for just 52, with brother Andy demolishing the batting taking a stunning 6 for 10. The second game saw the home side recover well though. Marple exceeded their first game score with 122 for 4, Conor Ramsey 43 and James Crisall 23. However, a much improved reply by Macc saw them home for the loss of just one wicket, Dan Isherwood 53 not out, and Sam Buckingham 50 not out.
