Macc on the up in league and the cup
Victories put them second in table and into county semis
VIVIO CHESHIRE CCL DIVISION ONE TIMPERLEY ................ 129 MACCLESFIELD ..... 130-5
MACCLESFIELD won a vital match in their bid for promotion, against Timperley.
The third-versus-fourth clash could decide which team would continue to challenge for the promotion spot.
Macc bowled first and began with three maidens, Timperley struggling to cope with the pace of Ward and Tait (4-17). Both struck in quick succession to bring in key men Grindley and Macquet.
When Macquet played around a straight Tait delivery, they were struggling at 25-3 and, after Birchall struck twice, 50-5.
There was no let-up in pressure with high-quality bowling from Birchall, Porter and Raja were of the highest quality and Timperley limped to an all-out 130.
Timperly struck early in Macc’s reply, taking Birchall and Knight to put the visitors at 20-2.
Marsden and Ross comfortably added 40 runs before Porter joined Ross and pushed the score into three figures.
Ross departed for 50 with Porter following in the next over with the score on 120-5.
Cross and Parfett were able to finish the job off and secure 25 points that takes Macclesfield into second with seven rounds of the season to go.
This weekend they host Brooklands.
THE following day Macc won a place in the final four of the Cheshire Cup, seeing off Toft at home.
The visitors batted first and began patiently in the face of good bowling from Ward and Moores. The introduction of Birchall and Porter into the bowling attack then brought immediate rewards, three quick wickets falling.
At 90-5 from nearly 30 overs it took a brilliant 70 not out from Drummond to guide them to 191-6.
Macc’s reply got off to a flier as Birchall and Knight scored freely off the seamers.
After Knight departed Porter and Birchall got Macc past 100 before going in quick succession.
Ward and Ross soon calmed any nerves as they built a partnership that would effectively win Macc the game.
Both drove anything loose to punished any width and although Ward was out for 45 and Ross for 55 they’d done enough to allow Parfett and Moores to get Macc over the line with five overs to spare.
The win in the Baths Hotel-sponsored quarterfinal means they will host New Brighton in the semifinals at Victoria Road on August 10.