Latest News:
PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 9th MAY 2009
Knypersley are the new leaders of the Premier Division after a comfortable five wicket win against bottom-of-the table Porthill. The visitors were routed by Andy Marshall’s 6-13 as they were all out for 107 in 56 overs. Jon Cumberbatch saw the hone side to victory with a resolute 41 as Paul Goodwin’s men romped home in just 27.2 overs. Longton are only four points behind Knypersely in second place as they continued their good early season form by gaining maximum points at home to reigning champions Moddershall. Mike Longmore’s early season for continued as he struck an unbeaten 104, with captain Pete Wilshaw chipping in with 46. Chasing 219 for victory, Moddershall had no answer to Dave Edwards who took 4-18. Only Nazakat Ali showed much resistance, with 40 not out as the home side lost by 102 runs. Burslem lost their first league game of the season in bowler-friendly conditions at home to Audley. The visitors only totalled 118 with Kevin Cockerton and Michael Brown both claiming three wickets. Burslem seemed favourites to continue their 100% winning record to the start of the season but crumbled in the face of Craig Barker’s 6-37. Audley are now in fourth place. There was a tight contest at Trentham Lakes in the battle of the newly promoted teams with both team’s professionals having good games. Hem Heath closed on 175-5 declared, with Mo Hussain hitting 43 and Andy Palmer striking a half century. Leycett’s D Darshanapriya was the pick of the visiting attack (3-41) and he followed this up with a half century of his own. But Hussain’s five wicket haul pegged Leycett back and they closed on 160-8, just 16 short of victory. Wood Lane were in the runs at home to Stone, with Dan Brierley smashing an unbeaten 123 and A Zaidi assising with 76 in their huge total of 300-4 declared. In reply, Stone never threatened the home side’s total and were left on 200-5 with Shaun Jenkinson hitting 100. In the division’s final game, Little Stoke and Leek drew. Leek’s Rob Haydon made a great return to his former club, hitting 75, whilst Dan Colclough took the bowoling honours for Richard Harvey’s men with 4-42. Little Stoke finished 14 runs shy of the visitors total, and finished on 175-7.
DIVISION 1A REVIEW 9th MAY 2009
Sandyford are the new leaders after a comprehensive win at home to Meir Heath. Batting first, Sandyford reached 193-8 before declaring and then proceeded to take maximum points by skitling the visitors for 83. Stephan Shemilt and Jon Barnett both hit half-centuries for the league leaders and then Gareth Rigby’s six wickets eased them to victory. Elworth are in second place after a nailbiting 6 run win over Barlaston. Elworth’s 184-8 decclared was built on solid knocks from Lee Morris and Tommy Taker. Ben Grange with 4-55 was the pick of the home side’s attack. In reply, Wayne Morray top-scored with 46, but it was Elworth who left with maximum points with professional Murray Ranger and Scot Elliott both claiming three wickets. The defeat leaves Barlaston third from bottom.
Chris Barker returned the once-in-lifetime figured of 10-31 as his Cheadle side hammered visiting Blythe to take 25 points. Cheadle’s 213-9 declared was far too many for the visitors as Barker tore through their batting line-up in his 20 over stint. Blythe totalled 115. It was a bowlers day at Whitmore where visiting Stafford won by two wickets in a low-scoring game. The home side were shot-out for 91 in 40 overs with Sean Connolly claiming 6-26. In reply, Stafford lost wickets at regular intervals and scraped over the line with just two wickets remaining. Kidsgrove took the full 25 points after a 56 run win over visiting Norton. Batting first, Kidsgrove took all 60 available overs in reaching 175-8, but then skittled the visiting batting line-up for 119. The remaining Division One fixture saw a welcome first win of the season for Rode Park, at Crewe. R Jones was the chief destroyer for Rode Park with five wickets, as they bowled their hosts out for 138. Nolan McKenzie struck an impressive 62 for Crewe. In reply, P Chadwick’s unbeaten 31 was vital as Rode Park won by three wickets.
DIVISION 2A REVIEW 9th MAY 2009
Oulton hit top spot after a 101 run defeat of Newcastle. Dan Kyle’s 91 was the backbone of Oulton’s 249-9 declared with Adrian Keates taking 4-70. In reply Zubair Khan and Andy Dawson were in top form with the ball as Oulton bowled their hosts out for 148 to claim maximum points. Another side who normally scre plenty of runs is Weston, and they moved up to second after chasing down 221-9 at Betley. Richard Bebbgton was again in form for the home side, but the prolific Raj Kumar (75 not out) ensured a comfortable five wicket win for the visitors. Stone/Swynnerton Park are rooted at the foot of the table as they were beaten by host side Alsager. The visitors 159-8 innings closed never looked enough, and the home side moved out of the relegation places through an eight wicket victory.Ashcombe Park were also comfortable winners in their home game with Caverswall. The visitors 144 all out saw useful knocks from Glenn Moore and veteran Owen Price, but Dave Lowes followed up his five wicket haul with 34, and solid contributions from Dave and Steve Proffitt saw the Basford Bridge Lane club home. Checkley moved up the table after their victory against visiting Bignall End. Simon Howle’s excellent 82 saw Bignall End to 190-9. Nick Hunt and Ben Johnson both claimed three wickets. In reply, Michael Allen’s unbeaten 60 saw the home side to a four wicket victory. Sam Nixon’s century was the highlight of the drawn game between Meakins and Silverdale. Meakins set the visitors a daunting 274 for victory and both sides claimed 10 points as Silverdale closed out on 187-7.
DIVISION 3A REVIEW 9th MAY 2009
Bagnall consolidated their lead at the top of the table by beatng Eccleshall by four wickets at home. The visitors batted first and were bowled out for 147 with V Sharma collecting five wickets and receiving good support from Alex Ravenscroft. Professional Sharma followed this up with an unbeaten 34 to see his side home. Wedgwood/Stanfields continued their good start to the season with an away victory at Meir Heath/Fenton. The visitors bowled Meir Heath/Fenton out for 80 with Matt Philips taking 5-29. Gareth Lello’s unbeaten 49 saw the visitors complete an easy seven wicket win. Norton in Hales are still searching for their first win after a close defeat at Hanford. The home side were bowled out for 175 with Roger Davies top-scoring with 85 (C Ruscoe 4-22). In reply, M Coxon’s four wickets did most of the damage for Hanford, but despite a battling 50 from J Ruscoe, Norton in Hales fell just 8 runs short of victory. Endon were left clinging on for a draw for a second week running, and again it was largely thanks to Phil Rowley who’s unbeaten 41 saw visitors Porthill A frustrated having got the hosts 9 wickets down. Batting first, Porthill’s M Farr was unlucky to fall just one run shy of his century in a total of 279-9 declared. Rowley was backed up well by Lee Slater and Jordon Weaver with the bat, and despite Jon Malpass taking 7-66, Endon’s last pair remained defiant. Woore moved up to fourth after outplaying hosts Oakamoor. A 69-ball hundred by M Boyles saw Woore reach 216 all out, and five wickets each for J Bailey and D Quinton saw the visitors gain maximum points. In the division’s remaining game, Moddershall A defeated Hem Heath/Forsbrook in a low-scoring affair. A Herd and B Myatt were the only contributors of note in Moddershall A’s total of 121, and professional U Indrasiri’s six wickets ensured a 36 run win for the visitors.
Anthony Bunn 10th May 2009