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PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 16th MAY 2009
On a rain-affected day,
A remarkable early finish at Porthill saw
Opening bowler Akbar was once again in outstanding form and returned the superb figures of 6-19 whilst Atkins proved more than useful support at the other end, his 4- 29 ensuring the home side were left with an easy run chase for victory.
Porthill took just 16.4 overs to knock of the required runs for the loss of two wickets to gain 20 valuable points and to move out of the relegation places to fourth from bottom.
High-flying Burslem almost snatched an unlikely win at Highfields, as host club Leek were left hanging on for a draw in a game reduced to 82 overs. Batting first, Burslem declared on a useful 180-5 after 48 overs, mainly thanks to an excellent sixth wicket partnership between professional Samullah Khan (80 not out) and Andrew Hurd (31 not out).
In reply, Jmie Cullerton’s side lost wickets at regular intervals and were left claiming just a solitary batting point after staggering to 85-7 from 34 overs. Spinner Ant Sheeran was the pick of the bowlers with 3-6 and Burslem’s 10 point haul sees them in second position and only one point behind leaders Knypersely, who had a losing draw away to Longton in an early-season top of the table clash.
Batting first, veteran Ross Salmon hit a superb 84 not out, and he was backed up by in-form Staffordshire and Knypersley captain Paul Goodwin (36) in allowing the visitors to declare on a commanding 201-8 from 58 overs.
Longton scored at a brisk pace throughout their reply and in their allotted 31 overs reached a commendable 145-5, with captain Pete Wilshaw leading the way with a powerful and boundary-laden 77, backed by professional Roger Silence with a fluent 42. Longton’s 9 points see them just now just 2 points behind the leaders at the top of a very tight Premier Division, with Kynpersley leading the division by a single point.
Leycett remain at the foot of the table, but had the better of their shortened game at home to visiting Stone. Ian Boulton’s men were left only 37 runs adrift of their target with five wickets still in hand in a game reduced to 97 overs. Stone found runs difficult to come by and were eventually bowled out for 159 in their final over, this after being 54-6. Russ Ballard and John McCreadie sharing a partnership of 79 to give Stone something to bowl at.
Despite having almost 20 overs less than their opponents due to the weather, Leycett made good progress towards their target with Richard Walker making an unbeaten 41, but had to eventually settle for closing on 113-5. Their 9 point haul takes them only 1 point adrift of Hem Heath and closes the gap on those hovering above the relegation zone. It’s now as tight at the bottom of the table as it is at the top.
The redoubtable Mo Hussain made light of the bedlam and noise emanating from the nearby Britannia Stadium in another excellent showing from the Hem Heath professional. After inserting visitors Little Stoke, Hussain proved as difficult to get away as ever and his 3-35 was scant reward for another excellent bowling performance as Little Stoke struggled hard for runs at
The visitors total owed much to the work of the in-form Dan Hancock who made a well-constructed 60 on a slow-paced wicket, and he was ably backed by veteran seamer Nick Bratt who made 30.
In reply, Hussain was also in good nick with the bat and made a brisk 52, but ‘Double H’ closed at 102-5 in 35 overs after another tight spell from Nick Bratt had kept the run rate down. The game was evenly poised, with the home side needing around 4 runs an over and with the in-form Darren Sanders next in to bat, and the visitors requiring five more wickets for victory. Hem Heath picked up a welcome 7 points and Richard Harvey’s men pocketed a handful of points and remain in mid-table.
Audley’s Richard Holloway was the star batting performer on a bowler-dominated day in the Premier Division. Holloway was the only player in the top division to hit a century, and his superb 108 was the mainstay of Audley’s 219-5 declared against visiting champions Moddershall. Useful backup was provided by Rangana Herath with 38.
The reigning champions’ reply was shortened to 31 overs and in that time reached 131-5 to gain a winning draw. U Govender was the pick of the home attack with 3-50.
DIVISION 1A REVIEW 16th MAY 2009
Sandyford stay top of the pile although as with many other games, rain deprived them of a full game at
Elsewhere, Norton were the only winners and moved into third place with a slender 4 run win at home to visiting Whitmore. In the battle of Division Two’s promoted clubs, it looked curtains for Norton as they were shot out for just 103, with Lee Johnson taking 3-21. Ian Reynolds’ 31 was to be invaluable as the home team then incredibly shot out Whitmore for 99.
