Melrose steers Macc over line
MACCLESFIELD CC 1st XI entertained Barrow CC 1st XI at Victoria Road last Saturday, in a game sponsored by The New Shalimar Restaurant, Macclesfield.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first.
Opening bowlers, Craig Melrose and Tom Key, settled into their rhythm immediately with the latter finding an early breakthrough as David McClements (9), was well caught by Andy Moores at gully, to leave the away side 10-1.
Barrow troubled the scorers for a few overs before Melrose claimed the big wicket of Iroshan De Silva (11), who was caught in the covers by Will Smith, leaving Barrow 34-2. Captain Alex Reid and Chris Woodcock rebuilt but it wasn’t long before Macc struck again as Key trapped Reid LBW for 16. Then at the other end Melrose claimed another wicket, which was caught by Smith in the covers again. Barrow were now 57-4 and that soon became 57-5 as Key had Holloway caught behind by Jim Melrose for a duck.
Melrose (2-23) and Key (3-64) continued to bowl well in unison but just couldn’t find the next breakthrough as Barrow responded admirably. Stephen Ogilby and Nissanka batted intelligently and with real purpose as the Macc bowlers toiled but to no avail. The Barrow batsmen took quick singles mixed in with boundary-hitting as they built a big partnership to frustrate Macc.
A quick bit of thinking from Khalid Sawas ended the 91-run partnership however. Ogilby survived a close LBW shout but was still looking at the umpire as Sawas spotted he was out of his ground, and quickly through the stumps down to remove Ogilby for a well-made 36. This left Barrow 148-6.
Chris France then took the much needed wicket of Nissanka for 50, as he caught him off his own bowling. Barrow were now 159-7 but rallied again and managed to add another 34 runs for the last 3 wickets. France (3-11) picked up 2 more wickets, including a stunning catch off his own bowling, whilst Will Smith (1-12) took the last wicket, as Macc bowled the visitors out for 193 in the 48th over.
During the tea interval the rain came down and it took awhile for the players to get back out for the 2nd innings. Because of this, Macc now had 38 overs to chase down the 193 total.
Opening batsmen, Eddie Bones and Jim Melrose started well for Macc as they saw off the new ball bowlers and built a good platform for Macc to build from. Bones (21) was then unfortunately bowled off Nissanka’s bowling, leaving Macc 29-1. Sawas joined Melrose, and the pair went about adding more runs to the score for Macc. They took the score passed the 50-mark when Melrose (16) was caught behind off De Silva’s off-spin bowling. Macc were now 53-2.
Barrow then dismissed Rob Porter after an unplayable delivery took his edge and keeper Reid held on superbly, stood up to the stumps. At 58-3 the game was in the balance. Peter Barron, after a couple of nervy shots and being dropped early on, then went about support- ing Sawas, as the latter played some audacious shots to move the score on.
However, after the pair added 50 and picked up the run rate, Barron (22) was then caught and bowled by De Silva, leaving Macc on 115-4, with around 12 overs to go. Approximately 6 runs per over were required from here on in.
Sawas continued to bat in the same positive vein, finding the boundary with regularity as he moved passed fifty. Will Smith was now at the crease and played a quite fantastic knock. Smith struck some timely boundaries, mean- ing there was hard-hitting coming from both ends as the Barrow captain rotated the bowlers looking for a breakthrough.
The pair batted superbly to take Macc passed the 150-mark in quick time.
They then moved to within striking distance of victory but there was to be another twist in the plot. Malcolm Barrow bowled Smith for a brilliant 37 off 30 balls, ending hightempo 60-run partnership. Then next over Sawas was bowled for a terrific knock of 71 off 68 balls by Nick Mumford. And then next ball, Andy Moores was trapped LBW by the left-arm spinner, to leave Macc on 175-7. The game was back in the balance as Macc only had 4 overs to get the remaining 19 runs, with two new batsmen at the crease.
Craig Melrose and Chris France batted sensibly though and added a couple of vital boundaries to keep up with the required rate. Macc required 7 off the last over and Melrose delivered perfectly, as he hit two powerful fours off the first two balls to take Macc to a three-wicket win and a much needed victory. Melrose finished on 13 not out and France on 6 not out, as Macc pick up the 25 points, to Barrow’s 9.