The Official North Staffs & South Cheshire Cricket League Weblog

PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 2^nd MAY 2009

Burslem are the only team with three wins out of three to open a ten point lead at the top of the Premier Division A.

They were six wicket victors at Longton after bowling the host team out for 163 with spinners Saqlain Mushtaq and Michael Brown ripping through the Longton batting line-up. They took nine of the ten Longton wickets and only Mike Longmore with 53 and Pete Wilshaw 37 had any answer to the twin-spin attack.

In reply, Mushtaq completed an excellent outing as pro by hitting 38 not out to support a rapid 71 not out from Khalid Makik.

Knypersley are second after a tense affair at Stone. Knyprsley’s modest total of 144 was based on 42 from all-rounder Rob James, and James completed a superb day by taking 4-26. He was backed up by Andy Marshall’s 3-35 as the visitors won by 21 runs. Dave Pashley was the chief run-getter for Stone, with 36.

Newly-promoted Leycett and Hem Heath continue to struggle, with ‘Double H’’s last pair denying Leek at Highfields.

The home side’s meagre total of 135 was based on a solid 36 fro opener Rob Hayden. Hem Heath’s Brian Sims and D Milligan were the pick of the attack and it looked set fair for a first win of the season for Hem Heath.

But Richard Cooper’s 5-22 tore the visitors batting apart and at 58-9 it looked over, but for a second week running Darren Sanders bated superbly with an unbeaten 18 not out to deny Leek victory.

Leycett were crushed at home by Wood Lane by seven wickets. The home side lost the toss and were soon in trouble and had no answer to Steve Norcup who delivered the superb figures of 7-19 from 14.4 overs. The formality of victory was quickened by Ashar Zaidi’s unbeaten 41.

Porthill’s poor start continued in yet another low-scoring match. Chris Beech’s five wickets ensured that Porthill only reached a total of 148 on their home turf, and despite a mid-order collapse Moddershall reached their target for the loss of seven wickets.Beech followed up his bowling heroics with 41, and despite Joe Bridgewater’s four wickets the reigning champions won their first game of the season to move out of the relegation places.

Little Stoke moved above Audley in the table after a 49 run away win, taking a full 25 points in the process.

Little Stoke’s total of 192-4 declared was built around solid contributions from professional Richard Harvey (65) and Dan Hancock (40). In reply, only Sean Price was up to the test with an excellent 75, as opening bowlers Nick Bratt (4-37) and Dan Colclough (5-37) demolished the rest of the batting line-up between them.

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