Nathan has a Ball as his 7-wicket haul puts skids under Sandbach
Seamer in fine form as Park are up to fourth with their fifth win
NATHAN Ball claimed seven wickets as Ashcombe Park made light work of Sandbach in NSSCL Division One.
Hosts Sandbach were chasing 211 for victory, but Ball ensured that the home side were routed to keep up Ashcombe Park’s good form.
Sandbach could only muster 27 all out as seamer Ball helped himself to 7-20 to leave Ashcombe Park celebrating victory for the fifth time in the league this summer.
The win leaves them in fourth place and they showed they are finding their form as they look to bounce back to the Premier Division at the first attempt.
Ball’s haul was backed up by two wickets for Kashif Bhatti as Sandbach had an afternoon to forget.
There were some highlights from the Cheshire side’s perspective, namely Leo Chatzigeorgiou’s 4-42 and 3-18 from Jack Kesteven in the early stages.
But Haroon Mahmood’s 64, which contained nine fours and one six, plus 40 from Amer Siddique and 24 from Irfan Khan, propelled Ashcombe to 210 all out.
It was then left to Nathan to have a Ball to wrap up the Sandbach innings inside 20 overs.
Audley are blazing a trail at the top of the table after sealing a seventh successive win with victory over Sandyford.
Rob Hemmings’ side are now 20 points clear and the only side with an unblemished record - after inflicting a seventh straight loss on their rivals.
Joshua Rhodes made 21 early on for Audley, but Sandyford would have fancied their chances after reducing the home side to 48-3.
But those hopes quickly disappeared as Oliver Wilde and Faizan Riaz both hit centuries in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 210.
Wilde hit 12 fours and two sixes in his 103 not out, while Riaz’s unbeaten 102 contained 14 boundaries, as
Audley powered their way to 258-3.
Matheesha Perera (78) led the Sandyford reply, with his innings featuring 11 fours and two sixes.
But only Ben Bennett (15) and 12 apiece from Ben Turnock and Neil Skillcorn, provided any sort of support as the visitors were dismissed for 138.
Staffordshire all-rounder Jack Redman captured 4-27, with doubles strikes coming from Ben Green and Ben Mellor.
Knypersley are in second place, but their run of six successive wins came to an end after they were beaten at Whitmore.
Matt Mcall (44), Savindu Thelge (38) and Mohammed Aqeeb (30) were instrumental in Whitmore reaching 177 all out.
Paul Goodwin was the pick of the Knype attack, taking 3-27, with Joe Dutton and Cameron Allen sharing four wickets. Knypersley, missing a couple of key batsmen, struggled in reply, despite Mitchell Edwards making 41 and Darren Butler compiling an unbeaten 27.
They were bowled out for 140 as Arris Ziad took 4-33 and skipper Mcall showcased his all-round skills with 3-15.
Endon slid to a seventh loss on the trot as they were thrashed at home by Wood Lane.
The visitors now sitting pretty in third place, piled on
the misery for their hosts as they racked up 280-5 declared on the road.
Ben Mcguire hit 11 fours and three sixes in his 80, with Richard Hassall needing just 48 balls to make 62, which contained eight boundaries and two maximums.
Matt Hagan (47) and captain Danny Brierley (34) were also in good touch, while Joshua Reynolds scooped a couple of victims.
Brad Hulme top-scored with 17 for Endon in reply, but they crumbled to 58 all out as their poor start to the season shows no sign of abating.
Richie Jervis fronted the Wood Lane bowling bid with 3-19, aided by doubles from Hassall and Steve Norcup.
Blythe also have the unwanted record of seven defeats out of seven after a five-wicket home loss to Newcastle & Hartshill.
Ather Abid’s 20 and 11 from last man Peter Finch were the principal contributions to Blythe’s paltry 77 all out.
Nishan Peiris (4-16) and Andy Whitehead (3-16) were the main men with the ball for Castle. Toby Degg’s 3-28 and two wickets for Scott Degg hinted at a Blythe fightback but Jonathon Gidman’s unbeaten 51 saw his side home.
Eccleshall dropped down to fifth after being held to a draw at home by Norton in Hales. Half-centuries from Jack Furnival and Kashif Ali Moon ensured Norton in Hales put an excellent 2238 on the board from their 55 overs. Furnival’s 68 featured eight boundaries and two sixes, with four fours and three maximums being the highlights in Moon’s 29-ball 53.
Ash Rogers also chipped in with 29 and Ronan Farnell weighed in with 21. Scott Winnington took 3-38.
Eccleshall were well set to chase down that total on 1312 after Myles Coughlan made 79 and Fida Hussain struck 29. But they fell to 173-7 and although Chris Gask compiled 28 not out, Eccleshall drew stumps on 210-8.