Macc fall short chasing leaders
ON a sunny day on the Wirral, Macclesfield CC 1st XI took on top of the league opponents, Upton CC 1st XI. The home side won the toss and chose to bat first.
After a steady start for the Upton batsmen, Craig Melrose then struck, taking the edge of Chris McArthur (18) as Peter Barron clung on in the slips. 37-1 then became 58-2, when Chris Moores took his first wicket of the day, dismissing James Williams (13) after Khalid Sawas took a good, high catch in the ring.
Moores then struck again, inducing the edge of Matt Owen (20) as wicketkeeper Andy Moores took the catch behind the stumps, to leave Upton on 63-3.
Macc took a couple more wickets in the next few overs, through Melrose (2-58) and John Birchall as Upton moved from 83-4 to 103-5. Then a quickfire 43 from Mike McGreary added much needed runs for Upton as the next partnership added a crucial 51 runs for the home team.
Birchall eventually bowled McGreary and then bowled Tom Marsland very next ball.
At 154-7, Upton were in danger of being bowled out for a below par score. However Upton fought back, as Ian Linwood supported Dan Owen, who was playing a key anchor role for the home side. Linwood added 21, before being bowled by Birchall, as he took the score onto 198-8.
Upton then lost their last two wickets in the next few overs, as Birchall (5-53) claimed his five-for and Rob Porter (1-43) trapped Owen (59) LBW, as Upton posted a competitive 1st innings score of 216 all out in the 45th over.
Macc started their run chase positively through Eddie Bones and Khalid Sawas. However the pace bowling of Linwood accounted for the wickets of Bones (13) and Porter in the same over leaving Macc on 20-2.
Sawas and Peter Barron rebuilt and took Macc passed the 50 mark.
The pair batted patiently as the Upton bowlers toiled away. The two batsmen looked to pick the run rate up, but couldn’t quite free their arms as the home side continued to bowled disciplined areas.
Despite this, the score moved onto 100-2, with Barron bringing up his 50. The pair then brought up their 100 stand as they built a handy platform for Macc to attack from in the remaining overs.
However the big wicket of Sawas ensued as he was caught behind off the bowling of Matthew Ingram for a well made 49, leaving Macc on 124-3. Birchall joined Barron and the former took the score on as the latter pushed the singles around.
But that man Linwood struck again as he dismissed Birchall for 20, as Macc were now 158-4. And this was to be the catalyst for Upton to come back into the game, as Macc lost two more wickets in quick succession.
Linwood bowled Will Smith first ball and then Craig Melrose was trapped LBW off the bowling of Ross Dixon to leave Macc on 159-6.
Chris France (15) batted well and with Barron recovered the momentum for a few overs for Macc, but when France was bowled to another ball keeping low, and then Barron (76) was caught in the deep off Dixon soon after, Upton took firm control as Macc were now 185-8.
Dixon (3-33) then bowled Andy Moores and Linwood (6-53) confirmed victory as he bowled Tom Key. Macc closed on 189 all out in the 50th over, losing by 27 runs, in what had been a close fought contest. Upton take the 25 points and stay top, as Macclesfield took seven points from the game.