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PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 27th 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
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
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.
DIVISION 1A REVIEW 27th JUNE 2009
Elworth strengthened their position at the top of the league by demolishing Kidsgrove by 168 runs.
The table toppers ran up an impressive 242-6 declared and then routed the home side for just 74. Unfortunately, the scorecards were not entered so we cannot report on individual performances.
Barlaston kept up the pressure on the top two with a comfortable win at mid-table Whitmore. Niroshan Badaratilleke was once again in prime for for Neil Davies’ side with the outstanding return of 6-56. Indeed, with Whitmore on 19-4 an early finish looked more than likely, but home professional Irfan Fazil (45) and Justin Mould (51) shared an excellent fifth wicket stand of 82, and ensured hey reached a respectable total of 167.
But Barlaston cruised to an eight wicket victory mainly thanks to opener Ben Grange finding form with an unbeaten 78, and receiving solid support from Phil Walklate with 45. The 20 points now leaves Barlaston just two points behind second placed Sandyford who had to settle for a draw at bottom of the league
The home side amassed an impressive 233-7 based on a superb opening partnership of 120 between Mark Hurst and Mark Spencer, both of whom scored half-centuries. Andy Barnett was the pick of the visiting bowling attack with 3-91.
Despite Stephan Shemilt’s 48, Sandyford were pegged back by Hamsin Naseer (4-54) and had to settle for a winning draw on 150-5.
The visitors wasted no time in knocking the required runs off, and despite an impressive early burst of three wickets from Sean Connolly, Martin Bailey was once again in good form with the bat and saw Blythe home to a four wicket win, with an undefeated 40.
Meir Heath were the big winners of the day at the bottom of the league, after captain Richard Stonier inspired them to a six wicket win at mid-table Cheadle.
Andy Shaw’s 63 was the backbone of the home side’s total of 171, with seamers Chris Guest and Mike Inskip both claiming four wickets. The visitors nerves were soothed by a 93 run second wicket partnership between Stonier and Joe Woodward (57), and Stonier hit an undefeated 78 to ensure that his side emerged from out of the relegation places, albeit they are level on points with second-bottom
After a promising, start Norton are now struggling, and suffered a 47 run home defeat by fast-improving Rode Park. Jon Gallimore struck a battling 97 for Rode Park and he received great support from Ben Taylor’s unbeaten half-century as the visitors made a generous declaration of 223-8 in just 51.3 overs. Once again, Greg Willott was the pick of the Norton attack with 5-60.
Despite solid knocks from Dan Edge and Joshua Graham, Norton were dismissed for 176 thanks to three wickets apiece from Steve Liburd and Jim Johnson.
DIVISION 2A REVIEW 27th JUNE 2009
Ashcombe Park have claimed top spot as their excellent run of recent form continued as they easily beat Newcastle at home.
Chasing
Earlier,
The visitors were never in the hunt for victory although they were handily placed at 115-2 but then lost wickets at regular intervals. Mel Dawson’s 45 was the top score in Oulton’s innings, and there were also solid knocks from Rob Spruce (32) and professional Pradeep Jayaprakashdaran (34).
Weston are hot on the heels of the top two and inflicted yet another defeat on Bignall End, who are now back in the relegation places.
Chris Barratt’s 4-19 was the outstanding bowling performance from the Weston attack, but he received excellent support fro in-form seamer Phil Stockton (3-29), as they shot-out their hosts for 119. Only Gareth Moulton showed the necessary application with 51.
Weston’s target looked a long way off as they lost their first two wickets without a run on the board, but captain and professional Raj Kumar calmed any nerves with 43 and Joe Gates’ unbeaten 39 saw Weston over the finishing line, for a four wicket victory.
Stone/Swynnerton Park remain anchored at he bottom and they are now 39 points behind Bignall End after they were comfortably beaten at mid-table Meakins.
Meakins pro Ranil Dhamikka smashed a run-a-ball unbeaten century and received excellent back-up from Piradeeban Ponnudrai (54) as the home side struck an impressive 278-7 from just 52 overs.
