Sale Injury Hoodoo Strikes Again and Marple in the Mire!

 Sale 144 for 3 (41.4 overs) 25 points beat Marple 140 for 9 (47.2 overs) 5 points by seven wickets 

 

Sale’s Dane Road ground has undergone major changes in the last couple of years, and it now looks to be one of the best venues in the league. A superb new pavilion, and protective netting on the east side of the ground have totally transformed the place.  From Marple’s perspective however, events that occurred when the visiting side was in the relatively comfortable position of 103 for 2, with plenty of overs remaining in the innings, made them feel the shortish trip to south Manchester had not been a welcome one. In 2017 On Marple’s last visit to Sale, key seamer Andy Wylie badly injured his knee and missed the remainder of the 2017 season, and all of the following one also.

Legendary Marple and Cheshire batsman Andrew Hall was standing in as captain for the absent Jim Morgan. On a glorious late May afternoon he won the toss and elected to take first knock. He and James Crisall made good progress against a steady if not especially penetrative Sale attack of Layton and Newton. The pitch was placid, but not that easy to score quickly on. Unless, that is, you are Andrew Hall.  Hall was master of all he surveyed. No home bowler was able to trouble him, and young North of England slow left arm spinner Isaac Brooks was despatched for an effortless straight six. Crisall added 43 with Hall for the first wicket, but once more when set, a loose shot against Newton proved his undoing.

Paul Wood, at three this week, was not fluent, but he stayed with Hall whilst 37 more were added. However, just as he looked like establishing himself, he flashed at left arm seamer Lawrence, and was smartly taken by keeper Canning. The third wicket stand between Hall and Fitzgerald proceeded in similar fashion until Fitzgerald was well caught and bowled by Sale’s second spinner, the offer James Dodds. Still, 103 for 3 was not too bad, with Hall dominating on 70, and Makin to come. Disaster now struck. Makin was run out for nought after a mix up with Hall, who was caught on the back foot. Non striker Makin, three quarters of the way down the wicket, had no chance of getting home. However, Hall, in turning sharply, fell awkwardly. He looked to be in real pain, and retired hurt. The prognosis was that he had probably torn a calf muscle, and will miss a number of games.

103 for 4 became 103 for 5 immediately as Ed Saxelby was loose against Lawrence and caught behind. A total calamity was prevented as George Clarke hit a lusty 18, and Connor Ramsay was undefeated on 13. However, 140 was still below par in benign conditions. For Sale, Tyrone Lawrence was canny and accurate, and he ended with 4 for 25 from fourteen overs and four maidens.

 

After the tea interval, Jack Grundy maintained his knack of picking up an early wicket. This time it was Battersby for a duck, easily taken my Makin, keeping wicket again after an absence behind the timbers of several seasons. This early success proved a false dawn for Marple though, as the impressive Lawrence strode to the crease. There can be few, if any, more powerful players in the top two tiers of Cheshire cricket than this impressive left hander. Not only does he have the power, he times the ball beautifully, and he imposed himself on proceedings at once. Anything in his “arc” was dismissed with ease, and one six straight driven from Wylie, was not much more than a checked drive. It sailed out of the park. It was ominous for Marple.

 However, Joe Cash once more was right on target. Viraj Sorathyia is a technically correct batsman, and he helped add 80 runs with Lawrence for the second wicket. His share was just 20, but maybe he wanted to show his own range of strokes, and misjudged a drive off Cash to be well caught by Grundy at mid on.

Whilst never threatening to gain control of the game, Marple’s luck was certainly out. Sub fielder for Andrew Hall, Isaac Brooks shelled an absolute dolly from Lawrence, who had reined himself in after his explosive start, off George Clarke’s second delivery. Cash did deservedly pick up his second wicket soon afterwards though when Lawrence was very well held at extra cover by Ramsay, having dominated proceedings with 71 out 93 for 3. The door was very slightly open for Marple now, but the fourth wicket pair of Gareth Davies and Dan Newton batted with good application. Davies, in particular played some pleasant strokes once established, and there were no further alarms as victory was achieved with ten overs to spare. Joe Cash was excellent with 2 for 27 and Makin was immaculate as ever behind the stumps.

