WHAT a start to the season it was for Oulton Park Cricket Club at the weekend.

The arrival of spring and the lifting of Covid restrictions around outdoor sport heralded the resumption of cricket up and down the country.

The men from Pinfold Lane played as if they had never been away, with both the firsts and seconds racking up impressive victories.

Both sides put up impressive all-round displays as the firsts beat Timperley at home while the seconds won on the road at Macclesfield.

The hope now is that they continue in this vein and if they do, it could be a very successful season in Little Budworth.

First team skipper Martyn East won the toss on Saturday and chose to bat, meaning his side had first use of the superb wicket prepared by the Pinfold Lane ground staff.

They took full advantage, running up a solid score of 270-8 from their 55 overs.

Callum Begg top-scored with a wonderful 74 and looked set for a century before being run out, ending his 110-run partnership with new boy Rob Sehmi, who marked his debut by hitting 45.

East smacked 45 off just 34 balls while youngster Jimmy O’Sullivan showed glimpses of his potential with a tidy 24.

Initially, the bowlers struggled as Timperley raced to 41-0 after seven overs of their reply.

Once George Newton broke the dangerous opening partnership, however, a steady stream of wickets fell.

The visitors never looked like threatening the total and were eventually bowled out for 129, sealing a 141-run win for Oulton Park. Harry and George Newton both claimed three wickets each.

The seconds bowled first and Macclesfield appeared well set at 49-1 before an extraordinary collapse.

Captain Owen Williamson led the way by taking 4-13 as the hosts were skittled for 125. Ben Tomlinson claimed three wickets while Andy Hards took 2-34 to round off an impressive bowling and fielding display.

Oulton made light work of the run chase, with Jimmy Guest’s classy unbeaten 52 well supported by Andy Mills (30) and Matt Worsdale (31).

They were able to wrap up a convincing seven-wicket victory with 23 overs to spare.

Both sides will face their Hyde counterparts this weekend, with the firsts on the road while the seconds play at Pinfold Lane.

n Send your cricket reports to mike.parsons@nqnw.co.uk