Oliver Newey and James Ecclestone both hit 33 to ensure that Meakins had to fight hard for their 25 points, but Dhamikka completed a fantastic personal performance by adding five wickets to his earlier century, as the visitors were eventually bowled out for 153.
Betley’s batting line-up was once again in excellent form as they reached 262-8 at home to Alsager although that score looked a long way off as they stuttered to 97-5. But James Bettany (44not out) and Neil Harrison (63) shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 81 that saw the home side take control of the match. Earlier, opener Paul Belfield had smashed a quickfire 61.
At 111-3 Alsager looked in with a shout of victory, but despite 56 from Oliver Sadler and good contributions from Paul Pickford and Adrian Myatt, the visitors were eventually dismissed for 200. Neil Harrison completed a fine day with three wickets, with James Austin also pitching in with 3-45.
In the division’s remaining game, Silverdale leapfrogged Caverswall after beating them by 46 runs at the Alan Gott Memorial Ground.
Silverdale were indebted to a ninth wicket partnership of 74 between Zak Lally (48) and Glyn Moore(31) in reaching their total of 182. For
At 112-3 Caverswall looked favourites after Jake Edge had hit 32, but an excellent spell of 5-43 from Mitchell Stokes completely swung the game back in Silverdale’s favour, and their 25 point haul takes them well clear of the relegation places.
DIVISION 3A REVIEW 27th JUNE 2009
Moddershall A are level on points with Bagnall at the top of Division 3A after they thrashed Meir Heath/Fenton by 147 runs.
It looked a good toss to win by Moddershall A as the visiting team racked-up a huge 261-8 declared from just 50 overs. In-form professional Upal Indrasiri top-scored with 61, but there were also other good contributions from Nazakat Ali (48)and Andrew Heard (46), whilst Chris Jenkins with 3-53 was the pick of the home attack.
In reply, Meir Heath/Fenton started well, but from 57-0 crashed to 114 all out with Indrasiri completing a man-of-the-match performance with 6-15 fro 14.3 overs.
Bagnall were stunned by an eight wicket defeat at home to Hem Heath/Forsbrook as they lost their second league game of the season. Bagnall’s 177 all out was built around a solid 66 from opener Simon Gordon, but visiting professional Simon Wood put the brakes on with four quick wickets and Warren Aubrey also pitched-in with a three wicket haul.
The visitors then cruised home thanks to a superb unbeaten ton from Carl Colclough (16 fours, 1 six) and a rapid 56 from Wayne Glover that included 7 boundaries.
Third-placed Endon couldn’t capitalise as they were beaten at home by improving Oakamoor. The visitors batting line up amassed 246 thanks to good contributions from Will Leeson (47), Matt Wolff (48), John Edwards (41) and Dan Knight (30). Lee Slater was once again the pick of the Endon attack, with 3-74.
At 34-4 it looked all over for Endon, but youngster Jordan Weaver struck a superb quickfire 81 which gave his side a glimmer of hope. But Matt Wolffs three wickets and two cheap wickets for skipper Jon Wood at the end, saw the Moorlands side claim the full 25 points and move up to mid-table..
Woore were winners once again as they won a high-scoring game at a
Once more, it was the Davies brothers in the runs, as Roger’s 78 was trumped by a century from Ian, as
Johnson and Yosofzai’s sterling efforts were rewarded by Woore distancing themselves 34 points away from a relegation place.
Eccleshall have moved up to fourth after a low-scoring win at bottom club Norton-in-Hales. The visitors limped to 150-9 declared, with Neil Bloor bowling a miserly spell for his 3-29. But the home side had no answer to the opening attack of Paul Cox (4-18) and Matt Pepper (4-27) as they were hustled out for 105, with only James Ruscoe showing any sort of form with 32.
There are rarely many drawn games in an exciting Divison 3A, and there wasn’t one at
Ian Addyman top scored for the victors with 71(Rich Jarvis 36, Jon Tweats 34) and Wedgwood/Stanfields then proceeded to bowl out their hosts for just 86. Jervis completed a good all-round day for him with four wickets and there were three wickets apiece for Matt Phillips and Ade Lello.
Anthony Bunn 28th July 2009