Marple 173 for 7 (35 overs) 20 points beat Urmston 173 all out (42 overs) 5 points by three wickets. (Target reduced by one run, DLS, due to rain during the second innings).
Marple had the class and application of Owen Reilly, well supported by Mike Schofield, to thank for victory in the final game of the 2026 season at Urmston. The seventh wicket pair added 91, after Marple had slumped to 72 for 6 in pursuit of the home side’s 172 all out.
The game had an end of season feel to it, as Marple worked their way through a fragile home batting card, the score being 126 for 7, with Umar Munawar top-scoring with a stylish 46. It looked all over but, Istiqlal Hanif, at number nine, blitzed 30 runs from just twelve deliveries, including four sixes. These six hits did not just clear the boundary, but were monumental strikes, clearing the road and the ball being lost in adjacent housing. It gave Urmston something to bowl at on a surface that assisted bowlers of all types who bowled accurately.
For Marple, Mark Makin had 4 for 49, Charlie Hodgson 2 for 59, Eliot Young 2 for 3, and Jack Grundy 1 for 29. Reilly was accurate with 0 for 19 from nine overs.
Marple’s initial response to chasing down the target was less than impressive. Maybe they were surprised by the quality of Istiqlal, in particular, or maybe they hadn’t worked out how to play on the pitch. Whichever it was, a series of poor strokes from deliveries not quite there to hit resulted in a collapse. Fitzgerald, beaten by a nip backer to be lbw, is absolved, but the rest of the top order were culpable in the collapse.
Reilly had watched calmly from the other end, and when he was joined by Mike Schofield some sanity returned to the proceedings. There were enough poor deliveries sent down to score from, and both players gradually gained the ascendancy, punishing errors in line and length, and rotating the strike with sensible batting.
Some light rain possibly helped the ball “skid on” to the bat a little, but this was an excellent partnership which took Marple almost to victory. Schofield fell lbw at 163 for 7 for a fine 36, but Reilly went on to a superb 61 not out, bringing up a tight three wicket win in company with Adam Carter, 4 not out. Reilly hit five sweetly timed fours and also cleared the boundary twice with two powerful pulls for six. Istiqlal bowled a testing opening spell of 4 for 37, backed up by Ebrahim Falat with a deceptive 2 for 36 for Urmston.
So, another topsy-turvy season ends for Marple. They finished in eighth place in what proved to be a very competitive first division. Apart from the top two sides, and Urmston at the bottom, there was not much between the other nine teams. Consistency was elusive for Marple, but that was also the case for most other sides. This division shows the ability below the premier league in Cheshire, with many clubs vying for membership of the top table. Roll on 2027!
Marple seconds defeated Sale seconds in a “celebratory” match at the MHCG. Marple teased the cricketing gods by playing some jiggery-pokery with the batting and bowling line ups, but still emerged victors by 42 runs, and consolidating their position as second eleven division one champions of the Cheshire County League. Marple 185 all out, Sale 143 for 9.
Despite the final day shenanigans, this has been a superb season for Marple seconds. They gained an early lead in the league and never relinquished it. A classic mix of youth and experience, with James Hirst’s passion as skipper showing through. Many congratulations!
Marple/Compstall thirds lost to North East Cheshire 3rds by 38 runs in an odd game of cricket. NEC, 122 for 3, Andy Welsby a Boycott like 46 not out in 40 overs, and Cam Hunter 38 not out. On a sluggish pitch, M/C could not get going, and slumped to 84 all out, Tom Porter, 27 and Rich Hatley 19. Andy Floyd, 5 for 18 and Kamran Mukherjee, 3 for 26, were lethal for NEC.
At Compstall’s ground, it was veteran Craig Young’s day, as M/C 4ths defeated Cheadle Hulme 3rds by 14 runs. M/C totalled a challenging 186 for 8, Ed Frost 31, Young 52, with ninth wicket pair Luke Leighton 24 not out, and Chris Lloyd 17 not out adding 52 crucial unbeaten runs late on.
Hulme were 89 for none, with Aqeel and Frankie Houghton making 47 apiece. However, Young turned bowler, picking up both openers, and claiming a match-winning 5 for 26. Lloyd, expensive at the start, returned to take 3 for 37, as Hulme could only muster a final total of 172.
A brilliant season for Marple’s terrific under 19’s side ended in defeat by six wickets to Oxton in the final of the Cheshire County League competition at Macclesfield on Sunday.
Against a strong attack, Marple posted a competetive 135 for 4, with Charlie Hodgson 39, Ed Skelton 25, George Bailey 20, and Evan Turner 33.
Joe Brown led the reply for Oxton with 52 rtno, with Andy Briggs 18, Charlie Clark 23 and Tom Briggs 14 in support. Marple bowled and fielded with distinction, Dylan Hodgson taking 3 for 27, including a fantastic caught and bowled. Tom Porter also pouched a terrific catch at backward point to snare Rod McLean for 6. No disgrace in defeat for Marple.
In their semi-final against Bramhall, Marple had defended what looked a modest total of 129 for 5 to win by 12 runs. Charlie Hodgson 53 rtno, Ed Skelton 22 , Ollie Hodgson 26 not out and Evan Turner 15. Surapaneni had 2 for 15 for Bramhall. Despite a strong start from Watawana, 12, Smith 26, Kellet 26, and Hussain 28, Bramhall fell to 117 for 7, with all six bowlers used taking at least one wicket.