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PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW 15th AUGUST 2009
Little Stoke now hold a very decent 18 point lead at the top of the table after they won at Burslem and Knypersely suffered a surprise defeat in the Moorlands derby at home to relegation-threatened Leek.
Dan Colclough continued an excellent season with a five wicket haul as only Khalid Malik (46) put up any real resistance in the home sides’ total of just 122.The visitors and league leaders wasted no time in knocking off the required runs as George Cairns hit a second successive half-century as Little Stoke took just over 28 overs to reach their target.
Leek demolished championship-chasing Knypersley by a massive 141 runs in a massive turn-up for the odds. Batting first, Lee’s pro, South African Robin Peterson top-scored with 48 in Leek’s 189-9 declared, and then evergreen seamer was once again in top form with the ball as his superb 6-24, backed-up by three wickets for Peterson, shot-out the home side for a meagre 48.
The results still doesn’t take Jamie Cullerton’s out of the relegation places as Leycett pulled off another shock to put a huge dent in Porthill’s title-winning dreams.
They would have been mightily relieved to cross the finishing line though by a solitary wicket in a low-scoring game at the Old County Ground. Veteran seamer Richard White (6-64) was in prime form for the visitors as Porthill were dismissed for 131.
And it took a superb and possibly season-changing unbeaten 61 from Richard Walker, to see Ian Boulton’s side home in the face of excellent bowling from Fazl Akbar who took 6 wickets. Leycett are now out of the bottom two but only by 3 points.
Reigning champions Moddershall are now bottom and were clinging on at the end against fellow strugglers Hem Heath. John Cheadle’s invaluable 90 not out saw the visitors to a respectable total of 174, and Mo Hussain’s six wickets looked like earning a precious win for Double H, but Chris Beech’s half century saw Moddershall to safety at 130-8.
Longton missed the chance to close the gap significantly on the top two, by losing away at improving Stone. Jimmy Dawson struck a superb 111 for Stone as they totalled 225-5, receiving good support from Phil Cheadle.
Tom Birks 46, Mike Longmore 45, Roger Sillence 45, and Danny Cumming 35 all scored well for the visitors, but Stone pro Qaiser Abbas’ seven wicket haul saw his team home by just 8 runs in a superb game.
Audley had by far the better of their rain-affected local derby against Wood Lane, but had to settle for a draw after having their rivals nine wickets down at the death. Solid scoring throughout the Audley innings saw them to a decent total of 193, despite the best efforts of Steve Norcup who took a five wicket haul.
In reply, U. Govender (4-44) and Chris Barker (4-19) had the home side in all sorts of trouble until they limped to a draw on 110-9.
DIVISION 1A REVIEW 15th AUGUST 2009
Ramzan Mohammed had a superb all-round day for Barlaston and ensured that they went back to the top of the league as previous leaders Elworth came a cropper at home to Rode Park.
Mohammed struck a half-century and then took four Stafford wickets as Neil Davies’ side claimed an easy 25 points, despite the best efforts of Mark Smallman (4-49). The win puts Barlaston 45 points in front of third-placed Norton, and leaves Stafford looking over their shoulders.
Second-placed Elworth lost a high-scoring game at home to Rode Park, for whom Jon Gallimore struck a superb 121 as the visitorsdeclared on 252-6. Despite Jibran Khan’s 90, Elworth fell just 16 runs short, mainly thanks to Steve Liburd’s three wickets.
Norton still have an outside chance of a second successive promotion as they claimed maximum points in their away win at Sandyford.
Irfan Fazil was once again in top form for Whitmore as they heaped more misery on a Kidsgrove side in total freefall. His five wickets ensured that Kidsgrove could only muster 98 and the home side coasted home to a seven wicket win in 31 overs.
Crewe are still propping up the league, and they were bowled out for just 42 in response to Cheadle’s 115, on a bowler-friendly day in Cheshire.
