ECB PREMIER LEAGUE

Returning overseas stars Cruickshank and Batticciotto make early marks

TWO of the best Overseas players of recent years returned to the ECB Premier League on Saturday to make massive contributions to their side’s fine performances – although only one finished on the winning side.

That was former Trinidad all-rounder Daron Cruickshank, back at Chester Boughton Hall after a three year absence.

He proved the match-winner with both bat and ball in a high-scoring game against Oulton Park at Little Budworth.

He and Ollie Law both scored unbeaten centuries aided by Warren Goodwin, 81 as CBH totted up 305-3 in just 45 overs. Without Rick Moore and Craig Williamson, who broke his hand badly playing for Bradford/Leeds UCCE against Durham and expects to miss half the season, Oulton bowlers toiled. Ben Gough had the remarkable figures of 21-1-156-1.

Left with 65 overs, Oulton put up a splendid show of defiance, especially Nick James who reached 96 and carried his side to 288-9 before being trapped lbw by Cruickshank in the last over. ‘Cruicky’ finished with 4-80 as CBH won by 25 – 7pts.

Back at Nantwich after two years to replace ex-New Zealand Test star Lou Vincent, giant Queenslander Glen Batticciotto soon reminded everyone of his talent by striking Macclesfield for 100 off 84 balls, enjoying a 140 second wicket stand with debutant Jonny Kettle (53). The reigning champions rattled up 271-6 in 51 overs, Rob Porter 3-29. Like Oulton, however, Macc’s reply was a never say die affair and with a 22 balls show of defiance from their last pair, they held out for a draw at 219-9, Peter Barron 50, Porter 40, while Batticciotto claimed 4-46.

Oxton start well at Alderley Edge

OXTON made a bright start with an 111 runs win at Alderley Edge after posting 244-8, Simon Stokes 90, Lee Dixon 54. Charlie Reid (65) batted well after tea, but his colleagues didn’t and the innings closed at 133. Alderley’s South African all-rounder Jason Roodt was injured early on after figures of 7-3-8-2 and left the field before returning to bat number 11 with a runner.

Grappenhall open with a win

PROMOTED Grappenhall began with a five wickets home win against Urmston, whose batting was poor in a tally of 150-8 compiled in 60 overs. Guy Emmett toiled for 30 overs to claim 1-71, while new arrivals from Widnes Tony Hurdley and Tom Evans cashed in to claim 3-31 and 3-32 respectively. Grappers were in some trouble at 88-5 before wicket keeper Liam Parkinson (40 not out) saw them through without further loss.

Toft the masters

TOFT mastered Neston at Parkgate, winning by 109 runs after posting 218-9, an innings dominated by a quality 74 from 17 year old Uppingham schoolboy Henry Hughes, aided by David Roberts, 65, while Chris Finegan claimed 5-83. Neston were all out for 109, Rupert Kitzinger 4-18.

There was a thrilling finish to Didsbury’s home game against Hyde, the visitors running up 226-7, James Duffy 78 and former Denton West professional Scott Kirwin 38. Didsbury closed on 226-6 after a desperate scramble in the last over, P. Moors 91 not out and Greg Dixon, 58 earlier enjoying a 139 partnership for the third wicket. Didsbury edged the points 18-13.

Results:

ALDERLEY EDGE (won toss, 6 pts.) lost to OXTON (25 pts.) by 111 runs.

Oxton 244-8 dec. (55 overs: S. Stokes 90, L. Dixon 54, A. Gibson 31); Alderley Edge 133 (49 overs: C. Reid 65, A. Day 30, R. Dixon 3-46).

DIDSBURY (18 tie pts.) drew with HYDE (won toss, 13 pts.).

Hyde 226-7 dec. (55 overs: J Duffy 78, C. Kirwen 38, T Twiney 34); Didsbury 226-6 (55 overs: P. Moors 91, G. Dixon 58, D. Cramner 3-73).

GRAPPENHALL (won toss, 20 pts.) beat URMSTON (4 pts.) Urmston 150-8 innings closed (60 overs: A Landry 35, T. Hurdley 3-31, T. Evans 3-32); Grappenhall 151-5 (38 overs: L. Parkinson 40no).

