Macc edged out in crucial finale

MACCLESFIELD CC 1st XI hosted Marple CC at Victoria Road on Saturday, in their final game of the season, sponsored by Tom Burden Sports Massage and Rehabilitation.

On a cloudy day, captain Rob Porter won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Macc needed a victory to have any chance of promotion, as they trailed Marple by 16 points going into the game.

And they were firmly on track to do this when some excellent bowling from Craig Melrose (1-61) and Tom Key (3-27) reduced Marple to 45-4 inside the first 16 overs.

However, unlike in recent weeks where Macc have seized any opportunity like this by bowling sides out for around 100, this time around they couldn’t get the much needed breakthrough.

Marple’s batsmen, Crisall and Morgan, slowly started to build a partner- ship, the former riding his luck.

Macc dropped Crisall on numerous occasions and the batsman also survived close LBW shouts and was adjudged not out on a run out opportunity. Despite this though, Crisall did bat well and took the game away from Macc along with Morgan who rarely looked like giving his wicket away.

Marple passed the 100 mark, still four down in the 37th over and despite not getting a wicket for a number of overs, Macc were still just about on top. But with wickets in hand, Marple could now start to kick on. This is exactly what they did, finding the boundary regularly. Macc at this point would have settled for a chase of 170-180.

With four overs to go, however, Crisall and Morgan really motored. They smashed 55 runs off the last four overs, to finish with some crescendo.

Morgan departed in the penultimate over for a superb 90, bringing to an end a quite magnificent 163-run partnership.

Crisall finished on 93 not out, as the visitors ended on 215-5 off their 50 overs.

Thanks to their strong batting display, Marple now only needed two more points (five wickets) to guarantee promotion.

They started well when they dismissed Porter for just one run in the fourth over. Macc then rebuilt nicely through John Birchall and overseas player Tom Tudor. Birchall was playing at his usual speedy tempo. The pair put on 71 before Tudor was caught and bowled for 17.

Birchall continued to play his shots, but when the wickets of Peter Barron, Alex Griffiths and Will Smith fell within two overs, it was curtains for Macclesfield’s promotion hopes.

The hosts were now 84-5, and even if Macc went on to win the game, Marple now had enough bonus points to secure promotion.

Birchall continued his recent good form as he passed his 50, finishing on a very entertaining 66.

Macc kept losing wickets, however, as Marple’s overseas player Morahan finished with excellent figures of 6-35, as Macc were bowled out for 119, losing by 96 runs.

Despite the heavy defeat and finishing fifth in the table in the end, Macc can take a lot of positives out of the season in which a number of players have contributed.

Rob Porter has led by example with both bat and ball, Craig Melrose finished with 46 league wickets and Tom Tudor has performed formidably during his time in the UK, hitting over 600 league runs at an average of 45as well as a number of other key contributors throughout the course of the season.

Whereas the first team needed to win to gain promotion, the seconds also required victory against Marple to avoid relegation from the 2nd XI Premier Division.

Asked to bat in tricky conditions by opponents who were also fighting to avoid relegation, the seconds found it hard going.

However, a magnificent 174 not out by opener Tom Isherwood, who smashed 11 sixes and 16 fours, meant a declaration was made on 246-8.

The next top score was 16. It was a tough ask for Marple to knock off the runs but with rain forecast it was imperative that they were bowled out quickly.

Tight bowling by Matthew Griffiths (5-23) and Ian Tait (2-17) reduced the home side to 47-7 after 26 overs.

This left Otis Palmes and Tony Moores to mop up the tail to give Macc victory by 168 runs, ensuring Macclesfield’s place in the Premier Division. Results elsewhere meant Marple also avoided relegation.

The thirds lost their final game against Stockport Trinity but remain in the UK Fast Division B East.