Macc’s attack denied victory
ON Saturday, the Macclesfield 1st XI welcomed Romiley to Victoria Road, marking the start of the second half of the season in a fixture kindly sponsored by NFU Mutual Macclesfield.
Captain Porter won the toss, electing to bat and opened alongside Galeotti. Macclesfield started steadily in tricky conditions, finding it initially difficult to score.
Good bowling from Humphries and Barber made batting tough for Macclesfield.
However, the steady start would be important in setting up the latter stages of the innings and it wasn’t until Australian, Galeotti was caught by Barber that the 74 run partnership was broken.
This brought Khalid Sawas to the crease but Porter was bowled soon after for 40 trying to up the scoring rate.
Sawas scored skilfully after a watchful start and readily progressed with steady support from Ward and then Marsden.
The number three bat soon brought up his 50 off 58 deliveries and at 139/3 and with seven overs remaining, Macclesfield needed to play ‘hell for leather’ in hopes of posting a big score.
This was highlighted
two overs later when Sawas hit 22 off one over before being brilliantly caught by the work of two Romiley fielders.
Sawas was dismissed for 80 off just 68 balls including an impressive five sixes. Late hitting, including 11 off four balls from young Jack Massey, took Macclesfield to 201/6 off the 50 over allocation.
Following tea Romiley opened with Rolph and Astley in hopes of chasing Macclesfield’s total.
Ward took the new ball alongside 1st XI debutant, 17 year old Harry Massey.
After being hit for consecutive boundaries, Massey showed resilience and took his first 1st XI wicket as he had Rolph caught at point.
Romiley continued steadily as Badrock joined Astley at the crease and looked to battle back against the hungry Macclesfield attack.
This partnership looked strong but with runs only coming from one end in particular, Macclesfield were confident of defending their total.
Badrock brought up his half century in a classy innings before Jack Massey took his first wicket of the afternoon.
Massey wasted little time in taking his second as opener Astley eventually fell for 17 off 76 deliveries.
At 103/3 and with overseas player Humphries at the crease, the visitors were in a strong position going into the closing stages.
Jack Massey took another important wicket to finish 3-49 off his 15 overs.
Furthermore, a big sway in the tie came when Porter took the wickets of Flattley and Hadfield in consecutive deliveries, building pressure on Humphries who had scored a run a ball to reach his half century.
He then fell to a good catch from Melrose behind the stumps.
With 32 runs required and two wickets remaining, Romiley shut up shop and defended their way to a draw denting the hopes of the Macclesfield attack, finishing 181/8.
Taking 14 points to Romiley’s 6, the 1st XI travel to old rivals Bollington next week.