MACCLESFIELD (10 pts.) drew with NANTWICH (won toss, 17 pts.) Nantwich 271-6 dec. (51 overs: G. Battacciotto 100, J. Kettle 53, C. Simpson 44, R. Porter 3-29); Macclesfield 219-9 (59 overs: P. Barron 50. R. Porter 40, J. Ward 35, G. Battacciotto 4-46).

NESTON (won toss, 6 pts.) lost to TOFT (24 pts.) by 109 runs.

Toft 218-9 dec. (55 overs: H. Hughes 74, D. Roberts 65, C. Finegan 5-83); Neston 109 (38 overs: R. Kitzinger 4-18).

OULTON PARK (7 pts.) lost to CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL (won toss, 20 pts.) by 17 runs.

Chester 305-3 dec. (45 overs: O. Law 100no, D. Cruikshank 100no, W.Goodwin 81); Oulton Park 288 (64.3 overs: N James 96, B. Gough 50, D. Leech 33, B. Tomlinson 31, D. Cruikshank 4- 80).

DIVISION ONE

Ten wickets win for Bowdon

BOWDON’S stay in Division One could last just one season if they maintain the form which saw them win by 10 wickets at Christleton.

The Little Heath side were dismissed for 151, Iroshan de Silva 38, Joe Cooper, Gareth Edwards and Dominic Ball sharing nine wickets. Bowdon openers Carl Hey (80) and new man Brett Forsyth (64) then knocked the runs off in 38 overs to claim the full 25 points.

Marple on song

PROMOTED Marple made short work of Poynton at Bowden Lane, winning by nine wickets with another returning favourite, Aussie Dominic Michael picking up where he left off in 2009. Michael took 3-26 to help dismiss Poynton for 145 (Ron Clarke 62) then blasted an unbeaten 69 as his side went on to win by nine wickets. He and David Bailey, also marking his return to the club with an unbeaten 58, enjoyed a 128 second wicket stand.

Sale to victory

SALE, the other promoted side, began with a tight two wickets win at Cheadle Hulme, who declared on 183- 7, Jordan Potts 30. Aussie all-rounder Andrew (brother of Dominic) Michael top-scored with an unbeaten 87 for Sale.

Useful Irby signings

IRBY have made some useful winter signings, among them experienced Sefton all-rounder Robbie Houghton who took 4-26 and Chris Foran (Birkenhead Park) 3-19 in an impressive eight wickets win at Bollington, who were all out 106.

Skipper Steve Hurworth scored 53 and Dave Newman 46, both not out, as Irby coasted it after tea.

Mersey on form

HEATON Mersey outplayed Cheadle at The Heatons but had to be content with a 17-10 return. Mark Bennett top scored with 78 in Mersey’s 243-8, to which Cheadle responded with 176-9, Dan Brown 58, J. Khan 4- 50.

Widnes victory

RELEGATED Bramhall lost by five wickets at Widnes, but with only four balls remaining, after being sent back for 150, Nick Cantello 42, Damien Moore 5-59. Danny Naughton scored 52 and the returning Sean Moore 33 for the Beaconsfield Road men.

Results:

BOLLINGTON (won toss, 3 pts.) lost to IRBY (25 pts.) by 8 wickets Bollington 106 (39 overs: R. Houghton 4-26, C. Foran 3-19); Irby 108-2 (35 overs: S. Hurworth 53no, D. Newman 46no) CHEADLE HULME (won toss, 10 pts.) lost to SALE (25 pts.) by 2 wickets.

Cheadle Hulme 183-7 dec. (50 overs: J. Potts 30); Sale 187-8 (48 overs: A. Michael 87no, J. Benzafar 32, J Locke 3-16).

CHRISTLETON (won toss, 1 pt.) lost by 10 wickets to BOWDON (25 pts.) Christleton 151 (50 overs: I. De Silva 38, J. Cooper 3-25, G. Edwards 3-48, D. Ball 3-60); Bowdon 152-0 (32 overs: C. Hey 80 no, B.Forsyth 64no).

HEATON MERSEY (won toss, 17 pts.) drew with CHEADLE (10 pts.) Heaton Mersey 243-8 dec. (50 overs: M Bennett 78, G Narayanan 48, T. Malik 40); Cheadle 176-9 (50 overs: D. Brown 58, J. Langley 30, J. Khan 4-50).

