Latest News
PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 8th AUGUST 2009
With five matches remaining, Little Stoke hit the top of the league for the first time this season after a thrilling 9 run, last over win at relegation-threatened Leycett.
George Cairns (94) and Richard Adams (38) put on a quickfire 132 for the first wicket, and professional Richard Harvey followed this up with an unbeaten half-century as Little Stoke gave a very sporting declaration of 210-4 from just 52 overs. Tas Hussain’s 2-62 was the pick of the home bowling attack and he followed this up with 45 which gave valuable support to Rob Walker’s 59, as Leycett victory, despite being reduced to 12-2 at an early stage.
At 170-9 it looked like curtains for Leycett, but a spirited last wicket partnership of 31 ensured that Little Stoke were made to work hard for their 25 points, which were
largely due to Gareth Morris and Steve Colclough both taking three wickets apiece. The final wicket falling with just 3 balls remaining could be one of the pivotal moments of the season in the Premier League race for the title
Richard Harvey’s side now lead the league by just 2 points from Knypersley who demolished Audley by nine wickets.
Audley were shot out on their own wicket for a meagre 88 with all Knypersley bowlers pitching in with valuable contributions. Yogesh Golwalker (4-27) was the pick of the visiting attack as Audley on reached some repectability thanks to a rapid 23 from last man Paul Johnson.
Kim Barnett’s unbeaten 41 ensured that there were no slip ups from Knypersley as Audley remain in mid-table and they will fancy their chances of reclaiming top spot when they play Leek at home next weekend.
Longton remain in third spot, but their title challenge seems to be stuttering, and they were beaten convincingly by a Wood Lane side who are also in with an outside chance of becoming champions.
Longton’s 221-8 declared was based around solid contributions from Pete Wilshaw,
Tom Birks and Tom Mellor, with visiting professional Ashar Zaidi producing excellent figures of 6-59.
Victory for Wood Lane looked a long way off with both openers quickly departing, but Zaidi followed up his bowling exploits with a run-a-ball 64, and he received great back-up from veteran Jeff Maynard (49 not out) and Richard Hassell (30) as the visitors took just 46.3 overs to reach their target for the loss of five wickets, with a home derby against Audley up next for Matt Hagan’s side.
Porthill are ten points in front of Wood Lane as their opening bowlers were once again in great form in their three wicket win at home to Stone. The visitors batting line-up had little answer to Mark Bengry’s 6-75 as they were dismissed for just 135. Porthill professional Faizl Akbar also took three wickets to continue his outstanding form.
In reply, the home side struggled against Qaiser Abbas’ accurate left arm spin and were indebted to Dave Ferris (33) as they limped across the finishing line.
Hem Heath will be looking over their shoulders anxiously over the next five weekends and they would have been happy seeing fellow strugglers Leek and Moddershall draw at Highfields. Leek’s 167 was built around skipper Jamie Cullerton’s unbeaten 50, and depite Rich Cooper’s 3-27, Moddershall batted out their 51 overs and finished on 99-8.
At Trentham Lakes, Hem Heath were in trouble against visiting Burslem when stumps were drawn. Chris Lowndes, Chris Roberts and Mike Rowley all made positive contributions for the visitors as they declared on 203-7, despite a five wicket haul by the outstanding Mo Hussain.
In reply, Kev Cockerton’s 5-51 tore the heart out of Hem Heath’s top order, and he was assisted by Michael Brown’s three wickets as the home side never seriously threatened the Burslem total and closed on 125-8. Burslem remain in mid-table whilst Hem Heath are 21 points above the drop zone and face a huge game at Moddershall next Saturday.
DIVISION 1A REVIEW 8th AUGUST 2009
Elworth remain in top spot and on target for a place in the top league, but they had their finger nails bitten right down to the bone as they scraped home by one wicket at a Meir Heath side who are in real danger of going down.
Experience was the key for the visitors, as seasoned campaigners Jim Higgins and Dave Palin were the stars in the narrowest of victories.
It seemed an early finish was in store, as once again, evergreen off-spin of Higgins
caused havoc taking 5-35, ably assisted by skipper and opening bowler Matt Buckley (3-17). Only Nick Locker showed the necessary fight for Meir Heath.
But home professional Chris Guest had other ideas, with superb figures of 5-23 from his 10 overs, and the visitors were indebted to Palin who struck a fighting 32 which put Elworth within touching distance of victory. But wickets fell regularly and it was visiting skipper Buckley who struck the winning runs in a valuable 20 points for the visitors which sees them 15 points in front of second placed Barlaston.
Neil Davies’ side were given a tough game at improving Rode Park where the home side were dismissed for 214 with the two opposing professional both starring. Steve Liburd smashed 89 for Rode Park whilst visiting pro Niroshan Bandaratilleke took 6-86. He received good support from Ramzan Mohammed (4-46), whilst Liburd’s innings was complimented by solid knocks from Neil Chadwick and Alex Perry.
Mohammed enjoyed a fine personal display with an unbeaten half-century as Barlaston closed on 174-8, and they are now 45 points in front of third placed Norton and looking good for a swift return to the top flight.
Tony Dutton’s Norton side kept up their hopes of a top two finish and continued their excellent season, by hammering relegation-threatened Crewe at Community Drive.
Staffordshire’s Greg Willott’s superb season continued as his 4-39 was supported by Ian Reynolds’ 3-11 as the visitors were shot-out for just 101, with 25 from Nolan McKenzie being the mainstay of the Crewe innings.
