ECB PREMIER LEAGUE

Kettle 123, but champions again held

CHAMPIONS Nantwich were held to their second draw when they were unable to part Neston’s last pair in a high scoring game at Whitehouse Lane. Former Oulton Park wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Kettle batted through the innings of 272-5 with a fine contribution of 123, helped by Chris Simpson, 50 and George Cairns, 45. Skipper Andy Roberts kept the Neston reply together with a solid 61 and aided by David Hurst’s 45 and 39 from Aussie Luke Pavlinovitch, Neston closed at 222-9. Glen Batticciotto followed a duck with a 4-36 bwling return.

There was a magnificent second wicket stand worth 225 between Toft skipper Toby Drummond (122) and Adam Carolan (129) at home to Oulton Park. Toft declared at 292-7, Park second XI bowler Kieron Berrington showing up well with 4-74 off 18 overs, while Robin Taylor took 3-93. Danny Leech laid anchor in Oulton’s reply, contributing an unbeaten 105 - the Premiership’s sixth century of the day - in his side’s closing tally of 228-3. He was helped by Louis Bentley 58 and Ben Gough 33 not out as Toft won the points battle 14-11.

Hyde were too good for promoted Grappenhall at Werneth Low, although their batsmen had to battle hard after tea. With skipper Steve Titchard not yet available, Grappenhall relied on Iain Wright 52, Rick Green 37 and Luke McCoy, 31 for a declared tally of 188-8, Greg Lomax 3-34. Hyde lost regular wickets, but opener Chris Pilkington stood firm to carry his bat for a valuable 61 as Hyde closed on 192-7, tail ender Tom Young helping out with 31.

Former skipper Chris Watson (104) and Adam Landry (88 not out) put on 127 for the fourth wicket as Urmston declared at a formidable 264-4 at home to Alderley Edge. Well beaten in their first outing, Alderley improved to close on 192-8, Mark Currie 56, Adam Wildig 44 not out, Jason Whittaker 36.

Chester Boughton Hall followed their last-over victory at Oulton Park on the new season’s opening day with a repeat performance against Didsbury at Filkins Lane to become the ECB Premier League’s only 100 per centers.

Their bowlers were made to toil by solid Didsbury batting as Greg Dixon, 129, Nick Anderson, 82 and Tim Gregory, 50 enabled the visitors to declare at a daunting 286-4.

Boughton Hall, who had scored 305-3 to win at Oulton Park the previous week, set about their task with relish, led by Lancashire’s Jordan Clark, 84 and Warren Goodwin, 50. Then by the fast-improving Ollie Law, 46 and finally Trinidad all-rounder Daron Cruickshank. He hit a boundary off the second ball of the last over to close on 47 and help CBH win by four wickets at 290-6.

Macclesfield produced the best of the three premiership victories, by 66 runs at Oxton after posting 230-8, Rick Hough 54, Khalid Sawas 40, Jack Ward 42, Ross Dixon 3-53, Mark Rowland 3-59. Handsome winners at Alderley a week earlier, Oxton were all out for 164, Lee Dixon 64, former CBH wicket-keeper Matt Griffiths 31, while Rob Porter’s canny medium pacers earned him a splendid 6-58 return.

SCORES:

CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL ((25 pts.) beat DIDSBURY (won toss, 13 pts.) by 4 wickets.

Didsbury 286-4 dec. (55 overs: G. Dixon 129, N. Anderson 82, T. Gregory 50); Chester Boughton Hall 290-6 (54.2 overs: J. Clark 84, W. Goodwin 50, D. Cruickshank 47no, O. Law 46. J. Fawcett 3-110).

HYDE (25 pts.) beat GRAPPENHALL (won toss, 10 pts.) by 3 wickets.

Grappenhall 188-8 dec. (I. Wright 52, R. Green 37, L. McCoy 31, G. Lomax 3-31); Hyde 192-7 (53 overs: C. Pilkington 61no, T. Young 31no, G. Emmett 5-50).

NANTWICH (won toss) drew with NESTON (11 pts.).

