Congested at summit after end to Cheadle’s fine winning run...
THE leading trio in the NSSCL Premier Division are separated by just two points after leaders Cheadle were defeated on their trip to Meakins.
The Moorlanders still lead the way, but second-placed Stone SP’S victory over Leek saw their advantage cut to a single point.
And Meakins, on the back of their success against the table-toppers, are now closing in on top spot after ending Cheadle’s winning run.
Cheadle had won their last six completed matches, but came a cropper at resurgent Meakins, who are now unbeaten in seven and sit in third.
It was Meakins’ King of Spin, Paul Byrne, who was the bowling hero for the hosts after Cheadle had won the toss and opted to bat.
Staffordshire left-arm twirler Byrne captured 4-17 as Cheadle succumbed for just 107 on their trip to Ivy House Road.
Karl High and Simon Mugava chipped in with a couple of wickets apiece as the Moorlanders’ batting failed to fire.
Opener Andrew Coxon provided the only meaningful resistance as he faced 95 balls for his 43, hitting four fours in the process.
Meakins had plenty of time on their side in the run chase and managed to secure a sixwicket victory.
Seamer Matthew Goodwin and spinner Will Dobbie took a couple of wickets apiece, but Meakins were never in serious danger of not knocking off the runs.
Sam Moores top-scored with 37 and Staffordshire batsman Michael Hill hit 29 to maintain Meakins fine form.
Stone SP are now breathing down Cheadle’s neck after easing to a seven-wicket home win against Leek.
Leek won the toss and elected to bat, but didn’t justify Alex Mellor’s decision as they were skittled for a paltry 104.
Rory Jackson (33) did his best to repel the hosts’ attack, but it as to no avail.
EJ Laverty was the star of the show for Stone SP as he captured 4-25, while there were a couple of wickets apiece for Adam Pursell and Jacob Degg.
Stone SP required just 25.2 overs to bank another points haul, fronted by George Harding’s unbeaten 38.
And with skipper Sam Graham and John Cheadle both contributing 28, Stone SP were comfortable winners.
At the other end of the table, second-from-bottom Whitmore saw their wining three-match run come to an abrupt end against Moddershall & Oulton.
Whitmore, who had ben docked 20 points earlier in the campaign for player registration issues, were in fine form ahead of their meeting with Modd who started a place above them.
But the gap between the duo has been stretched to 21 points after Sam Kelsall’s side turned in a polished performance.
Overseas star Rizwan Hussain ensured they were quick out of the blocks with a rapid half-century.
He struck eight fours and three sixes in his 43-ball 65 to set the tempo for the Modd men’s innings.
And with Kelsall (39), Dan Richardson (35), Rob Spruce (23) and Callum Hawkins (20) following his lead, Moddershall & Oulton posted 229 all out.
Matt Mcall and Muhammad Kaleem claimed 4-43 and 3-44 respectively.
Whitmore’s run chase proved to be a sorry affair as a bad start was never shrugged off.
They were reduced to 14-4 and then 21-7 before eventually being dismissed for just 40. Seam duo Dan Colclough (4-17) and Richardson (4-15) did the damage to leave Whitmore licking their wounds.
Bottom-of-the-table Ashcombe Park saw their
relegation fears increase after being demolished at Longton.
David Proffitt’s side have yet to win in the league this summer and are already 45 points adrift of safety following their humbling loss at Ripon Road.
Proffitt opted to bat on their road trip, but Ashcombe Park’s batting frailties were evident as they succumbed for just 52.
Proffitt’s 13 was the only score in double figures as they crumbled from 37-4 to their meagre tally.
Longton captain Ed Jones
claimed 3-5 and there was 3-8 from evergreen performer Shaun Rashid.
New-ball pair Alex Coates and Tom Hope shared the other four wickets to fall.
Longton eased to their target as Dan Ball constructed an unbeaten 32, with Tom Steele - dismissed lbw by Anis Raza being the only casualty as the match was done and dusted by mid-afternoon.
Porthill Park’s Ryan Hassett compiled a century in his side’s easy home success against Checkley.
The reigning Premier Division champions turned on the style at the Old County Ground to win by 114 runs.
Hassett and Porthill Park captain John Hancock put on 144 for the first wicket to provide firm foundations for the hosts’ innings.
They eventually closed on 258-5 from their 45 overs as Hassett hit 105. He struck 10 fours and four sixes, with Hancock adding 57.
Spinner Seb Smith scooped 3-50 for Checkley, with veteran seamer Richard Copper adding two wickets.
In reply, Scott Elstone (40) and James Kettleborough (30) provided the batting highlights.
However, Dan Hancock (34) and Craig Barker (3-23) impressed as Checkley were bowled out for 144.
Burslem had a productive day as they returned from Bagnall Norton with a threewicket win.
Bagnall Norton amassed 157-9 in the first part of the contest as Freddie Doorbar made 35 not ut, Bilawal Bhatti added 32 and Mark Stokes weighed in with 256.
Zen Malik and Callum Harrison claimed 4-21 and 4-27 respectively.
Burslem’s run chase got off to a poor start as Malik was caught behind by Stokes off Bhatti from the first ball.
They slid to 63-5 and then 98-6, before a seventh-wicket stand of 50 between Raj Kumar and Harrison turned the tables.
Harrison was dismissed for 26 - and Joshua Rhodes had made 23 - but Kumar used his experience to see Burslem to the finishing line.
Kumar ended up on 53 not out, hitting five fours, to complete the success.
Pakistan seamer Bhatti was the pick of the Bagnall Norton attack, finishing with 3-32.