This proved to be another trying day for Marple, in what is shaping up to be a very competitive division one this season. Next Saturday, 5^th June, they face old rivals Bramhall at Bowden Lane, 12.00 noon start. Bramhall are another side that have had a tricky start to the season, but Marple will have to show some character. With the injury to Hall, and other unavoidable absences, opportunities are there for players to put up their hands and “grasp the nettle.” Will they be able to do it?

 

A good game of second team cricket saw Marple hang on to a losing bonus points draw against Oulton Park at Bowden Lane on Saturday. Park put up a solid 181 for 7 in the 50 overs, with the Marple seamers Chalmers, Stretton and Tom Reeve all bowling impressively. Stretton had 3 for 19 and Reeve 2 for 29.

Against an experienced visiting attack, Marple did pretty well in trying to chase down a tough target. Mike Schofield continued his return from a nasty injury with a fine 54, and Mark Nicholson looked good for 26. However, the really big match winning individual score eluded batters of both sides as the pitch assisted the bowlers throughout. Good temperament from Tom Reeve, 12 not out, and Greg Marsland, 2 not out, meant that defeat was avoided.

 

Marple/Compstall thirds continued their fine start to the season with a comfortable 49 run win at Bramhall last Sunday. A solid batting card saw Marple post a very challenging 172 for 4 in the 40 overs, Will Darby 30, Jamie Massey 39, Sam Stretton 39, Chris Sullivan 20 and Will Cheetham 27 not out. When Bramhall replied, only Charlie Smith, with 57, offered much resistance as all Marple’s six bowlers used did an excellent job, the wickets being shared evenly.

Masterful Panda Sinks Marple, but Joy for Bergin’s Boys and the T20 Thirds!

Marple 186 all out (48 overs) 8 points lost to Urmston 188 for 6 (47.1 overs) 25 points by four wickets 

 

A masterful innings of 95 not out from Urmston’s Sumit Panda was the difference between the sides in this close contest at Bowden Lane last Saturday.

On a cool but dry first day of May, Marple were invited to bat first after Urmston skipper Lewis Jackson called correctly at the toss. As in the first game, two weeks previously against Grappenhall, Marple’s top order of Andrew Hall and James Crisall were in command of the bowling. Boundaries flowed, particularly from Hall who looks in great touch this season. The Marple ground looked in superb condition, and the outfield was, once more, super quick. Forty- four runs were added in just seven overs, before Crisall (17) was dismissed, caught and bowled, by the persevering Assi. This brought in Mark Bennett at number three, for his first game in two and a half years. Marple spectators were very glad to see this classy lefthander back wielding the willow, and he looked as though he had never been away. With Hall, he added a further fifty runs for the second wicket, his trademark cover drive being particularly effective. Marple had reached a very healthy 94 for 1 at five runs per over.

Bennett’s fine start was cut short when he pulled a short delivery to Panda from Matt Kilcourse for a cultured 23. Disappointed not to go on, but glad to show he still has the class. From this point onwards, the Marple innings went into decline, another mirror image of the first game. This was due partly to some batsmen error, and also the increasing accuracy of the Urmston attack. Kilcourse, the medium pacer and Harry Singh, the off spinner, kept a check on the innings. Hall, once more, passed a sumptuous half century, but then was bowled for 53. With Mark Makin (0) not lasting too long on his first appearance after injury this season, responsibility fell on the inform Morgan to steady the ship. He looked in good touch, but mistakenly charged at Singh, who is not a flighty slow bowler, missed and was stumped for 18 at 124 for 5.

