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Weekend roundup

Weekend roundup

UCC Admin14 Aug 2018 - 04:13
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2’s, 3’s & 4’s win and a last over thriller for the 1's

Super Saturday lived up to it’s billing as the large crowd witnessed probably one of the most thrilling games of cricket in the club’s 118 year history on the front pitch. Looking to take advantage of both the double batting points on offer and a strong bowling line up, skipper Tom Marsland elected to bat after winning the toss. With Matt Owen back in the shed with the scores on just 9, a difficult afternoon looked to be in store. Promoted from the 2nd XI, Simon Evans (18) batted confidently at number 3 and acted as great support for Chris McArthur who looked to be in one of his free-scoring moods. Johny Whitley-Baylee (10) and Marsland (19) added further support before Ross Dixon (31*) came to the crease and helped put on 67 for the 5th wicket to advance the score beyond the magical 200 mark. Having brought up his third ton of the season with a six into the gardens, McArthur eventually went for a beautifully paced 134 runs which takes his league runs for the season to 770. The innings closed on a 250 for 8.

After tea, the Hyde batsmen showed their class with the openers not looking to be too troubled as they put on 57 for the first wicket. As conditions worsened and the rain closed in, the game ebbed and flowed with any one of three results looking possible at various stages but with the excellent Berry at the crease the game looked to be swinging Hyde’s way at 210 for 6. However three quick wickets saw the visitors needing 13 runs from the last wicket with the key for the home side being to keep Berry off strike. With the rain coming in horizontally, the game went into the last over with four required and Berry duly obliged off the second ball to secure the 25 points for champions elect Hyde. An amazing game of cricket, played in great spirits by all 22 players and some superb umpiring in very challenging conditions by Andy Crick & Martin Roberts showed what a great game this was. Whilst not the 25 points it could have been, 12 points for the home side see’s them maintain their position in the second promotion spot. With five games remaining, the top half of the Division One table looks as follows…

  1. 364pts – Hyde
  2. 302pts – UPTON
  3. 290pts – Widnes
  4. 257pts – Oxton
  5. 247pts – Bowdon
  6. 233pts - Bollington

Elsewhere, Tom Maguire’s 2nd XI registered a crucial win against second placed Bramhall which puts them right back in the promotion hunt. Winning the toss and inviting their hosts to have a bat, Rich Battersby claimed the first strike with just 6 on the board but a second wicket partnership of 80 left the visitors facing the prospect of a sizeable target to chase. However wickets fell with alarming regularity for the hosts as they stumbled to 148 all out in the 50th over, largely thanks to Graeme Keenan who claimed 5 wickets along the way. In response, the Upton batsmen looked composed with a solid platforms being set by former 1st XI captain Darren Warburton (59) and Andy Beacher (36*) who steered the 2’sto a valuable five wicket victory with 17.5 overs to spare. The top half of the table looks as follows:

  1. 332pts – Cheadle
  2. 307pts – Bramhall
  3. 295pts – UPTON
  4. 282pts – Stockport Georgians
  5. 254pts – Sale
  6. 225pts – Warrington

Ian Sharrock’s 3rd XI opened up a 68 point lead over Neston at the top of the Cheshire Cricket League with an emphatic victory over Appleton which leaves them needing 57 points from their last 5 games to clinch the title. Winning the toss and electing to bat, Appleton lost skipper Loams for just 1 run but his opening partner steadied the ship with a robust 64 which helped them to reach a modest target of 169 for 8 having looked set for a total of 200+ earlier in the innings. Tight bowling from the skipper (4 for 35 from 14 overs) and 2 wickets from former 1st XI skipper Simon McGowan helped keep the target in check. In response, openers Graeme McGowan (90*) and Dave Charles (52) set the foundations for the home side to cruise home by 9 wickets in the 27th over. The top of Division 2 West looks as follows:

  1. 358pts – UPTON
  2. 290pts – Neston
  3. 284pts – Barrow

Making the short trip to Tranmere Vics, the 4th XI bereft of skipper Ian Bruce and veteran John Scragg were invited to have a bat. Paddy Delaney (76) continued his fine form with the bat and Faiz Ahmed (56) scored his maiden UCC half century – quite a remarkable feat for the latter having never played cricket on grass ahead of this season. This led the Upton innings to close on 198 from their allotted 45 overs. In response, the hosts were all out for 126 with the other Delaney; Dec claiming 4 wickets and Madi Arthur (on her 4th XI debut) 3 wickets including the main Tranmere Vics batsmen who was on 83 at the time. This leaves the 4’s in the top half of the table with 236 points which shows real progress having finished the 2017 season in 9th place on 222 points.

Unfortunately the Sunday 1st XI players were left kicking their heals as Newsham Park couldn’t raise a side.

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