The Official North Staffs & South Cheshire Cricket League Weblog

PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 27^th JUNE 2009

 

Longton remain on top but suffered only their second defeat of the season as they endured a shock five wicket loss at struggling Leek.

 

Jamie Cullerton’s men threw away the form book by dismissing their visitors for 158 after they looked well placed at 65-1. Veteran left-arm spinner Colin Dearden did the main damage with 4-37 from 12.1 overs. Longton’s main resistance came from youngster Alex Thorley who struck 43 and from reliable opening bat Mike Longmore, who struck 41.

 

In-form Rob Hayden (32) and young Alex Mellor (25) gave Leek a sound start with an opening stand of 49 and laid the platform for professional Kevin Stoute to provide a matchwinning innings of 66 from just 52 balls, including three huge sixes.

 

Leek’s victory takes them out of the relegation places and leaves Longton just two points in front of Knypersley, after Paul Goodwin’s side thrashed reigning champions Moddershall, leaving them deep in relegation trouble. Knypersley will fancy their chances of claiming top spot next week as they entertain bottom side Leycett.

 

Moddershall had no answer to Knypersley’s Darren Butler (3-45) and Andy Marshall (4-17) as they were shot-out for 104. Only Rob Bagnall with a run-a-ball 26, and Simon Hemmings’ 21 gave any eal resisance. In reply, Jon Cumberbatch’s 114-ball vigil for 35 ensured there were no major hiccups for the visitors, despite the best efforts of Matt Stuples who took  3-50.

 

Moddershall are now only three points in front of bottom-of-the-table Leycett who performed well in their draw at Audley. Batting first, Tas Hussain’s unbeaten 53 was the mainstay of Leycett’s 210-8 and he was given stout support from professional Dinesh Darshanpriya who hit 45. Indeed, at 143-3 it looked as if the visitors were destined for a far greater total but eventually had to bat the full 60 overs.

 

Indeed, the visitors may have now wished hey had declared slightly earlier after having Audley 162-7 at the close of play. Veteran seamer Richard White shone with the ball once again with 3-40 from 20 tight overs, and Rob Heath also chipped in with three valuable scalps. But Richard Holloway’s half-century saw the home side through to a winning draw and keeps hem in mid-table.

 

Form team Porthill Park were involved in a high-scoring draw at improving Hem Heath in the Sentinel’s match of the day.

 

Wood Lane are having a great season and lie third after having much the better of a winning draw away at Burslem.

 

Matt Hagan’s side posted a competitive 216-8 thanks to a half century from Ashar Zaidi and sound contributions from Dan Brierley and Richard Hassall. Michael Brown with his left arm spin was by far the best of the home attack with 3-43 from 14 overs.

 

It seemed that Burslem were on target for a victory as they cruised to 72 for no loss, with home skipper Chris owndes top scorng with 41. However, the introduction of in-form Steve Norcup (3-45) paid dividends for the Megacre outfit as they started to take wickets at regular intervals.

 

At 106-6 it looked like another win for Wood Lane was on the cards, but a stubborn seventh wicket stand between Kev Cockerton and Richard Mellor saw the home side claim a draw and finish on 155-8.

 

Wood Lane are 24 points off top spot, whilst Burslem’s early season form has deserted them in recent weeks.

 

In the division’s remaining game Little Stoke came within a wicket of defeating a visiting Stone side who have improved in recent weeks.

 

The home side racked up a daunting 241-5 declared in 58 overs. A third wicket partnership of 137 between ex-Staffs captain Richard Harvey (62) and Dan Hancock (86) saw Little Stoke overcome a shaky start after some tidy new-ball bowling by veteran Andy Winfield and Johnathan McCreadie.

 

Nick Bratt then followed up his unbeaten 22 at the end of the home side’s innings with a devastating new-ball burst and left Stone reeling at 27-4. But despite young Staffordshire all-rounder Russ Ballard striking a gutsy 43, it seemed in vain as Stone were on the brink of defeat at 108-8.

 

But Chris Banks struck a superb unbeaten 62 batting at number nine, as he shared in ninth wicket stand of 47 with Joseph Smith (20. But when Smith was dismissed with the total on 155 it seemed that Little Stoke would be taking maximum points. However, Banks hadn’t finished with his heroics and with veteran Winfield shared in match-saving last wicket partnership of 34.

 

Nick Bratt returned outstanding figures 18-4-45-4, but it was in vain as Little Stoke rued not making up more ground on the top four.

 

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Premier A Review 20^th June 2009

 

Longton are 16 points clear at he top of the league after a comfortable six wicket win at home to Audley.

