False dawns for
MACCLESFIELD CC picked up a draw away at Davenham CC in their third league game of the season.
The visitors won the toss and chose to bowl first with Craig Melrose and Otis Palmes taking the new ball.
It was a good battle between bat and ball in the opening overs with some strong drives mixed in with the bowlers going past the edge on numerous occasions.
It took Macc until the 12th over to get their much-deserved breakthrough, when Palmes snicked off opening batsman, Sam Robbins, for 16- aided by a good catch at second slip by Tudor.
Davenham rebuilt, however, and the other opener, Ben Gough and number three Peter Gallichan, added a 50 partnership before the latter was caught for 26 off the bowling of Melrose.
The score was now 93-2 around the midway point of Davenham’s innings.
The next few overs went in Macc’s favour, but Davenham soon responded as Gough and Sam Hunt went about rebuilding things again.
However, just after bringing up a valuable 50, Gough was expertly dismissed by a stunning one-handed diving catch by wicketkeeper, Jim Melrose, who sprung high to his right, to claim his second acrobatic catch of the season.
This came off Tudor, who very next ball, claimed his second wicket in the UK, when Davenham’s number five, top edged one straight up, resulting in a much simpler catch for keeper Melrose.
At 136-4, the game was in the balance – and it stayed that way when Tudor made it 160-5, with another wicket. Unfortunately though, approaching the interval, Macc couldn’t claim any more wickets and the number four batsman, Hunt, started to express himself more and more.
A few big sixes into the nearby houses, increased the rate somewhat and allowed the hosts to post a very competitive score.
Hunt finished on 79 not out, as Davenham reached 212-5 off their 50 overs.
Macc’s run chase didn’t get off to the best of starts as the Davenham opening bowlers brought pace at one end and guile at the other.
Macc soon found themselves 21-2 after 8 overs, with Fin McCance (0) and dangerman John Birchall (16) back in the hutch, both receiving good balls from all-rounder, Gough.
Tudor and Peter Barron rebuilt for awhile, taking the score on to 50, but just as Macc were slowly getting back into it, Barron was caught at cover for 13 off the bowling of Robin Taylor.
Rob Porter and Tudor then knocked the ball about positively for a few overs, mixed in with some much-needed boundaries.
However, again just as Macc looked to be gaining some momentum in their run chase, another wicket fell when Porter was adjudged LBW for 17. This left Macc on 86-4.
And, unfortunately, this theme continued, as Macc rebuilt again only for another false dawn to arrive.
Tudor and Andy Hodgson, who batted superbly together, brought Macc back into the game with a 61-run partnership, centred around expert timing and precision placement.
With just under 10 overs to go, the game was really in the balance again, as Macc needed just 66 to win.
But again, just as it looked possible, Tudor became Davenham’s next victim as he missed one off the bowling of spinner Daniel Hancock, and was stumped for a classy 66.
And Macc never really recovered as they tried to inject that last big onslaught, as they kept losing wickets.
When Hodgson was out for a very good knock of 35, that really was the end of any remaining hope Macc had.
Davenham reintroduced the opening bowler, Gough, who claimed another wicket and the last few overs became about survival for Macc.
Tom Key and Palmes did exactly this, as they saw out the last over to ensure Macc finished on 163-9 off their 50 overs. Davenham claimed 15 points, to Macc’s five.
Macc’s second team had a more positive day of it, as they beat local rivals Alderley Edge.
The hosts bowled Alderley out for 162, after they had at one stage been 1042.
Youngster Jack Massey and the experienced Stu Parks were the shining lights with the ball, as they claimed figures of 4-40 and 4-52 respectively.
Then with the bat, Macc stuttered somewhat early on, as they found themselves 16-3, before a big partnership of 84 between