Dropped Chances Cost Marple Dear!
Sale 202 for 9, 48.4 overs (20 points) beat Marple 201 for 8, 50 overs (7 points) by one wicket.
Marple will be scratching their heads well past the weekend wondering how they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a game they dominated up to the final 10 overs.
A cool damp mid April day started well for the visitors at Sale’s Dane Road venue. Overseas batter Jack Feilen looks a real quality acquisition for Marple, and his 70 was easily the best knock of the day. An elegant left hander, he found the boundary twelve times, effortlessly timing the ball on a green looking surface. He was well supported by Evan Turner, 19, also making his Marple debut. The teenager showed good judgment and also played some attractive strokes as the first wicket added 44.
Another newcomer, Ed Clews struggled to time the ball, but with Feilen in commanding form he helped add another 41 for the second wicket. Feilen fell, lbw, to the final delivery of Sale’s best bowler Layton. Ironically, a wide had given him seven balls in this final over. Feilen had dominated proceedings, and although Marple were 113 for 3, there were plenty of overs remaining. Sale then had their best period in the field, as third seamer Layton and slow left armer Tom Brassel bowled tightly. The boundaries dried up, as skipper Bishop spread the field.
However, with wickets in the shed, Schofield, 17, Young, 15, Reilly, 15, and principally, Makin, 30, saw the 200 mark passed. Lawrence had 3 for 41, and Layton a miserly 2 for 14 for Sale.
Marple were on their game on the resumption. George Clarke, back in the first team after a number of years, and Jack Grundy delivered a potent opening spell. The dangerous Sale top order were all back in the hutch at 72 for 5, only Jonny Davidson with 29 looking remotely comfortable.
Marple’s young leg spinner Charlie Hodgson bowled a fine spell for Marple, taking 2 for 20 from his ten overs, and the home side slumped to 101 for 8. It was just a matter of time, surely? However, Layton, buoyed by his spell with the ball, deposited the returning Grundy for two huge sixes, and there was a sense that the momentum was switching.
Marple were unable to exert any pressure on number ten Parish, and the runs flowed at an alarming rate. Layton clubbed a brutal 65 against some inconsistent bowling. He was dropped four times, but rode his luck. He fell, lbw to Young at 171 for 9, and that was the fun and games over, wasn’t it? But no! The field remained spread far and wide, Marple seemingly shell shocked by Layton’s onslaught. No pressure was brought to bear on 16 year old Parish, 22 not out, and a 17 year old Brassell, 12 not out, at number 11. They calmly, and easily added the remaining 31 runs as Marple looked increasingly forlorn and lost.
As with the Sale bowling, it was a very mixed bag for Marple. Grundy was potent with 3 for 30, Hodgson was always testing, and Young had 2 for 44.
A fine game of cricket this for the neutrals! However, Marple will have to quickly pick themselves up for next Saturday’s home fixture against Wirral outfit Port Sunlight 12 noon start.
Marple seconds were never in the hunt trying to chase down 180 for victory at Bowden Lane against Stockport Georgians. The visitors posted 179 all out. Marple battled away to take ten wickets for 100, after openers Wakefield, 61, and Kilbride, 22, added 79 for the first wicket. After this only Kenny, 27, and Ormerod, 19, showed sign of permanence against determined bowling. Ben Bailey, 3 for 33, Dylan Hodgson, 2 for 35, skipper James Hirst, 3 for 44, and Ollie Hodgson, 1 for 28, all did sterling work.
On paper Marple appeared to have a strong line up, but could not challenge for the win. They ended on 113 for 9 in a rain affected finish against a tidy Georgians attack. James Crisall top scored with 21.
In the Cheshire League, Marple/Compstall 3rds game at Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge was unable to start due to the ground being unfit. However, M/C fourths defeated Mellor first team by 5 wickets after bowling the visitors out for just 76 at Compstall. Sophie Sanders was lethal for M/C, picking up 4 for 21 from her ten overs, only Ian Humphreys with 23 not out reaching figures. There was good support from Tom Bradbury, 2 for 12, Neil Hatley, 2 for 18 and Chris Lloyd 2 for 13.
It was not a piece of cake in the reply on a green helpful surface, but Ed Frost, 23, Tom Swarbrick, 23, and veteran Craig Young, 9 not out, saw M/C home and relatively dry.
All Marple/Compstall games that went ahead were preceded with a tribute to the much loved Marple legend Andy Hayes, who passed away last month after a two year battle with cancer.
Mark Brook