Dutton then struck an excellent unbeaten 60 as Norton cantered home for the loss of just two wickets. Crewe are still at the foot of the table, seven points behind Kidsgrove whose miserable season continued at Blythe where they lost by a massive 137 runs.
The home side’s batting line-up was once again in good form, with Martin Bailey (49), Hayden Simcock (37), Matt Goodwin (34) and Nilantha Cooray (39) all contributing to Blythe declaring on 241-9 from 55 overs. Naj Shah was easily the pick of the visiting attack with 6-68.
Kidsgrove then had no answer to in-form opening bowler and Blythe skipper Pete Finch, who continued a good personal season for him with the outstanding figures of 5-19 which was his side to a maximum 25 point haul, and leave the visitors 12 points from safety.
Whitmore are enjoying their firsts eason in the division and had the best of their draw at mid-table Cheadle. A partnership of 194 between professional Imran Fazil (101)
and Justin Mould (95) saw the visitors declare on a healthy 236-7. Shaun Rashid managed to bag four wickets for Cheadle but his side were never in the hunt for victory and closed some way off Whitmore’s total on 159-5 thanks to a half-century from Hamza Siddique.
In the division’s remaining game, Stafford were involved in a tense finish with a Sandyford side whose season has petered out after looking promotion hopefuls. Craig Leese’s superb century was the backbone behind Sandyford’s 228-4 declared, with Iftikhar Asghr taking all four visiting wickets to fall.
The home side were always on target for victory thanks to half-centuries from mark Foster and Rob James, but had to settle on closing their innings on the same score as Sandyord for the loss of six wickets. Andy Barnett was the pick of the visitor’s attack with 4-59.
DIVISION 2A REVIEW 8th AUGUST 2009
Pradeep Jayaprakashdaran and Harish Patel were the stars in Oulton’s win at Stone/SP, which shot them back into the promotion places and seemingly condemned their near neighbours to Division 3A.
Jayaprakasshdaran (101 not out and 4-52) and Patel (74 and 4-11) ensured that Oulton received maximum points from their 87 run victory, with only Nick cooper putting up much resistance with the bat for the home side.
Betley remain in top spot, but they could only draw at struggling Bignall End, for whom Andy Howle smashed an unbeaten century. Betley’s 223-7 declared was built around solid knocks from Chris Henderson and Jamie Jervis, but Howle’s 104 not out saw the home side close on 200-6.
Ashcombe Park have lost a little momentum and they were beaten by 17 runs in a clse game at Meakins. The home side’s star performer with the bat was Sam Nixon (68), with Ahmed Gondal and Andy Jones both taking three wickets apiece for Ashcombe. But despite always being on target with the run rate, the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals, with Simon Baker being the pick of the home attack with 3-58.
Weston are still in with a good chance of promotion. They lie in fourth spot, but only 14 points separates them from top of the table Betley, and they won convincingly at home to a Newcastle team who are now second from bottom. The visitors’ 191-9 was never going to be enough with home professional Raj Kumar once again in great nick, and his 85 saw his side to a six wicket win.
Checkley’s promotion charge has now gone due to being docked points, and they must be careful they don’t get sucked into another relegation battle, despite being 45 points ahead of Newcastle. They could only draw at Silverdale despite having the best of the game.
Gavin Carr, Nick Hunt, Mick Allen and Ian Carr all scored freely for the visitors in their 223-6 declared, but solid knocks from Mick Moore and Adam Michelson ensured that the visitors left only with a winning draw.
In the division’s remaining game, Caverswall received a much-needed victory thanks to a four wicket win at home to inconsistent Alsager.
The visitors 191-5 decalred was built around an unbeaten 82 from Chris Hampshire, but despite 4-42 from Simon Dyer, Owen price was the batting hero for Carsa with an aggressive 86.
DIVISION 3A REVIEW 8th AUGUST 2009
Wedgwood/Stanfield’s bowlers were once again the stars of the show as they remain in the promotion places after a nervy win at home to Hanford. Mick Coxon’s six wickets ensured that the home side would only total 127, but once again Richie Jervis (3-38) and Gareth Lello (5-29) came up trumps as they dismissed Hanford for just 91.
Moddershall A remain favourites to go up, and professional Upal Indrasiri was again in good form for them. His 32 was the top score in Modd’s total of 163 (Jonty Bailey 4-39), but Woore had no answer to Indrasiri (4-23) or Andrew Heard (5-17) as they were shot-out for just 77.
Bagnall remain in third after leading the table for so long, but they remain on the leader’s tails as they hammered bottom club Norton-in- Hales. I Khalid had an excellent day for Bagnall as his five wickets and unbeaten 60 saw them to an easy seven wicket win in a game that only lasted for 45 overs.
Porthill A will also fancy their chances of going up, especially after winning a close game at home to Hem Heath/Forsbrook. Porthill’s 167 all out looked to be threatened by the visitors’ Simon Wood (87) but B Cotton’s 4-31 ensured a narrow 22 run win for Porthill A.
Oakamoor’s M Ayub had another superb all-round performance as they demolished Eccleshall. Ayub struck an unbeaten 142 and followed this up with 5-5 (Ed Brooks 4-22) as his side won by 175 runs in a totally one-sided affair.
Endon’s season is pottering out to an early conclusion as they are now firmly ensconed in mid-table after a comfortable defeat at Fenton/Meir Heath. Despite only totalling 161-9 in their 60 overs, Chris Mellor (4-34) and Chris Jenkins (3-8) were far too good for the visiting batsmen as the home side ran out 76 run victors.
Anthony Bunn 9th August 2009