Blythe are still in the promotion hunt as they ensured that Meir Heath face a tense end to the season after a narrow 8run win for Pete Finch’s side. N. Cooray (6-25) and M. Goodwin (4-14) took all 10 Meir Heath wickets as the home side fell just short of the visitor’s total of 141, with Goodwin top-scoring with 42 for a fine all-round personal display.
DIVISION 2A REVIEW 15th AUGUST 2009
Betley’s off-field problems certainly don’t seem to be affecting their first team as they comprehensively beat Meakins to go 14points clear at the top. Meakins total of 184 featured an excellent half-century from Martin Lawton, with Darren Snape’s 6-70 ensuring that the target was always reachable.
Richard Bebbington and Jamie Jervis both hit half centuries, and Chris Henderson’s 49 not out saw the home side to a comfortable eight wicket win.
It’s tight at the top, and two teams who are in the shake-up, Oulton and Weston, were involved in a draw where the visiting Cheshire club had by far the best of the match. Mike Alexander (88) and the consistent all-rounder Phil Stockton (61) saw Weston to a huge 265-9 despite Tom Spruce’s 4-57.
At stumps, Oulton were 158-7, with Stockton completing a fine all-round performance with four wickets. Oulton remain in second spot, but are only 7 points in front of Ashcombe Park who were hammered at home by a Checkley side who have now banished any relegation worries.
J Brown’s 8-45 ensured that Ashcombe only reached 113, and Ian Carr’s fine 50 made short work of the victor target.
At the other end of the table Stone/SP could be relegated as early as next week, and they lost for the 14th time this season at home to mid-table Silverdale. Mitchell Stokes was once again in good form for the visitors as he took 6-23 and struck 57 as his team dismissed Stone/SP for just 92 and sped to a nine wicket victory.
Alsager got back to winning ways and knocked another nail in the potential relegation coffin of Bignall End by demolishing the visitors by a whopping 206 runs. Paul Pickford’s century was complimented by Olly Sadler (75) and Addy Myatt (44 not out) as Alsager racked-up a huge 277-3. Simon Dyer and Chris Hampshire then made short work of the visitors batting line-up for maximum points.
In the division’s remaining game Newcastle and Caverswall drew which did little to alleviate ‘Castle’s relegation fears.
DIVISION 3A REVIEW 15th AUGUST 2009
Wedgwood/Stanfields won the big promotion clash with Moddershall A which allowed Bagnall to sneak back into real contention at the top of a division where draws are all but extinct.
John Tweats’ halfcentury, in the face of Upal Indrasiri’s 4-56, saw Wedgwood/Stanfields reach 169-9 declared, and then the Lello brothers were in superb form taking all ten Modd wickets as they were rushed-out for just 114, and their lead is now cut to just one point.
Bagnall had an early finish thanks to Imran Khalid against Meir Heath/Fenton. Khalid’s 5-15 and M Barcroft’s 5-35 saw Meir Heath/Fenton rolled for just 55, and then Khalid smashed an unbeaten 32 as Bagnall reached their target in just over 5 overs!
Porthill A suffered a slip-up at Oakamoor, losing by 22 runs in a low-scoring affair. Ian Powner’s 5-27 looked to have given the visitors the upper hand as Oakamoor could only muster 114, but M Wolff and M Ayub both claimed four wickets as Porthill could only reach 92 in reply.
Bottom club Norton-in-Hales gave themselves a glimmer of hope as they won for only the second time this season, this time away at Hem Heath/Forsbrook and they are now just 16 points behind local rivals Woore who were easily beaten at home by Eccleshall.
Hanford were the days other winners, as Mike Coxon (5-42) was their star performer at an Endon side missing a number of key players. Jordan Weaver once again had an excellent day for Endon, and was ably assisted by Neil Sellers with the bat, but Hanford’s win moves them above Endon in mid-table.
Anthony Bunn 16th August 2009