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Monday, August 24th, 2009
Premier Division Review 22nd August 2009
Little Stoke remain on top of the league and still have a healthy lead of fourteen points, but it is Longton who have now emerged as their closest challengers with just 3 games of the season remaining.
The league leaders were beaten at home by struggling reigning champions Moddershall in a game swung by a superb unbeaten century from Moddershall opening batsman Chris Beech. Beech’s 104 not out from just 133deliveries, contained 18 boundaries and two huge sixes as he single-handedly ensured that Little Stoke’s total of 157 (Jon Hancock 33, George Cairns 48) was never going to be enough.
Matt Stupples continued his good form with the ball for Scott Oliver’s side, taking 6-50 to still leave Little Stoke with a useful gap between themselves and second placed Longton.
Longton’s win at home to Porthill put a huge dent in the visitor’s title aspirations and puts Pete Wilshaw’s side two points ahead of third placed Knypersley.
Dave Ferris (43) and Simon Cork (42 not out) both made solid contributions in Porthill’s 189-7 innings closed, but Roger Sillence and Tom Birks both made half-centuries for the home side, and Dave Edwards’ struck an unbeaten 34 as Longton ran out five wicket victors, despite Mark Bengry’s three wickets.
Longton will fancy their chances of gaining further ground next weekend as they host relegation-threatened Leycett, whilst the top two play each other.
In an exciting match at Trentham Lakes, Hem Heath did their survival chances the world of good after a narrow one wicket win over Knypersley. Kim Barnett’s 73 was the backbone of the visitors 185-4 declared, and he received useful support from Staffordshire skipper Paul Goodwin (32 not out.
Mo Hussain was once again the pick of the home attack and he backed-up his three wickets with a rapid 30. At 99-2 and with Hussain and John Cheadle in great nick a home win looked odds-on, but once Cheadle was dismissed for an excellent half century, Rob James made in-roads into the Hem Heath batting, but Darren Sanders hit the winning run for Double H in spite of James’ excellent figures of 6-64.
Knypersley visit leaders Little Stoke next weekend in what could be the all-important game which decides which direction the 2009 Premier League title is heading.
Hem Heath are now 26 points ahead of second bottom Leycett who were bowled out for just 79 at home to Burslem, for whom opening bowler Abu Jamil had the outstanding return of 7-21 from 14.4 overs. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Chris Roberts’ 30 ensured that Burslem won by four wickets in an early finish.
But Ian Boulton’s men are still three points ahead of Leek who were comprehensively beaten at home by a Wood Lane side still in with a sniff of title glory.
Only Richard Cooper (27) and Dan Ball (32) put up any meaningful resistance as A Zaidi’s six wickets saw Leek crawl to 145-9 from their 60 overs. It was nevergoing to be enough, as in reply Matt Burgess and Richard Hassall’s partnership of 79 for the second wicket saw the away side home by seven wickets in just 37.1 overs.
Stone have had an excellent second half to the season, and they won their mid-table battle at Audley, who are just about safe from the relegation scrap.
Stone’s mammoth 243-4 declared was built around solid contributions from James Dawson (45), Qaiser Abass (64), Luke Cheadle (42 not out) and Dave Pashley (59 not out). Despite a hard-hitting 65from Andy Joynson, Audley fell 47 runs short thanks to four wickets apiece from Russ Ballard and James Mccreadie.
