Australian Phair Advances for Marple!
Marple 242 for 7 (49.2 overs) 20 points beat Oulton Park 238 for 9 (50 overs) 6 points by three wickets
A second successive unbeaten century by Zac Phair guided Marple to their first victory on the road since June 15th. This superb innings really showed the Tasmanian’s class and ability. He bided his time after coming in when the score was just 2 for 1, after Matt Barrow mistimed a pull from Bell, being caught for a duck, but gradually dominated, playing some glorious strokes all round the wicket.
Earlier, stand in skipper Jack Grundy elected to field first, going against the usual Marple plan of taking first knock. The game started early, at 11.00am, and there was a sharp shower within the first hour, which took the players from the field for 30 minutes. Grundy was Marple’s most penetrative bowler, and he tested Park’s top order, finding movement in the air and off the seam. In support, Phair was slightly less consistent with his direction, but also tested the batters. Grundy produced two beauties to remove home skipper Dufty, brilliantly caught by Makin at second slip for 7, and then had Farrington lbw first ball. Park were 29 for 2, after a steady start.
Former Cheshire skipper Danny Leech (28) looked solid, but was never dominant. He was superbly stumped by keeper Andy Wild off Joe Cash at 62 for 3. The home team then built a very useful total around the obduracy of Jonny Littler. He dropped anchor whilst Owen Williamson, 39, and Nick Ball, 60, played some fine and powerful strokes. The splendid, scenic, Little Budworth venue is not the biggest ground, and Williamson and Ball cleared the boundary several times.
The Marple bowling was generally steady. Joe Cash was accurate as ever, taking 1 for 22 in his ten overs, and that included 12 taken from his first two. Young Cheshire age group leg spinner Charlie Hodgson bowled an excellent spell of 2 for 58, but these figures do not do his bowling justice. He kept going really well, and was rewarded with the wickets of Williamson and also Lascu. Makin was not quite himself with the ball, and Sam Stretton was called on for his first bowl in the first team this season. Apart from one over, he did a decent job. Grundy returned to pick up two late wickets, and ended with 4 for 32. He was challenging at all times, despite number 10 Moss heaving him for a straight six. Littler’s (36) vigil ended at 222 for 8 when Phair had a deserved wicket. 238 might look a formidable total, but Park were a little disappointed, knowing as they do how tricky defending can be on their home patch.
When Marple replied, James Crisall shrugged off the early loss of Barrow to play his best first team knock for some time. His opportunities have been limited, but here his timing was in good order, and he dominated a second wicket stand of 92 with Phair. He hit 55, with eleven fours, before falling lbw to off spinner Dufty. Conor Ramsay took a while to settle, but added 54 with Phair, and at 146 for 2, Marple looked in control. However, Ball, confident after his innings, picked up Ramsay for 27, and an impetuous Fitzgerald for 1. At 151 for 4, Phair needed more support. Makin looked in total control though, and he matched Phair with his strokeplay. The pair rattled up 48 in quick time, before a terrific catch at extra cover by Lascu did for Makin, (27). Phair looked unfazed though, playing a chanceless innings, and despite losing Stretton for 8, and Grundy first ball, he took 11 from the penultimate over from Bell to almost take Marple home. Joe Cash then chipped part time off spinner Leech for four with three deliveries remaining to clinch a very welcome win for Marple.
It was Phair’s day. He hit 8 fours and 3 sixes, but he paced the response perfectly. His running between the wickets was superb, and he kept the momentum going throughout. Home skipper Dufty struggled to keep any control, although seamer Lascu bowled a steady, if wicketless spell of 0 for 40, suffering a little towards the end. Bell had 3 for 39 from 8 overs, Ball, maybe under bowled, 3 for 22 from 5 and Dufty 1 for 49 from 10 overs.
Next Saturday, 31st August, Marple are at home to Sale, with an 11.30 start. They move up to fifth in the table.
It was a similarly good afternoon for Marple seconds, as they defeated Grappenhall by six wickets in another high scoring game. Grappers totalled a challenging 217 for 7 in their fifty overs, with former Disley junior Ross Arrowsmith top scoring with a hard hit 82 including 6 fours and 4 sixes. Marple were not able to exert their usual control in the field, although skipper Hirst was tight with 1 for 28.
In Marple’s reply, pinch-hitter Andy Gichero fell at 12 for 1, but then a superb, largely untroubled stand of 171 between Will Darby, 60, and Mike Schofield, 96, took Marple within sight of victory. Schofield fell at 189 for 3, agonisingly short of a deserved century, but Tommy Lloyd eased any nerves with rapid 18 not out to seal an important win. In a tight league, Marple are in mid table, but there is little between third and eleventh, with just four games remaining.