The Official North Staffs & South Cheshire Cricket League Weblog

PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 6^th JUNE 2009

 

Play was only possible in two games in the Premier Division and this enabled Longton to strectch their lead at the top after a draw at Porthill. The home side were hanging on at the end on 97-9 in reply to Longton’s 137-6 from 31 overs.

 

Pete Wilshaw smashed 60 for Longton with good support from Alex Thorley, in response to another excellent spell of bowling from Porthill pro Fazl Akbar (4-59). In the 25 overs that remained Longton pro Roger Sillence’s four wickets almost gave Wilshaw’s men the full twenty five points but an unbeaten last wicket stand of 16 between last pair Jon Malpass and Rich Powner thwarted the league leaders.

 

Wood Lane made the most of their shortened game at home to struggling Leek as Matt Hagan’s men continued their excellent recent form with a four wicket victory.

 

Leek’s total of 133-7 from 27 overs owed much to Rory Bailey’s fine haf-century and he had fine back up from Kevin Stoute with 38. Mustafa Bashir, with three wickets, was the pick of the home attack.

 

The home side looked to be cruising at 70 without loss and with Dan Brierley (61) and Ashar Zaidi (46) in total domination. But Stoute backed up his innings with five quick wickets to put Jamie Cullerton’s side back in the game until Dave Cooper steadied any Wood Lane nerves and saw his side over the finishing line.

 

Wood Lane’s 20 points puts them in third spot, just 16 points behind the leaders. All other games were abandoned without a ball being bowled.

 

DIVISION 1A REVIEW 6^th JUNE 2009

 

There was more play in Division 1A and Elworth took full advantage of others not playing to cement their lead at the top of the table.

 

They hammered visitors Stafford by seven wickets after limiting their visitors to 128-9 in 33 overs, with Matt Buckley taking 4-36. Asjhley Lunn and Robert James both had solid knocks for Stafford.

 

In reply, Lee Morris and Ross Kesteven’s unbeaten partnership of 77 ensured that Elworth coasted to the twenty points and top spot. Kesteven finished on 30 and Morris hit an excellent unbeaten 74. Stafford picked up four points but remain in the relegation places.

 

Blythe also dodged the showers to pull off an excellent victory at Whitmore and they now move into fourth place.

 

For the second week running the Blythe batters knocked off a score and once again Martin Bailey was in the runs as Whitmore’s 123-8 wasn’t enough as the visitors won by six wickets.

 

Mark Stokes was the mainstay of the Whitmore batting line-up with a half century and he had great support from Justin Mould’s 46. But Bailey and Nilantha Cooray ensured that Blythe would leave with the points and are just 6 points off the promotion places.

 

DIVISON 2A REVIEW 6^th JUNE 2009

 

Play was only possible in one game in this division and Ashcombe’s comfortable win at home to Silverdale moved them into joint top position, with Oulton.

 

Silverdale’s total of 166-8 in 38 overs looked a competitive one but the home side knocked off the runs for the loss of only three wickets in 30.1 overs. Unfortunately, there are no individual details of this match to give you at present.

 

DIVISION 3A REVIEW 6^th JUNE 2009

 

There was more play in Division 3A and Bagnall took the opportunity of moving further ahead at the top of the table after a winning draw at home to second placed Hanford.

 

The leaders must be regretting their decision to bat so long though after having their with Vish Sharma’s unbeaten 96 hammering the visiting attack to all corners of the ground. Rob Kyle was the pick of the Hanford attack with three wickets/

 

In reply, Hanford closed on 147-8 with Roger and Ian Davies amongst the runs and Alex Ravenscroft returning the bets bowling figures of the day with 7-83. Bagnall’s 11 point tally moved them 28 points clear at the top of the league and favourites to gain promotion.

 

Hem Heath/Forsbrook almost gained a valuable 25 points at home to Meir Heath/Fenton but the away side were clinging on at 60-9 at the end in response to the home side’s 127-7 declared. Simon Wood top-scored for the home side with 37 with Meir Heath/Fenton’s Ben Holloway taking three wickets.

 

The visitors were in turmoil at 48-9 but saw out the closing overs to draw the game, despite Chris Wright’s 4-21.

 

The only game where any play was possible was at Oakamoor where the home side had much the better of their draw with bottom placed Norton-in-Hales.

 

Bating first, Muhammed Ayub (53 not out) and Jack Bullock (36 not out) saw the home side declare on 143-3 in just 27 overs. At the end of the visitors 23 overs they were relieved to finish on 76-7 in the face of some fine bowling by Ed Brookes who took 3-9.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 7th, 2009 at 08:16 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.