Nantwich 272-5 dec. (55 overs: J. Kettle 123no, C. Simpson 50, G. Cairns 45); Neston 222-9 (55 overs: A. Roberts 61, D. Hurst 45, L. Pavlinovitch 39, G. Battacciotto 4-46).

OXTON (7 pts.) lost to MACCLESFIELD (won toss, 24 pts.) by 66 runs.

Macclesfield 230-8 dec. (55 overs: R. Hough 54, J. Ward 42, K. Sawas 40, R. Dixon 3-53, M. Rowland 3-59); Oxton 164 (46 overs: L.Dixon 61, M. Griffiths 31, R. Porter 6-58).

TOFT (won toss, 14 pts.) drew with OULTON PARK (11 pts.).

Toft 292-7 dec. (55 overs: T. Drummond 122, A. Carolan 119 = 2nd wicket stand of 225, K. Berrington 4-74, R. Taylor 3-93); Oulton Park 228-3 (55 overs: D. Leech 105no, L. Bentley 58, B. Gough 33no).

URMSTON (won toss, 16 pts.) drew with ALDERLEY EDGE (8 pts.).

Urmston 264-4 d.ec. (55 overs: C. Watson 104, A. Landry 88no = 127 for 4th wicket); Alderley Edge 192-8 (55 overs: M. Currie 50, J. Whittaker 36, A. Wildig 44no).

DIVISION ONE

Marple impress at Bowdon

PROMOTED Marple are making a major impression in the First Division, Bowdon becoming their second victims by a six wickets margin at South Downs Road.

New Aussie opener Brett Forsyth (88) and Carl Hey (60) put together their second century stand for Bowdon, but none of the other batsmen impressed in a closing tally of 183-7, Andy Greasley 3-60. Cheshire skipper Andy Hall took this in his stride with a fine knock of 67. Garry Cash added an unbeaten 47, Marple coasted home with five overs to spare.

Widnes are also impressing, their 10 wickets win at Cheadle denying their hosts a solitary point. Cheadle were all out for 96, Ben Samuels 32, Danny Moore 5-33 and Widnes knocked the runs off inside 22 overs, Danny Naughton 68.

Irby are also looking good their second win being by eight wickets at home to Heaton Mersey, who were all out for 121, Rob Houghton 5-39. Dave Newman’s unbeaten 66 then saw the Wirral men through to a 25 pointer.

Best innings of the day came from Bollington’s Calum Rowe at Sale where he hit 15 fours in a 150-ball 131 out of a tally of 214-4. Rowe was out in the last over trying to carry his side over the line after Sale had declared on 217-8, Steve Whiston 60, Jamal Benzafar 50, Chris Canning 43 not out, Mo Ali 3-36.

New South Wales based all-rounder Liam Scammell produced an all-round performance which could be one the season’s best to help Cheadle Hulme win by 89 runs at Poynton.

First he top-scored with 74 and with 69 from Jordan Potts, ‘Hulme were able to declare on 253-5. Scammell then took a hat-trick to help dismiss Poynton for 164 (Paul Gould 58, Brian Kingham 39), his return of 6-51 off 15 overs being assisted by Ewan McCray, 4-30.

Bramhall enjoyed the better of a 16 – 9 points draw at home to Christleton after declaring on 222-5, Andy Robertson 61, Sean O’Neill 51. Iroshan de Silva, 57 and J. Creek, 54 not out, helped Christleton close on 173-8, Simon Wilkinson returning the fine figures of 4-32 off 20 overs.

SCORES:

BOWDON (won toss, 10 pts.) lost to MARPLE (25 pts.) by 6 wickets.

Bowdon 183-7 dec. (50 overs: B. Forsyth 88, C. Hey 60 = opening stand of 113, A. Greasley 3-60); Marple 186-4 (45 overs: A. Hall 67, G. Cash 47no).

BRAMHALL (16 pts.) drew with CHRISTLETON (won toss, 9 pts.).

Bramhall 222-5 dec. (50 overs: A. Robertson 64, S. O’Neill 51); Christleton 173-8 (50 overs: I. De Silva 57, J. Creek 54no, S. Wilkinson 4-32).

