Oakmere 170-8
Old Parkonians 105

DELIGHTED Oakmere captain Steve Percival praised the all round team effort as Oakmere got their season off to a flying start.

The visitors asked Oakmere to bat after winning the toss.

Openers Saeed Kara and Peter Jones made a positive start, forcing an early double bowling change.

The change worked, breaking the stand at 43 with Kara dismissed by the Parkonians captain.

Jones went on to top score with 36.

His dismissal was quickly followed by that of Wood (19) and Phelan (7).

The loss of the three quick wickets slowed the scoring rate as Percival and Jamil Kara (27) rebuilt the innings.

But they struggled with the slow pace of the pitch and the bowling.

Debutants Andy Edgeley and Bill Crank made a positive impression and, aided by some poor catching, Oakmere were able to declare.

The introduction of Phelan to the attack paid immediate dividends for Oakmere during their opponent's reply.

A superb first delivery bowled danger man Orr for 23.

This opened a youthful Parkonians batting order to the guile of veteran Eddie Gibson, playing pain free for the first time in years after a knee replacement operation.

With 4-26, he and Phelan (3-33), worked their way through the OP batsmen.

The return of Kara for a second spell accounted for the last 3 wickets, all bowled, in less than four overs.