Marple No Answers to the Class of Bennett and Soni!
Widnes 243 for 9 (50 overs) 20 points beat Marple 117 all out (33.1 overs) 5 points by 126 runs.
Whilst there was no disgrace in losing to a high-flying Widnes side at a parched MHCG last Saturday, the manner of the defeat will have left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Marple players.
The home opening attack of Jack Grundy and Dylan Hodgson certainly posed problems for the visiting top order. Grundy, and his young and highly gifted partner reduced Widnes to 42 for 3, with the ball swinging for both bowlers, and Hodgson, in particular, causing problems with some uneven bounce, he had 2 for 41 and Grundy 1 for 38.
In Sean Bennett, Widnes have one of the premier batters in the league. The Zimbabwean is one of those undemonstrative players who keeps it very simple. He keeps out the good deliveries, hits the ball on the ground, and also picks his areas in the field with lovely timing. He found a perfect partner in Aaron Soni 47, after his side had slumped to 109 for 5. These two classy performers produced the key partnership of the game, adding 107 quality runs for the sixth wicket. Grundy alternated his bowlers, but was unable to break this crucial stand.
George Clarke produced another useful spell of 1 for 31 from his ten overs, but Marple’s spinners were not able to exert any control after the good efforts of the seamers. Despite this, Mark Makin stuck grittily to his task and picked up some wickets towards the end of the innings, the visitors attempting to post an out of sight target. He ended with 5 for 51, despite not being at his best.
Bennett’s 116 was probably the best knock seen at Bowden Lane this season. The wicket was not a batters’ paradise, despite the recent hot weather, and he basically showed exactly how to play in the conditions. 243 was an above par total.
Marple had three of their top seven batters absent for various reasons. However, the initial response to trying to win this game was the most disappointing aspect of the day. Instead of following Bennett’s example and “staying in” if possible, and weathering the new ball, Marple’s powerful top three, instead, gifted their wickets away in cavalier fashion with some injudicious strokes. This should not take away from the excellence of Kumara and Soni especially. Soni, buoyed by his fine innings proved a handful, but no Marple batter showed the desire or application to see him off. Kumara was miserly, as usual, and a horrible collapse ensued.
At 59 for 8, total embarrassment looked on the cards. However, some lower order application from Dylan Hodgson 10, top scorer Joe Bradley, 30 not out, and number 11, George Clarke 15, almost doubled the score. Earlier, Charlie Hodgson had played assuredly for his 17, before being undone by some extra bounce from Soni.
Soni had 5 for 28, and, like Bennett with the bat earlier, produced the best spell from an opening bowler at Marple this season.
As mentioned earlier, it was the inability to learn from the Widnes innings that was most disappointing. However, the efforts of Marple’s talented young players, Charlie and Dylan Hodgson and Joe Bradley were the high points. They showed application lacking in more senior players. Next week sees an important game in a very competitive division one, with a visit to bottom side Alvanley, 12.00 noon start.
Marple seconds lost their first game since the end of April at Bramhall. Against some good home bowling, Marple posted a decent 205 all out. The excellent Ed Skelton led the way with 64, well supported by Ben Cunniffe with 38. Bramhall’s bowlers stuck to their task well, the wickets shared amongst seven of them.
Although Ben Bailey picked up an early wicket, former Marple and Compstall batter Stuart Jackson proved to be a thorn in Marple’s side once again. He anchored the reply with a typically stylish and solid 85 not out, being well supported by Mohote 44, Argyle 20 and Harris 29 not out. Skelton was Marple’s most successful bowler with 2 for 19, but skipper Hirst was unable to find a winning combination on this rare occasion, as Bramhall brought up a comfortable six wicket win.
Marple/Compstall thirds made short work of Macclesfield fourths at Compstall’s ground. In the face of some excellent bowling, Macc could only muster 59 all out, Ghosh top-scoring with 17. Tom Bradbury had 4 for 12, Sophie Sanders 2 for 24, Jonny Oakes 2 for 6, Greg Marsland 1 for 6 and Andy Massey 1 for 0 for M/C.
Veteran, Craig Young, continued his vintage season with 24 not out, and the opening stand of 41 with Rich Hatley 13, virtually sealed an eventual 8 wicket win.
M/C 4ths made the long trip to Haslington to play the home side’s third team, and produced the most heartening display of the day. Dewi France 85 and Joey Blake 80, put the visitors to the sword as Haslington rattled up a mammoth 295 for 6. Josh Hurren 3 for 60, stood out on an afternoon of toil. Any thoughts of total capitulation were dispelled, as a spirited young M/C side racked up a hugely respectable 251 for 9 in reply. Neil Hurren top-scored with 46 not out, but there were excellent efforts from Fred Powell 37, Tommy Seargeant 24, Joe Wiedemann 21, Evan Powell 17, Chris Lloyd 19 not out and Luke Leighton 16. Charlie Jackson, with 4 for 56 excelled for Haslington.
Mark Brook