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 8th, 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 12th over.
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