CHEADLE (won toss, 0 pts.) lost to WIDNES (25 pts.) by 10 wickets.

Cheadle 96 (35 overs: B. Samuels 32, D. Moore 5-33); Widnes 98-0 (22 overs: D. Naughton 68no, A. Ford 24no).

IRBY (25 pts.) beat HEATON MERSEY (won toss, 5 pts.) by 8 wickets.

Heaton Mersey 121 (38 overs: R. Houghton 5-39); Irby 122-2 (31 overs: D. Newman 66no).

POYNTON (7 pts.) lost to CHEADLE HULME (25 pts.) by 89 runs.

Cheadle Hulme 253-5 dec. (50 overs: L Scammell 74, Jordan Potts 68, A. Wilde 32); Poynton 164 (44 overs: P:Gould 58, B. Kingham 39, L. Scammell 6-51 inc. hat-trick.

SALE (14 pts.) drew with BOLLINGTON (10 pts.).

Sale 217-8 dec. (50 overs: S. Whiston 60, J. Benzafar 50, C. Canning 43no, M.Ali 3-36, A.Palazzo 3-84); Bollington 214-4 (50 overs: C. Rowe 131, G. McKernan 31, R. Halkon 3-74).

DIVISION TWO

Cornford 125 for Middlewich

MIDDLEWICH recorded the biggest win of the day in Division Two, by a 162 runs margin at the expense of Mobberley at Haddon Field.

They were led in every sense by skipper James Cornford with a classy 125, aided by Andy Cole 67 in a declared tally of 265-5. Mobberley mustered just 103, Vishy Bhardwa 5-33, Stephen Parry 3-19.

Bredbury St Marks won by 42 runs against Timperley in the Pennine foothills after totalling 213, Paul Wood 88, M. Brown 4-60. Timperley were all out for 172, Brown completing a personal good day with an unbeaten 77, while John Usher claimed 4-43.

Brooklands were handsome eight wickets winners at Stockport Georgians chasing the home side’s decent 197-5 (Nick Tyers 43 not out). A 181 opening stand between the returning John Birchall, 89 and skipper Dave Madden 81 not out, helped them home. Birchall’s 89 was scored off only 68 balls, his first 50 coming off 32, according to top rate scorer and information provider Ben Murray.

Upton had the better of a drawn game against Congleton at Wirral, declaring on 196-8, James Williams 87, Andy Beecher 39, J. Good 3-28. Congleton closed on 158-8, Jack Higginbottom 31, Ian Sharrock 3-19, Armand Strydom 3-28.

Warrington won by the comfortable margin of six wickets at Tattenhall after dismissing the south-Cheshire side for 108, skipper Roy Sandford top-scoring with an unbeaten 32 at number 8, while Rob Batey took 3-19 and Andy Martel 3-28. Best innings of the day came from Mal Agar with 42, in Warrington’s comfortable reply.

The clash of last season’s two best Meller Braggins teams resulted in a winning (15 – 10) draw for Stockport at Malpas. T. Facer contributed 72 and A.Hope 55 to Stockport’s impressive tally of 223-7 after which Malpas got as far as 174-6 after tea, T. Coates-Harman top-scoring with 33 not out.

SCORES:

BREDBURY ST MARKS (won toss, 25 pts.) beat TIMPERLEY (9 pts.) by 41 runs.

Bredbury St. Mark’s 218 (48 overs: P. Wood 88, R. Lees 32, M. Brown 4-40, C. Page 3-53); Timperley 172 (37 overs: M. Brown 77no, J. Usher 4-43).

MALPAS (10 pts.) drew with STOCKPORT (won toss, 15 pts.).

Stockport 223-7 dec. (50 overs: T. Facer 72, A. Hope 55); Malpas 174-6 (50 overs: T. Coates-Harman 33no).

MIDDLEWICH (won toss, 25 pts.) beat MOBBERLEY (4 pts.) by 162 runs.

Middlewich 265-5 dec. (50 overs: J. Cornford 125, A. Cole 67); Mobberley 103 (45 overs: V. Bhardwa 5-33, S. Parry 3-19).