MARPLE (25 pts.) beat POYNTON (won toss, 5 pts.) by 9 wickets.

Poynton 145 (50 overs: R. Clarke 62, D. Michael 3-26, J. Cash 3-52, A. Greasley 3-56); Marple 147-1 (33 overs: D. Michael 69no, D. Bailey 57no).

WIDNES (25 pts.) beat BRAMHALL (won toss, 4 pts.) by 5 wickets Bramhall 150 (53 overs: N. Cantello 42, D. Moore 5-59); Widnes 154-5 (47 overs: D Naughton 52, S. Moore 33).

DIVISION TWO

New boys both win

STOCKPORT aim to make their stay in Division Two a short one in order to continue their remarkable progress up the pyramid and on the form they showed beating neighbours Georgians by 93 runs at Cale Green they might do it.

Dan Barber scored 74 not out in a declared tally of 222-8, Ifti Hissain 5-55 and Georgians were all out for 129 in reply, A. Wyley 6-25.

Last season’s Meller Braggins League runners-up Malpas, meanwhile, won by 52 runs at Timperley after posting 217-8, Andy Crabb 72, John Suckley 66 not out. Timperley reached 166, Pat Ashling 77, P.

Johnson 5-55.

Best bowling of the day was performed by Bredbury St. Mark’s veteran spinner Graham Barlow who claimed 8-50 to dismiss Warrington for 157. This after Bredbury had managed only 177, Peter Zybrands 70, Steve Heydon 6-35.

AT Mobberley, the home side were rolled over for 80 by Tattenhall’s Gary Forster 6-17. Kiwi Tom Hyslop top-scored with an unbeaten 50 including three sixes in one over, as Tatters went on to win by nine wickets.

Congleton were also bowled out for under 100 (98) at home by Middlewich, for whom Vishy Bhardwa took 4-29 and Stuart Price 4-36. Earlier Middlewich had declared on 243-7, Keith Clowes 72 and former Nantwich wicket-keeper / batsman Rob Cook-Sievwright 59 on debut.

Alex Cotter’s fine knock of 103 helped Upton record a 65 runs victory at Brooklands. Upton scored 197- 8, Paul Vesey 4-38, then bowled the home side out for 132, C. Cunningham 3-15, new South African all- rounder Armand Strydom 3-39.

Results:

BROOKLANDS (6 pts.) lost to v UPTON (won toss, 24 pts.) by 65 runs.

Upton 197-8 dec. (50 overs: A. Cotter 103, P. Vesey 4-38); Brooklands 132 (48 overs: M. Singh 39, C. Hart 38, C. Cunningham 3-15, A. Strydom 3-35).

CONGLETON (4 pts.) lost by 145 runs to MIDDLEWICH (won toss, 24 pts.) Middlewich 243-7 dec. (50 overs: K Clowes 72no, R. Cook-Sievewright 59, J. Cornford 46); Congleton 98 (43 overs: R. Booth 36, V Bhardwa 4-20, S. Price 4-36).

MOBBERLEY (1 pt.) lost to TATTENHALL (toss, 20 pts.) by 9 wickets.

Mobberley 80 (33 overs: A. Darr 30, G. Forster 6-17); Tattenhall 82-1 (19 overs: T. Hyslop 50no).

STOCKPORT (won toss, 25 pts.) beat STOCKPORT GEORGIANS (6 pts.) by 93 runs.

Stockport 222-8 dec. (50 overs: D. Barber 74no, I. Hussain 5-55); Stockport Georgians 129 (45 overs: A. Wyley 6-55).

TIMPERLEY 8 pts.) lost to MALPAS (won toss, 25 pts.) by 51 runs.

Malpas 217-8 dec. (50 overs: A. Crabb 72, J. Suckley 66no, C. Neynens 3-39); Timperley 166 (44 overs: P. Ashling 77, D. Howarth 38, P. Johnson 5-55, N Goldsmith 3-26).

WARRINGTON (won toss, 8 pts.) lost to BREDBURY St. MARK’s (24 pts.) by 20 runs.

Bredbury St. Mark’s 177 (43 overs: P. Zybrands 70, R. Keyworth 35no, S. Heydon 6-35, R. Swart 3-70); Warrington 157 (46: T. Clutterbuck 46, G. Barlow 8-50).