That seemed improbable halfway through the Whitmore innings with the visitors seemingly coasting to victory. However, Reynolds completed a superb all-round display with 4-21, and his brother Dave ended with identical bowling figures, to claim maximum points for Tony Dutton’s side.
Barlaston continued their stuttering start to the season with a draw at Meir Heath that puts them in the bottom two, with their hosts only two points and two places above them. Batting first, Barlaston finished their innings on 134-8 and in reply their hosts were struggling at 87-6 before close of play.
Elworth may well be cursing their decision not to declare earlier after they had much the better of their game at Blythe but ran out of time. Once again, Elworth professional Murray Ranger was in top form, this time blasting a 116-ball century. He eventually smashed 131 and received stout support from Chris Regan who contributed 72 to Elworth’s mammoth 257-7 declared, with Hayden Simcock taking three wickets
At the close, Blythe had limped to 87-5. Elworth now lie 11 points behind leaders Sandyford.
Cheadle’s Chris Barker couldn’t repeat his historic ten-wicket haul from last week, but his side ground out a comfortable draw against mid-table Kidsgrove. Dave Leese was the main run-getter for Kidsgrove with 62 in a total of 148-9, and he also took three quick Cheadle wickets in his bowling spell as the home side were content to play out for the draw on 89-4. Dave Wellings shared a century opening partnership with Leese for the visitors, whilst Andy Shaw’s scored a half century in reply for the Moorlands side.
Nolan McKenzie was in good form once more for Crewe as they visited
The home side looked well set at the close on 75-1, with opener Ashley Lunn unbeaten on 31, with both teams picking up 5 points.
DIVISION 2A REVIEW 16th MAY 2009
Oulton are 18 point leaders after demolishing Silverdale. Batting first, Oulton once again had no trouble keeping the scoreboard ticking over with Danny Kyle smashing 104 and Harish Patel a quickfire 60 as the visitors amassed 229-6 declared in just 48 overs.
Silverdale had no reply to visiting professional Pradeep Jeyapragashtharan, who took 6-14 as the home side crumbled to 99 all out, giving Oulton maximum points.
Strongly fancied Checkley were also easy winners, this time at home to Meakins. After inserting the visitors in to bat Gavin Carr (4-31) and Ian Carr (6-37) soon tore into the Meakins batting line-up and dismissed them for 70 in just 22.3 overs.
John Pickles’ unbeaten 23 saw the Moorlands side to an eight wicket victory.
Alsager won for the second week running and put a dent in Weston’s good start to the season. Batting first, solid knocks from Ollie Sadler and Chris Hampshire saw them reach declare on 181-9. Weston’s usually strong batting line up had no answer top the duel attack of Gareth Rowe and Simon Dyer as the home side were shot-out for a paltry 79.
Betley remain in the wrong half of the table but had much the better of their draw at Caverswall. The home side batted first and reached 185-5, and in reply the in-form Richard Bebbington (70 not out) and wicketkeeper Jamie Jervis (65 not out) saw Betley to 154-1 by stumps.
In the divisions’ remaining game, bottom club Stone/Swynnerton drew at home to
DIVISION 3A REVIEW 16th MAY 2009
Bagnall’s superb start to the season continued at Porthill A, where they won by six wickets. Joe Beech scored a fine half century in the home team’s 155, but A Griffiths returned the outstanding figures of 7-75 for Bagnall, and steady scoring throughout the Bagnall top order saw them home in good style.
Norton-in-Hales are still without a win and anchored to the foot of the table after a comprehensive defeat at home to Endon, where Lee Slater was once again in great form for the visitors. His three wickets gave excellent support to Mike Dawson (5-19) and then Slater’s unbeaten 38 saw Endon easily overtake their hosts total of 119 all out.
There was a tight finish at Wedgwood/Stanfields where the home side’s totalled 110 against Woore, mainly thanks to Ian Adyman’s 30. J Bailey and
The rain was the winner at Moddershall A, with both teams picking up four points in a heavily reduced over game. Hem Heath/Forsbrook were left hanging on for the draw at Eccleshall at 74-7 in response to the home side’s total of 130.
Anthony Bunn 17th May 2009