STOCKPORT GEORGIANS (won toss, 9 pts.) lost to BROOKLANDS (25 pts.) by 8 wickets.

Stockport Georgians 197-5 dec. (50 overs: N. Tyers 43no, M. Vincent 41, A. Gaskarth 39); Brooklands 201-2 (29 overs: J. Birchall 89, D.Madden 82no = opening stand of 181).

TATTENHALL (won toss, 2 pts.) lost to WARRINGTON (25 pts.) by 6 wickets.

Tattenhall 108 (55 overs: R. Stanford 32no, R. Batey 3-19, A. Mantel 3-49); Warrington 109-4 (25 overs: M. Agar 42).

UPTON (won toss, 14 pts. ) drew with CONGLETON (8 pts.).

Upton 196-8 dec. (50 overs: J. Williams 87, A. Beecher 39, J. Goode 3-28); Congleton 158-8 (50 overs: J. Higginbottom 31, I. Sharrock 3-19, A. Strydom 3-28).

Cheshire Cup first round results:

Chelford conceded to Ashley.

Rode Park & Lawton 210 (S. Wyburd 4-65); Congleton 248-8 (G. Wolfenden 74).

Caldy conceded at Winsford.

Birkenhead St Marys 133; Birkenhead Park 134-7.

National Village Knockout first round result:

Tattenhall, for whom John Gibbon scored a magnificent 139, beat Tranmere Victoria at Birkenhead.

Red Insure T20 latest

The first round of the RedInsure T20 was completed on Sunday when Macclesfield won by nine wickets at Cheadle.

They enter round two with earlier winners Stockport and Didsbury.

Grappenhall have stolen a march, meanwhile, by reaching round three after defeating Middlewich by 10 wickets at Haddon Field. Newly-promoted to the ECB Premier League, Grappenhall will visit Congleton or Oulton Park.

First round results:

STOCKPORT GEORGIANS v STOCKPORT (won toss) played on Sunday, April 17.

Stockport 122-8 (20 overs: G. Barber 48, A. Hope 25); Stockport Georgians 86 (18 overs: J. Leggett 29, M. Green 3-27.

Stockport won by 36 runs.

DIDSBURY (won toss) v HEATON MERSEY, played on Thursday, April 21.

Heaton Mersey 90-9 (17 overs: J. Fawcett 3-15); Didsbury 91-0 (12.2 overs: Gregory 53no, G. Dixon 31no).

Didsbury won by 10 wickets.

CHEADLE (won toss) v MACCLESFIELD played on Sunday, May 1st .

Cheadle 117 (20 overs: C. Hyde 21, C. Moores 3-26, B. Cutbill 3-27); Macclesfield 119-1 (19 overs: B. Morrison 53no, K. Sawas 35no, R. Hough 29.

Macclesfield won by 9 wickets.

Round two games to be played by Sunday, May 15th:

Didsbury v Marple; Toft v Urmston, Friday, May 6 (6.15 p.m.); Bramhall v Brooklands, Thursday, May 5 (6 p.m.); Bowdon v Timperley; Macclesfield v Alderley Edge; Stockport v Hyde, Thursday, May 5 (6 p.m.); Poynton v Cheadle Hulme, Sunday, May 1 (2 p.m.); Bollington v Bredbury St. Marks, Wednesday, May 11 (6 p.m.); Mobberley v Nantwich; Malpas v Sale; Congleton v Oulton Park; Oxton v Irby, Thursday, May 5 (6 p.m.); Tattenhall v Neston, Thursday, May 11 (6 p.m.); Widnes v Chester Boughton Hall (holders); Warrington v Upton.

MIDDLEWICH v GRAPPENHALL played on Wednesday, April 27. Grappenhall won by 10 wickets.

Middlewich (won toss) 109-8 (20 overs, M. Dickenson 69, S. Guest 5-20)); Grappenhall 110-0 (13 overs: J. McCoy 62no, R. Green 42no).

Third round games have to be played by June 26th and quarter-finals by July 17th with the semi-finals and finals on Sunday, July 31st at Warrington.