Barlaston followed Taylor’s script to highlight their ability at Oakamoor
BARLASTON responded to skipper Jon Taylor’s rallying call to pocket the points from their NSSCL Division Two game at Oakamoor.
Taylor, whose side started the day in fourth, had targeted victory at their third-placed hosts to not only end a run of back-to-back defeats, but also prove they could mix it with the leading sides.
And Barlaston delivered with a clinical display which saw the two teams swap places in the standings at the end of the contest.
Barlaston managed to post 187-6 from their 40 overs, progress which was orchestrated by experienced batsman Brian Sims.
He hit seven fours in his 64, while Ben Grange (40) and John Aked (22no) also made themselves known in the batting stakes.
Sri Lankan Dilesh Kulasekara was the pick of the Oakamoor attack, claiming 4-34.
Oakamoor’s batting, so often their strength this summer, proved to be a damp squib on this occasions.
They were rolled for just 79 - Sean Sutton top-scoring with 25 - as Jack Davies helped himself to 4-15.
Elliot Wilson, Matthew Myers and Aked shared the other wickets to fall.
Sandbach are a couple of points clear at the summit following a seventh win of the campaign.
Their weekend success saw them defeat Caverswall by four wickets.
Caverswall posed a challenge, though, especially after sticking 193 all out on the board.
West Indian all-rounder Iraq Thomas smashed seven fours and three sixes in his 41-ball 57, with Craig Grimley (34) and Elliot Wright (24) also impressing.
Stuart Burrows and Ross Kesteven took 3-33 and 3-42 respectively.
Sandbach were not fazed by the tough run chase, however, and crossed the line inside 37 overs.
Burrows (64) and Gareth Lennon
(52) compiled half-centuries, with Dane Tinsley (42no) completing the victory mission. Jake Edge claimed 3-32.
Norton in Hales are in second place after a three-wicket win at home against Silverdale.
Alex Mcchristie’s 95 was instrumental in Silverdale making their way to 182-7 in the formative stages of the afternoon.
Kashif Ali Moon, Michael Dyer and Adeel Khalid all picked up two wickets.
In reply, Mcchristie added to his personal tally with 3-35, but Norton in Hales had enough to reach their target.
Jack Furnival’s 69 was instrumental, as was Simon Dyer’s 30, to ensure the hosts kept the spoils.
Porthill Park seconds thrashed Meir Heath in their weekend contest.
Matthew Rogalski (90) fronted an impressive Porthill Park batting display to lead them to 213-9 from their allocation.
Simon Wood chipped in with 35, while Maz Akhtar (3-26) took the bowling plaudits for Meir Heath.
New-ball exponents Liam Hassett and Matthew Lowe then stole the show after tea.
Hassett scooped 5-17 and Lowe secured figures of 4-23 to send Meir Heath sliding to 63 all out.
Zak Hill (17) and Brandon Hughesphilpott (16no) were the only batsmen to reach double figures.
Rode Park & Lawton won by four wickets at Bignall End.
Set 145 for victory, Richard
Bebbington’s patient 58 not out, off 120 balls, set them on their way to a fine away triumph.
David Wellings weighed in with 29 and James Macgillivray added 27, to ensure that the efforts of Ali Azmat (4-12) were in vain.
Jon Maskrey (44) and Steven Brierley (31) had earlier put on 60 for the first wicket, but Bignall End couldn’t capitalise.
Azmat made 23, but Andrew Marshall (3-1), Jack Harrison (3-28) and Neil Crump (3-29) restricted them to 144 all out.
Stafford were left to rue a batting collapse in their defeat at home by Alsager.
Stafford made their way to 112-1 on the back of Guy Seaton’s 58 and 47 from Anas Patel.
However, the introduction of James Lythgoe (6-27) to the attack sent Stafford tumbling to 141 all out.
Alsager saw James Bloor (35) impress in the chase, but at 77-4, it was anyone’s game.
But Alsager crossed the line without any further alarm as Lythgoe compiled 52 not out and Aqeel Ahmed provided support with an unbeaten 37.