Lowly Urmston Prey on Uneasy Marple!
Urmston 252 for 8 (49.4 overs) 20 points beat Marple 249 for 7 (50 overs) 6 points by two wickets.
After a week of roasting hot temperatures, on a still very warm late June afternoon, Marple lost a tight game to bottom club Urmston at a parched looking Michael Hibbert Cricket Ground.
After a run of four wins out of five, including three successive and terrific away wins, home woes returned for the team at Bowden Lane, where they have had just the solitary league victory in 2026. Jack Grundy was relieved to win the toss and take first knock, and Jack Feilen and Max Fitzgerald got the side away to a good start once more, adding 45 in nine overs before Feilen misjudged the length from Munawar and was bowled for 27.
From this point on, there was a sense of lethargy about the innings as it meandered on unspectacularly. Good shots regularly hit the fieders, and there was a lack of urgency in the running between the wickets. Wickets fell at fairly regular intervals up to 125 for 5, with only Fitzgerald, with 37, hinting at any domination. It was the entrance of Mike Schofield at number seven, and returning from a month out with injury that fired things up. He got into his stride immediately, and the last thirteen overs added 124 runs, as Marple eventually found their mojo. A total of around 185 had, seemingly, been the aim prior to Schofield’s arrival. The belligerent wicket-keeper took charge and smashed a brutal 43 from just 28 deliveries. He added 68 in eight overs for the sixth wicket with the immovable Reilly.
Whilst Reilly had held the innings together, he was unable to find his timing until after reaching a dogged half century, but once Schofield left the scene, he unleashed some glorious offside strokes off front and back foot. He ended on 78 not out, adding 56 in just four overs with Adam Carter, 9 and Charlie Hodgson 12 not out.
The Urmston bowling and fielding generally held up pretty well until the onslaught at the very end. Skipper Dempster was economical with 1 for 22, with other wicket takers Munawar 3 for 50, Iran Naseri 2 for 45 and Istiqlal Hanif 1 for 34 copping some late hammer. The SOS put out to Urmston legend Sumit Panda saw the former leading light of the County League return 0 for 31 with some wily, economic variety.
On the resumption, there appeared little threat from the visiting line up as the scoring rate gradually rose to above seven an over when Panda entered the fray at 118 for 4 in the 31st over. Uzzair Shah played nicely for his 39, and Dempster was holding firm. Panda, out of cricket for three years has not lost his timing, and he picked his spots in the field. One glorious extra cover drive for 6 was probably the shot of the day. He fired up the visitors, just as Schofield had done for Marple earlier.
Despite Panda being brilliantly stumped for 46 by Schofield at 196 for 5 and Dempster run out for a solid 64 at 219 for 6, Marple seemed shell-shocked. They were unable to exert any pressure on the new batters, and a series of freebies were delivered to help Urmston on their way. Even the accurate Eliot Young was not able to keep his customary control, although he did give his side a sniff of victory with two wickets in two balls in the 48th over of the game. However, skipper Bashford played calmly for his 32 not out, and Darby edged the winning boundary with two balls remaining.
It was a fairly lacklustre bowling performance this from Marple, despite Grundy bowling a handy opening spell of 1 for 25. Young was the most successful with 3 for 51, but the rest were decidedly mixed. Panda’s class appeared to unsettle matters.
A disappointing defeat against a steady, if, Panda apart, unspectacular side. Marple were only really in command for the final thirteen overs of their innings, being unable to grasp the initiative and impose themselves on their lowly opponents the rest of the time. Another home game against Sale awaits next Saturday, 12.00 noon start.
Ten on the bounce! That is the statistic for James Hirst’s table topping second eleven at the season’s midpoint. Sale were put to the sword to the tune of 221 for 6 at Dane Road. A glorious 87 from Ollie Hodgson led the way after Marple had slumped to 56 for 3. Ollie added 85 for the fourth wicket with form man Lewis Braddock, another terrific 68, and dominated the rest of the innings. The Sale attack suffered after a steady start, Callum Ross the pick with 2 for 46.
Marple’s bowling was tested as not often this season, Sale reaching 141 for 3. However, scoreboard pressure began to tell, and the accuracy of Niall Greenlees was to prove decisive. Sale fell away to just 172 for 8, with Greenlees taking 4 for 23. There had been solid contributions at the top of the order from Max Bishop 36, Mike Playle 43, and Alex Shelton 34. However, no home batter was able to go on to the requisite big score. Tom Reeve, held back this game, weighed in with a handy 2 for 41.
Marple/Compstall 3rds defeated North East Cheshire 3rds by 3 wickets in a fine game at Compstall’s ground. NEC recovered to post a competitive 162 for 7, Sam Parkinson 58, and Simon Johnson 37. Tom Bradbury 2 for 19, Liam Tanker 2 for 12 and Tom Lloyd 2 for 38 for M/C.
Lloyd 60 not out, and Ben Cuniffe 44, dug the home team out of hole at 57 for 4, and Luke Leighton, 5 and Jonny Oakes 7 not out gave Lloyd good support in a three wicket win. Luke Gerrard with 3 for 32 and Jerry Hadley 2 for 25, had caused early problems for M/C.
Despite posting 201 for 6 at Prestbury’s delightful venue, M/C fourths lost by six wickets to the home teams’ second eleven. Craig Young 78, and Tom Swarbrick 48, added 105 for the first wicket, with skipper Josh Kirk 27 not out, speeding things up at the end. The wickets were shared.
Andy Scott, a terrific 89 not out and Alex Fahy 64 got Prestbury well on the way, with Mo Azarudeen adding a quickfire 28 not out to seal the victory.
It was celebrations at Dinting on Sunday as Marple’s U19s defeated the home side’s U19s by 23 runs in the final of the Derbyshire and Cheshire competition. Marple hit up 139 for 5 in their 100 deliveries, Charlie Hodgson 35, George Bailey 23, Ben Cuniffe 21, Joe Bradley 20 not out, Ben Bailey 12 not out and Evan Turner 14. Jonny Townley 2 for 19 for Dinting.
Dave Jones 40, and Andy Joy 29, did well in the reply but Dinting were eventually all out for 116
In the earlier semi-final against Offerton, Marple rattled up 176 for one, Charlie Hodgson 50 rtno, Evan Turner rtno 52, with Ed Skelton 33 not out and Ben Cunniffe 19 not out. Although S Kiani 45, and Z Jatoi 24, hit well in the reply the winning post was way out sight, 112 being the final score. Sophie Sanders, 1 for 23 and Ed Skelton 2 for 21 led Marple home.
Ed Skelton with a superb 63 was Marple seconds’ hero as they defeated Hyde seconds at Werneth Low to progress in the second eleven T20 competition. Round two is also on the road at Stockport Georgians on Tuesday 7th July at 6.00pm.
Mark Brook