Application Lacking as Marple Blown Away
Stockport Georgians 69 for 7 (19 overs) 20 points beat Marple 65 all out (22 overs) 3 points by three wickets.
The fifth Saturday of June saw Marple produce their worst performance of the season so far at Stockport Georgians’ tree surrounded ground. A poor batting effort from the side, who had been top of the Cheshire County League first division, was at least followed by a determined effort in the field. The winning margin of three wickets might seem fairly tight, but the home side were comfortable and worthy winners.
Matt Barrow top scored for Marple with 23, with only Zac Phair and Max Fitzgerald, 11 apiece, also able to post double figure scores. The two visiting batters who might be excused in their dismissals were Conor Ramsay and Phair who were both bowled by deliveries that defeated the defensive stroke and hit the top of off stump from Joe Friel and Max Bailey respectively. It was a sorry procession for the rest of the card. Off spinners James Locke, with 5 for 10, and former Cheshire man Simon Normanton 2 for 7 will hardly have had easier afternoons as the batters gifted their wickets away. On a pitch that required the age old virtues of application and careful watching of the ball, Marple were careless and slapdash
At least the visitors put up a fight in the field. Jack Grundy bowled well without luck, and there were two welcome wickets for Tom Reeve, who picked up openers Fielding and the powerful Ned Bailey, both well caught by Matt Barrow. The spinners Joe Cash and Mark Makin were steady, but Georgians reached 53 for 2, with Francis Yates keen to finish the game quickly. However, there was a wobble as Joe Cash took 4 for 11 in no time, with Phair pulling off a brilliant diving catch to remove Duckworth, and Makin yorking the fluent Yates for 25. At 61 for 7, surely there could be no miracle? Normanton, not without his own alarms, saw his team over the line though, in a very early finish, with several spectators having only just arrived at the ground! Georgians will not have been concerned though, and showed themselves a handy team, with two fine off spinners in particular.
Marple slip to third in the table, and are on the road again next week, with a trip to Brooklands, 12.00 noon start.
Marple 2’s 149 all out (47 overs) beat Heaton Mersey 2’s 143 for 9 (50 overs) by six runs
Spin also played a big part in Marple seconds’ game at home to Heaton Mersey seconds. After being in trouble at 41 for 5, despite Cameron Reid’s stubborn 23, Joel Greasley, once more saved Marple’s blushes with the bat. He hit a terrific 53 with 8 fours, and received excellent support from George Bailey, 11, as the seventh wicket added 49 invaluable runs. Joe Bradley’s cool 11 not out at the end saw Marple post a defendable 149 all out on a sluggish pitch. All six Mersey bowlers used picked at least one wicket, with Irfan Naseri, 3 for 19, Jack Critten 2 for 26 and Abbas Shah 2 for 18 being the most successful.
James Hirst is now an experienced and canny skipper. With spin dominating the Marple attack, Mersey were largely kept in check. Usman Ahmed 42, and Faisal Maqsood, 56, both played outstanding knocks, and threatened to win the game for their team though. Hirst had 3 for 39, and George Clarke 2 for 29. The most heartening aspect of Marple’s narrow win was though, the performance of the two young Marple spinners, Charlie Hodgson, 1 for 26 from 13 overs, and slow left armer Bailey 1 for 30 from 10 overs. They weaved a web, and Mersey could never quite break free. Tom Lloyd, with 2 for 17, also showed his increasing value to this side. The Marple fielding was also excellent, with Joel Greasley and Ben Cunniffe particularly outstanding. Joe Bradley was sharp behind the timbers, picking up two smart catches. A fine game of second team cricket this, with Hirst’s shrewd leadership and faith in his young spinners contributing to his side’s win.
4th Team
Marple & Compstall fourths were defeated by 5 wickets away at Brooklands on Sunday. M/C could only muster 102 for 9 on a tricky surface, with Brooklands replying with 106 for 5 from 29 overs.