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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.

 

Division 1A Review 20^th June 2009

 

Elworth lost at home to Cheadle but still remain on top as Sandyford reduced their lead to 11 points.

 

Murray Ranger struck another half century in Elworth’s total of 184 (Sean Rashid 6-43) but the visitors coasted home by five wickets thanks to an unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 93 between Darren Plant (35 no) and Will Riley (69no). Meanwhile, Andy Barnett produced a blistering spell of 7-31 (including five LBW’s) as the home side destroyed visiting Whitmore and claiming all 25 points.

 

Earlier, Sandyford’s 163 all out was the result of yet more excellent new-ball bowling by I Fazil who took 5 wickets with Craig Leese (41) being the top scorer for Sandyford.

 

Barlaston’s pro Niroshan Bandaratilleke was once again in great form as they hammered Kidsgrove by 83 runs at home. Bandaratillke followed up his 63 with a superb spell of 6-53 as he visitors were shot out for 102. Barlaston’s maximum points haul moves them into third and just 13 runs off a promotion place.

 

Meir Heath remain bottom but almost won at home to Norton who are struggling for runs in recent weeks. Jake Heath’s 50 was the top score for Meir Heath in the face of an excellent spell from Ian Reynolds. Greg Willott’s unbeaten 57 always kept the visitors in the hunt, but they closed on 150-9, just 5 short of victory. C Guest took a five wicket haul for the home side who are 8 points behind Crewe.

 

The Cheshire club were hammered at Blythe by 9 wickets as Peter Finch’s five wickets resulted in the visitors being dismissed for 179. Martin Bailey with 84 and Haden Simcok with an unbeaten 74, easily saw Blythe take 20 points and into fourth.

 

In the divisions’ other game Rode Park moved into midtable but heaped more misery on a Stafford side who are hovering just outside the relegation spots. Paul Chadwick was the top scorer in Rode Park’s 165 (S Connolly 4-47) but this was 80 too many for the visitors who crumbled to 85 all out in the face of Richard Iron’s 4-10.

 

 

Division 2A Review 20^th June 2009

 

Oulton kept their lead at the top of the league as their batters hit form again, this time in their for wicket win at home to Meakins. The visitors scored their 226 at a cracking rate                                     ( Rob Cooper 77) but this gave up some overs to Oulton who made full use of these by claiming a four wicket win from the last ball of the 64^th over. Pradeep and H Patel both hit half-centuries for Oulton.

 

Ashcombe Park kept up the pressure with a three wicket win away at Alsager. M Arshad had a great day for the home side with 71 and five wickets, but he was upstaged by Dave Proffitt as his three wickets and unbeaten 87 paved the way for victory. He was ably assisted by Dave Clowes and Craig Walley, as the visitors chased down Alsager’s 226-9 declared.

 

Weston are still up with the leaders as they hammered Caverswall at home by ten wickets.  Mike Holt’s five wickets shot out the visitors for just 129, and Mike Alexander blazed the visitors attack to all parts as he hit an excellent 99 not out, as his side reached their target in just 22.3 overs.

 

There was a tense finish at Stone/Swynnerton as visiting Bignall End won by just 2 runs in the battle of the division’s bottom two sides. Bowlers were on top as only 242 runs were scored in the match with Bignall End crawling to 122 all out (James Ecclestone 4-61). In reply, the home side lost regular wickets to Dave Morton and fell tantalisingly short on 120 all out.

 

Checkley are gaining some momentum, after Ian Carr had an outstanding match a Newcastle. He was the pick of the visiting attack with four wickets as Newcastle closed on 220-7 (G McAloon 61), and he then struck a superb unbeaten 96 as Checkley won with two overs and four wickets to spare.

 

In the remaining game Betley moved up into fifth place by gaining maximum points at Silverdale. S Jervis (84) was the mainstay of the Betley innings as they declared on 200-7 and then D Snape’s five wickets ensured that Silverdale finished 39 runs short of their target.

 

 

Division 3A Review 20^th June 2009

 

After losing to local rivals Endon last week, Bagnall returned to winning ways after they easily won at Wedgwood/Stanfields.

 

The league leaders batted the full 60 overs for their 186-8 (Ed Bateman 84) with Richie Jarvies being the pick of the home attack with 4-62. But the home side had no answer to Alex Ravenscroft and Vish Sharma who rattled through the top order to leave them 56 all out.

 

Bagnall’s maximum points haul leaves them 21 points ahead of Moddershall A who also took 25 points in a low scoring game at home to Norton in Hales. A Noden and M Riley both took five wickets apiece for the Tractor Boys as they dismissed Modd for 110. Yet, Upul Inrasiri was once again in great form with the ball as his team skittled their visitors for a meagre 51.

 

Endon have moved into third after yet another great all-round performance from Lee Slater. His 30, along with Jordan Weaver’s 32 gave good support to top scorer John Powell (70) as Endon reached 202 all out at Hem Heath/Forsbrook. Slater then took charge with the ball as his 5-45 ripped through the home side’s batting line up, ably assisted by Mike Dawson’s four wickets.

 

Porthill A moved into midtable after a comfortable six wicket win away at Eccleshall. The home side’s 160 was mainly due to solid knocks from Paul Cox and Matt Pepper, with Josh Butler taking four wickets for Porthill. Rich Powners’ 33 eased the away side to victory.

 

Hanford slipped down to fourth after they were on the end of an excellent performance from Oakamoor’s M Ayub. The home side’s 251-4 declared was built around a superb 131 from Ayub, who figured in a 186 run partnership with D Knight (74). Ayub’s three wickets gave invaluable support to E Brooks (5-52) as the home side ran out by 28 run winners.

 

In a division of no drawn games, Meir Heath/Fenton won away at Woore. Paul Farmer’s unbeaten 38 ensured that the visitors reached their victory target of 127 with six wickets to spare.

 

Anthony Bunn 21st June 2009

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