Paul Wood, at seven this week, once more battled to establish himself with Max Fitzgerald. Both players were just looking settled, when Wood (7)drove Singh to mid on, where Watson took a fine catch. It was a similar story when Saxelby joined Fitzgerald. Twenty more were added, but Fitzgerald (25), after some pleasing strokeplay, called for a suicidal run and was easily run out at 164 for 7. The remainder of the innings was one of trying to eke out as many as possible. Joe Cash reached double figures, and Jack Grundy curbed his attacking instincts to finish undefeated. 186 all out represented a fairish score, but once again a good start had been somewhat thrown away, when a total of around 220 plus beckoned. The nippy Kilcourse had an excellent 5 for 24, Singh 2 for 36 and the deceptive Assi 2 for 46 for Urmston.

Jack Grundy has a very handy habit of producing “magic” spells. When Urmston replied, he produced two beauties to remove both openers, Watson and Singh for ducks.

 At eleven for two, Marple had Sumit Panda in against the new ball and a fresh attack. Skipper Jackson looked in determined mode at the other end to Panda, and although all Marple’s bowlers did a decent job, the third wicket pair advanced the score at a good rate. Both players were rock solid in defence, and found the boundary, Lewis with fine timing, and Panda unleashing his power to devastating effect including a lofted six over the pavilion off Saxelby. The cricket was good as they added 76 quality runs before Jackson (33) drove Clarke firmly to wide mid off where Makin took a safe catch. Assi joined Panda, and played second fiddle as Marple succeeded somewhat in keeping Panda off the strike for a period. The dangerous Grundy returned for a second spell, and removed, Assi (12) and Kilcourse (0)in a double wicket maiden. At 113 for 5 it was evenly matched again, but Panda remained. He was joined by the experienced Mike Ness, low in the order at seven, and with clever batting they took Urmston closer to the target. 44 were added before Ness chopped Saxelby onto his stumps at 157 for 6 to give Marple renewed hope. This hope was not long in being extinguished though as Josh Edwards looked a very confident and competent player at eight. He wasted little time in assisting Panda bring up the winning runs. Panda smote the luckless Joe Cash into the pavilion for a second six to bring up the victory, and just miss out on a deserved century with 95 not out. 

Edwards provided handy support with 15 not out.

This was another good game at Bowden Lane, athough Marple will take little comfort at being on the losing end of it again. Sumit Panda’s superb, and chanceless innings was the difference, and all of his experience and quality were on full display here. For Marple, Grundy, with 4 for 54, was excellent, and not with much good fortune either. Saxelby, and Clarke each picked up a wicket, and Cash bowled well with no reward, unable to gain much purchase from the surface.

Next Saturday, May 8^th, Marple visit Bollington, 12.00 noon start.

 

Marple seconds had a convincing win at Cheadle to get skipper Connor Bergin’s season up and running. Cheadle were held in check, making 156 all out in 48 overs. Sam Povey top scored with 43, as all of the Marple bowlers did an excellent job; Connor Ramsay 2 for 34, Connor Bergin 2 for 33, Kaiser Chowdrey 2 for 15, Sam Stretton 2 for 13, and Tom Chalmers unlucky to just pick up just the one wicket with 1 for 21.

Despite losing opening partner Mark Nicholson early for a duck, Matt Barrow continued his fine early season form. There were good and entertaining partnerships with Sam Stretton (26) and Mike Schofield (39). Barrow fell for a cultured 62 to trigger a mini collapse near the finishing post, but James Hirst used his experience to see Marple home by three wickets in a fine all round performance. Povey was also the home side’s most successful bowler with 3 for 36.

 

Marple thirds trounced Stockport Trinity thirds by ten wickets in the third eleven T20 competition on Sunday. Eddie Lister top scored with 32 as Trinity battled to 92 for 5, all of the six Marple bowlers used doing a fine job. Will Darby (29 not out) and Jamie Massey (50 not out) then made light work of chasing down the target, the winning runs being hit in just the 12^th over.