Macclesfield Express

It’s too little too

- ROBERT KEEN

CHESHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE

MACCLESFIE­LD took on Nantwich at Victoria Road this weekend and on a warm, humid day came off second best.

Macc won the toss and elected to have first use of a good looking batting wicket.

The new opening pair of Birchall and Keen started brightly for Macclesfie­ld with a 50 opening stand dominated by the powerful hitting of Birchall.

Keen (8) was first to fall to the spin of Griffiths, caught at the wicket, with the score on 61.

This brought Bertus to the crease to join Birchall who had raced along to his half century, punishing any delivery slightly short of length.

Bertus looked in good touch until he was undone by a slower delivery caught at mid off, off the bowling of current Lancashire player Livingston­e.

Further quick wickets began to fall for Macc with both Porter and Parfett falling without scoring, which saw Macc collapse from 61-0 to 88-5.

Jack Ward (sponsored by East Cheshire Mortgages) and James Cross provided some backbone to the Macc innings, putting on a valuable stand of 50 to boost the Macc total up to 135.

Ward then fell for a gritty 19, top edging a slog sweep in attempt to provide some accelerati­on into the innings.

Cross continued to play with caution mixed with some controlled aggression where the opportunit­y arose striking two sixes in innings of 38, before being run out in an unfortunat­e mix up.

The Macc lower order of Smith (9), Moores (15*), Raja (8) and Cutbill (14) dug in and dragged Macc up to a total of 191 all out in 54.5 overs.

This provided the Macc bowling attack with something to defend but they knew they would have to be on top of their game and take all chances that came their way.

Despite an encouragin­g first few overs from Macc opening bowlers Ward and Moores, the breakthrou­gh did not materialis­e.

A combinatio­n of missed chances in the field and some loose bowling eased the pressure on the Nantwich opening batsmen, who cruised along to a 150 run opening stand.

Macc skipper Parfett used six bowlers in attempt to mix things up and bring a wicket.

However, when the breakthrou­gh was eventually made by Porter having Simpson (85) caught on the boundary edge, the game had long gone.

With the score at 190-1, it was fitting that Raut hit the winning runs for Nantwich in a stylish unbeaten knock of 108.

Nantwich won by nine wickets inside 37 overs, taking 25 points to Macc’s six .

Macc fared no better on Sunday when they travelled up to Didsbury in a Cheshire Cup clash which saw the away side bat first.

On a tough batting track, Macc could only muster 142 with only Keen (32) and Parfett (26) able to get going on a surface conducive to spin.

With a heavily weakened Macclesfie­ld bowling attack, Didsbury then knocked off the total with ease with the loss of just one wicket.

One bright note for Macc was the bowling of 15-year-old Robbie Peal who bowled with great control on his debut for the first team.

Overall, a disappoint­ing weekend for Macc at the half way point in the season.

They now look forward to a T20 tie at Urmston on Thursday evening, and a home game against Neston in the league on Saturday.

 ?? Darren Bollington ?? ●● Action from Macclesfie­ld Cricket Club’s game against Nantwich at the weekend
Darren Bollington ●● Action from Macclesfie­ld Cricket Club’s game against Nantwich at the weekend

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