Macc edged out on Hyde’s track

MACCLESFIELD CC 1st XI made the trip to Hyde CC for their eighth league game of the season.

The home side won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked like a pretty true wicket.

And the early overs confirmed this as the Hyde openers wasted no time in posting a total, as they took the score up to 40-0 in the first six overs.

The odd ball kept low but there was not much assistance for the bowlers on another lovely summer’s day.

Hyde did lose their first wicket before the 50 mark, however, when Khalid Sawas took a great catch at second slip off Craig Melrose to dismiss Danny Berry for 21.

Hyde recovered through the other opener, Tom Partridge, and number three batsman, David Fisher. The pair batted intelligently and put away any loose bowling.

Partridge eventually went for a well made 45 when Tom Key took a tough catch over his shoulder off Chris Moores. Hyde had now lost their second wicket just before the 100 mark.

In the next few overs Macc managed to contain Hyde through good bowling from Moores and Melrose, as well as taking two more important wickets as Moores claimed the big scalp of James Duffy (11), who was caught by Rob Porter at cover. Not long after Fisher went for 35 as Melrose (2-55) trapped him LBW.

Hyde were now on 127-4 around the midpoint of their innings and with two new batsmen at the crease, Macc had a chance of bowling the hosts out fairly cheaply on a good batting wicket.

However, Jason Whittaker and Luke Young batted sensibly and courageously to stop Macc taking any more wickets.

The pair took the score onto 167-5 when Moores (3-68) bowled Young for a resilient 24.

Whittaker (29) and Daniel Cranmer (12) remained resolute and added a few more runs in the last 10 overs of Hyde’s innings.

Porter claimed both their wickets though as Macc managed to prevent Hyde posting a huge total. Ben Allcock (15) took Hyde over the 200 mark but Porter (4-38) kept bowling well and kept Macc on track in the latter stages.

The off-spinner picked up an LBW and another wicket aided by a good catch behind the stumps by wicketkeeper, Jim Melrose.

Tom Key then finished the innings off, supported by a good catch in the deep by Dan Isherwood as Macc bowled Hyde out for 216 in the 49th over.

In reply, Macc were up against it at 8-2 as fast bowler Bailey Wightman took two early wickets to dismiss Macc’s openers, Dan Isherwood and Jim Melrose.

Khalid Sawas and Rob Porter then rebuilt for Macc. Sawas struck some impressive boundaries including two big straight sixes back over Wightman’s head.

The pair took the score up to 50-2 when Sawas (31) was caught well from a high catch by Young.

Barron (2) went early as he edged the accurate Whittaker to the keeper, leaving Macc on 63-4. Porter and Tom Isherwood (12) moved the score on but when the latter was caught behind off Whittaker’s bowling (2-45) Hyde were favourites for the victory, as Macc were now 92-5.

Hyde were thwarted for a few overs though as John Birchall (17) and Rob Porter continued to add runs for Macc.

At 127-5 and with plenty of overs to go, the game was becoming more balanced.

But suddenly a succession of wickets fell as dangerman Porter was caught for 47 off the tricky spin bowling of James Chew and then not long after Birchall was caught on the boundary through a good catch by Young, off Cranmer’s bowling (1-48).

Then Craig Melrose was ran out for five, leaving Macc on 135-8.

The tail wagged through Chris France (14) and Tom Key (15) as Macc passed the 150 mark but the re-introduction of fast bowler Wightman saw France bowled and soon after Key was caught off Chew’s bowling (2-23) to seal a 53-run victory for Hyde as Macc were bowled out for 163 in 38 overs.

The pick of the Hyde bowlers was Wightman who claimed excellent figures of 4-23. Macc take six points, to Hyde’s 25.