1st Team – Marple 177 all out (47.1 overs) 20 points beat Romiley 132 all out (35 overs) 5 points by 45 runs
Although there was warm sunshine for the first time this season, batting conditions were, once more, tricky at Romiley’s attractive tree surrounded venue last Saturday.
For the third game in a row, Marple got off to bad start, but recovered to post a decent, competitive total. They were 18 for 4, then 91 for 6 and 131 for 9. Zac Phair led the way with a classy, elegant 48. This bodes well for Marple’s gifted Tasmanian. Then, Andrew Hall, 25, and Rob Kingham added 39 for the seventh wicket. A fine last wicket stand of over 40 between Jack Grundy and Andy Wild propelled Marple to an above par score in the conditions. Home skipper Hooten adopted strange tactics when Marple had nine wickets down, spreading the field to all parts, when maybe a few close catchers might have pressurised the batters more. Instead runs flowed freely for the last wicket.
Romiley never threatened a win. They lost wickets at regular intervals, despite a number of players reaching double figures. The Marple attack was accurate and probing. Seamers, Kingham and Grundy had two wickets each, whilst the spinners Joe Cash and Mark Makin pouched three apiece. Notable for Marple was the excellent catching and general fielding. Keeper Wild had another fine day, with a terrific catch and a brilliant stumping off the bowling of Cash.
So, it is now three wins from three for Marple. In each game, they have fought back from difficult starts, the lower order coming up trumps. There is much more to come from the side one feels when, and if, the wickets do firm up! Runs will surely flow from a talented top order. Next week sees the team visit picturesque Lindow, with a 12.00 noon start.
2nd Team
It was a sorry tale of woe for Marple seconds at home to Alvanley seconds last Saturday. James Hirst won the toss and elected to bat first, but only Mike Schofield, with 35, was able to reach double figures against steady bowling. Application was lacking as the side was rolled out for just 80 in only 32 overs. Phil Erasmus with 5 for 20, and Archie Wilson 4 for 48 were responsible for the damage.
Alvanley were never really in trouble in the reply, winning comfortable by 6 wickets with 19 overs to spare. Luke Entwhistle top scored with 26. For Marple, Tom Reeve bowled a fine spell of 2 for 7 from 8 overs, the other members of the attack being tidy enough.
3rd Team – Hayes rolls back the years!
At Compstall on Saturday, Marple/Compstall thirds beat Holmes Chapel seconds by 49 runs. M/C totalled a very decent 167 for 7, with youngsters Ben Cunliffe 43 and Alex Nuttall 38 starring, ably supported by Will Darby and Greg Marsland with 25 apiece. Steve Mitchell, with 3 for 26, always needed watching for HC.
The visitors never got going against the accurate bowling of Marsland and Neil Hurren. They recovered slightly from 83 for 7 with some lower order resistance from Neil Mitchell, 16, and Sean Logan 21, finishing on a respectable 118 all out. All the bowlers did a good job, with veteran slow left armer Andy Hayes, back for his third spell at the club this season, taking the limelight with 5 for 27 to go with 2 sharp catches.
4th Team
In the Sunday premier division, Marple/Compstall fourths were defeated by six wickets against Didsbury thirds at Bowden Lane. M/C made a competitive 161 for 5, although they stalled a bit after a good start from Tom Lloyd 24, and Dan Cox’s fluent 70 (13 fours). Jonny Monk did well with 32 not out, but maybe the final total was a little under par against a mixed attack. Didsbury were pegged back to 70 for 3, but lost just one further wicket, as they romped home with 8 overs to spare. Sean Reilly hit 38, Simon Lord 60, and Sunil Kumar Singh 48. Chris Lloyd, Tom Lloyd and Sophie Sanders shared the wickets for M/C.