In praise of Ben Gibbon

It’s been a successful week for the Oulton Park all-rounder.

He claimed a key wicket during a Joseph Holt Brewery T20 encounter with Tattenhall on Thursday, and took three more when Patrick Roberts’ men dispatched Disbury in the Cheshire County League’s Premier Division on Saturday.

A first appearance for Cheshire’s senior team followed the next morning, and he recovered from scoring a duck to take a wicket in a T20 head-to-head with Northumberland at Marple.

He has had to be patient – a friendly he was slated to appear in last month was cancelled because of the weather and he wasn’t used after being called up for the opening game – but is in the selectors’ thoughts.

When confidence becomes belief

Northwich have won four successive matches in all competitions, including successful chases in the past two.

Both of those went to the wire – first, a T20 group-stage victory at Weaverham on Thursday before a league success against Tattenhall on Saturday – but they still made it.

The return of Lee Evans has helped, and the batsman contributed a quick-fire 64 at the weekend that proved crucial.

James Plant’s men appear to be growing in confidence and, with Mark Walker scoring back-to-back half-centuries against the Russets , they have key men finding form at the right time.

Russets in need of runs

A young, and inexperienced, Weaverham side is finding it difficult to post totals their bowlers can defend.

Kevin Douglas’ promotion to the top of the order has been a shrewd move, and he passed 50 for the second time this season when the Russets visited Alvanley on Saturday.

Captain Ian Eaton has been reliable, and is their leading run-scorer with 240 from five innings, but that duo needs others’ support.

Meanwhile an impressive performance in the field at the WCG against Northwich on Thursday left them wishing they’d put 20 more runs on the board.

They are gathering experience though, and a victory against back-markers Runcorn next weekend would at least give them breathing space.

Kingsley provide perfect response

Humiliated by Port Sunlight seven days earlier, Kingsley bounced back in the best possible way.

And they did it in impressive fashion too, inflicting a first defeat of the campaign on visitors Congleton in the Cheshire League’s top-flight.

Needing 187 off 42 overs to win, they made it to their target thanks to a fine unbeaten half-century from Danny Mullins (57no) with support from free-scoring Hayden Lanza (25no).

The promoted Crofters occupy a position in mid-table after seven matches of a debut campaign in Division One, and do not look out of place.

A 100 per cent record on home turf is an encouraging sign too for captain Toby Mullins.

So much for a close encounter at Oakmere

Oakmere may be unsure how to feel after winning the biggest game of their season so far with such ease.

A stunning spell from Matt Norton, who returned figures of 6-28 off 11 overs, set them on a course to a five-wicket win against Stockport Trinity at Overdale Lane.

A wobble in their reply wasn’t damaging as long as Alex Hodges (21no) stayed steady, and Craig Phelan’s men moved clear at the top of the Division Two table as a result.

They have won seven successive matches, and hammering their closest-rivals – who arrived in Northwich as leaders, no less – will only boost soaring confidence further.

When Dunning delivers

If Winnington Park captain Alec Butcher’s focus has been on improving productivity at the crease, then it’s because he has a bowling attack he can rely on.

Michael Dunning already has two five-wicket hauls to his name this season, and he was decisive again while taking four wickets in a drubbing of Wilmslow in the Cheshire League on Saturday.

A return of 4-13, increasing his season tally to 18, got his side over the line after Jonny Wales (2-10) and James Hendry (2-21) had made early inroads.

Park had put 226 in the scorebook after winning the toss, and move into the Division Two table’s top-half after a productive fortnight.