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Sunday, June 14th, 2009
PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 14th 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.
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.
