The Official North Staffs & South Cheshire Cricket League Weblog

PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 18^th JULY 2009

 

Knypersley remain at the top of the league, but have now been caught by Longton, as the weather once again intervened in local cricket this weekend. Now, only 18 points separates the top five teams.

 

They drew at home to Stone after the visitors reached 172-7 with Russ Ballard top-scoring with an unbeaten 60. The Knypersley reply was heavily curtailed to just 27 overs, in which they reached 82-5, with Jack Thorley taking three wickets.

 

Longton’s game at Burslem was looking to be an exciting finish, after the joint leaders 202-9 included good contributions from Alex Thorley and Mike Longmore. Burslem looked will set at 117-3 wit M Brown and L Woodcock featuring in a potential match-winning stand until the rain wasjed any chances of victory away.

 

Little Stoke were the days big winners after they hammered Audley. There were half centuries for John Hancock and Richard Adams in Little Stoke’s 177-5 declared, and then Dan Colclough shot his team up into third place with an outstanding spell of 7-48.

 

Porthill got back to winning ways with pro Fazil Akbar taking 6-24 as they rushed Moddershall out for just 81 and they had little trouble in knocking the required runs off in just 20 overs for the loss of 4 wickets.

 

Leek were happy to escape with a draw from their match at Hem Heath. Mick Hall’s unbeaten 85 set the home side up for 182-6 and then the visitors were hanging on at 87-7 as they looked to break out of the relegation places.

 

In the division’s final game, bottom club Leycett drew away at Wood Lane. Matt Hagan’s men reached 186-4 declared in 44.4 overs with professional A ZAidi hitting a superb unbeaten ton. But only 9 overs were bowled in Leycett’s reply with the visitors closing on 49-3.

 

DIVISION 1A REVIEW

 

Mark Stanyer’s devastating spell of 7-47 against Blythe ensured that Barlaston are the new leaders and favourites to regain their top league status.

 

Barlaston’s 164 total owed much to Niroshan Banderatilleke’s 49 (Pete Finch 6-46) and Martin Bailey’s 32 looked to have put Blythe on course for victory, but Stanyer’s superb figures sees Barlaston 4 points clear of ELworth who drew at Sandyford.

 

Whitmore were the only other team to win in this league after a 51 run win against Rode Park was set up by Justin Mould’s 54 and Irfan Fazil’s 4-46. Whitmore are in good form and are now fourth in the league, although still 51 points behind second place.

 

Elswewhere, the rain devastated many games although Meir Heath will feel aggrieved they were possibly robbed of victory at Crewe after bowling the home side out for just 94. Struggling Stafford were also on top at Kidsgrove in a crunch relegation battle, whilst there was an amazing game at Cheadle.

 

The home side reached 175-9 in their allocated 60 overs, but with Norton only having a rain-reduced allocation of 29 overs, a draw looked likely. But Tony Dutton’s men flayed the balls to all parts of the Tean Road ground and were desperately unlucky to finish on 175-4, needing a solitary run to win.

 

DIVISION 2A REVIEW

 

Ashcombe Park and Betley are neck and neck at the top, but Betley are the in-form team of the league at the moment, and they crushed visiting Stone SP. Dave Follett’s five wickets ensured that Stone Sp were limited to 161 (Steve Leach 71) and Wayne Downing’s superb knock of 89 not out ensured an easy seven wicket win for Betley.

 

Ashcombe came close to winning a rain-affected game against Weston at home. Weston’s 178-8 was built around Mike Alexander’s 65 and with only 32 overs for the home side it looked likely that a stalemate was on the cards. But exciting knocks from C Walley and A Gondal almost saw the home side to victory as they fell just short on 167-7.

 

Checkley’s promotion charge faltered against visitors Caverswall. Marlon Martin struck a superb 101 for Carsa and despite 31 from captain Andy Carr, the visiting attack prevailed and dismissed Checkley for 121.

 

Oulton had to be content for a draw at Alsager in a tense encounter. Simon Dyer’s 5-42 ensured that Oulton reached just 150 all out, but fine bowling by Robbie Spruce meant that the home side were hanging on for the draw at 101-8 by the close.

 

Meakins demiolished struggling Bignall End by nine wickets after Matt Redican and Ranil Dhammika took 9 of the 10 visiting wickets to fall in their total of 79. Meakins then strolled to a win in just 15.3 overs and are now mid-table.

 

In the division’s remaining game Silverdale’s Glynn Moore 5-27 and Mitchell Stokes 3-7 shot out home side Newcastle and Hartshill for just 56. An early finish was guaranteed by Stokes’ unbeaten 32.

 

DIVISION 3A REVIEW

 

There was stalemate at the top after Bagnall and Moddershall A drew. Bagnall declared on 143-9, thanks to a spirited 53 from C Lancaster in the face of U Indrasani’s six wickets. The rain, and I Khalid’s three wickets, kept the visitors in check and they could must just 42-3 before the weather put an end to the game.

 

Porthill A went third after defeating a Hanford side who are seemingly in freefall.  Despite Mick Coxon’s five wicket haul, Mick Farr’s 69 saw Porthill A to 195-9, and then they dismissed their hosts for 173, and they are now 30 points behind second placed Bagnall.

 

Oakamoor were having the better of their home game against Wedgwood/Stanfields, with M Ayub (92) once again in form. The target of 171 was never in question though as the visitors were 75-6 at stumps.

 

Endon and Eccleshall produced a high scoring game at Post Lane, with the home side’s 223-5 declared owing much to Jordan Weaver’s unbeaten 73 and Jon Powell’s 64. Eccleshall’s reply was built around an excellent 85 from J Mansfield and they were handily placed at the end on 199-4.

 

Hem Heath/Forsbrok were convincing winners over visitors Woore. Simon Wood and C Wright both scored half centuries for the home side, and Wright followed this up with four wickets as Woore were shot out for just 67.

 

Meir Heath/Fenton beat bottom placed Norton-in-Hales in a low-scoring game. Phil Hall’s 34 saw the home side to 127, and they ran out 54 run winners after Ben Holloway’s 6-26 ensured the visitors were dismissed for 73.

 

Anthony Bunn 19th July 2009

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