 

Richard Holloway’s 80 was the backbone of their 198 in the face of Roger Sillence’s three wickets. Sillence then completed a fine all-round match with an unbeaten ton as the home side cantered home in less than 47 overs.

 

Kynpersley kept the pressure up on the leaders with a similar performance at home to Burslem. Chris Robers and Khalid Malik helped Burslem to reach 206-8 in their full allocation of 60 overs, but this wasn’t enough as Kim Barnett found some form with 68 and he was backed up by Yogesh Golwalker’s 32. Michael Brown was once again the pick of the Burslem attack with 4-77.

 

Porthill won once again as they demolished Leek by seven wickets at the Old County Ground. Opening bowlers Fazl Akbar and Mark Bengry were again in great form, and this time they shared all ten Leek wickets as they were shot out for a paltry 81 in just 28 overs.

 

Matt Hole (55 not out) was a man in a hurry as the game finished early with only 54 overs bowled in the whole game. Porthill’s seven wicket win puts them fourth and in Akbar they possess the most potent bowler in the league.

 

Stone were the big winners at the bottom of the table as they won at home to Hem Heath. John Seabridge struck a superb undefeated 106 for the visitors as they made 190-7 declared. Jon McCreadie with 5-53 was easily the pick of the Stone attack, and steady scoring throughout their innings saw the home side to victory for the loss of six wickets.

 

Wood Lane had to settle for a draw at home to Little Stoke as they failed to carry on their excellent recent form. The visitors 201-9 declared saw useful contributions from A Lightbown and J Hancock, with Steve Norcup (4-39) spearheading the home attack. Veteran batsman Jeff Maynard’s half-century steadied the home sides’ ship as they eventually closed on 129-6.

 

Leycett won for the first time this season as they beat fellow strugglers Moddershall at home. The visitors 196-9 in their 60 overs was easily overtaken by Ian Boulton’s side, for the loss of just three wickets.

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PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 14^th JUNE 2009

Longton remain on top as a day of sunshine meant positive cricket and a day without draws in the Premier Division.

 

Leycett hosted the leaders and were routed by Pete Wilshaw’s men who collected a full 25 points and have built up a 16 point lead at the top. Longton’s massive 231-4 declared was built on a superb 95 not out from professional Roger Sillence and solid knocks from Tom Birks and Tom Oakes.

 

In reply, Sillence completed a fantastic all-round display with four cheap wickets as Longton won by a massive 103 runs.

 

Knypersley kept up the pressure on the leaders with a narrow three wicket win in alow-scoring game at Little Stoke. Paul Goodwin’s team looked to be on course for a a comfortable win after dismissing their hosts for just 138. Richard Adams was the only home batter to put up any real resistance in the face of Andy Marshall and Dany Hancock’s three wickets apiece.

 

Skipper Goodwin then played a captain’s knock of 43 not out to see his side overtake Little Stoke’s score for the loss of seven wickets.

 

In the basement battle it was Stone who came out on top at fellow strugglers Leek.

 

The Highfields men were all out for 210 with Rob Haydon top scoring with 80 in the face of Azhar Mahmood’s five wicket haul. Haydon received back-up from Richard Cooper with 38, but Stone cruised to a six wicket victory with half centuries from Mahmood, Luke Cheadle and Shaun Jenkinson. Leek are now second bottom and eleven points adrift of Stone.

 

Wood Lane and Porthill are the division’s in-form teams and both won again.

 

Porthill’s outstanding pro Fazl Akbar was again in the wickets with another eight in their 136 run hammering of hosts Audley.

 

Matt Hole (74) and Dave Cotton with an unbeaten 69 ensured that Porthill could declare on 225-6 and then let Akbar wreak havoc. His eight wickets came at a cost of only 39 runs as Audley were reduced to just 89 all out.

 

Meanwhile, Matt Hagan’s Megacre outfit won on the road at Hem Heath, and they now lie in a threatening third place.

 

Wood Lane batted first and declared on 210-7 thanks yet again to the in-form Dan Brierley who hit a century and is surely in the county selectors thoughts after a golden start to the season. Darren Sanders and Mo Hussain were the pick of the home atta ck with three wickets each.

 

In reply, Double H lost wickets at regular intervals as Dave Cooper and Steve Norcup took three wickets apiece as the visitors coasted to a 59 run win and 25 points.

 

In the division’s other game Burslem got back to winning ways with a five wicket win at home to Moddershall. The visitors totalled 190-9 in their 60 overs with Michael Brown taking three wickets and R Herath top-scoring with 57. Despite Herath’s 4-83 Brown was in tremendous form with the bat too, as his 80 paved the way for the home side to canter home in just 43 overs.

 

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