Macc stay top after Bramhall showdown
IT was a first last weekend for Macclesfield Cricket Club when they fielded on a Saturday, for the first time since the club merged with Parkside Cricket Club early this century, four teams.
In addition to the three league sides, a 4XI played a friendly against Urmston – although the cancellation of the 2XI fixture at Hyde slightly took the gloss off.
With a washout forecast by all in attendance, the Macclesfield 1st XI welcomed Bramhall to Victoria road for a top of the table clash on Saturday.
However, the weather held out and James Cross won the toss and elected to field in the first of two Twenty20 fixtures.
Jack Clark and Greg Dixon opened the batting for the visitors and started steady against challenging bowling.
Topping the Macclesfield wicket takers for the season Paddy Turner continued his fine form when he bowled the Clark and the number three as Bramhall fell to 19-2.
Dixon, now joined by Luke Tinsley, started a slow rebuild by running well. The opener eventually fell with the score on 59. Visiting captain Nick
Cantello looked to up the scoring rate with a few early big shots.
The important partnership of 36 was broken to a good catch by the returning Khalid Sawas. Cantello finished on 39 not out as he led his side to posting 117-4 from their 20 over allocation.
Paddy Turner, Jack Massey and Chris Moores shared the wickets.
In reply Angus Thompson opened alongside his captain James Cross, looking to get ahead of the required run rate and set up the chase.
Tight bowling from Oliver Latter and Ashley West in tricky conditions prohibited this but the Macclesfield duo fought hard to keep their wickets.
After seeing off the opening spells, Cross and Thomson looked to target the spin attack, beginning to find the boundary well.
Reaching 100 for the opening stand for the first time this season, Cross made a half century of his own. Bramhall brought the game back into contention as Ashley West took the wickets of both openers (Cross 56, Thomson 37).
Luke Littlewood then took a further wicket for the visitors, but Macclesfield were able to surpass the Bramhall total with the three balls remaining, winning by seven wickets.
In the second fixture, Cross again won the toss and elected to field yet again.
Clark and Dixon got off to a better start this time around. The opening duo scored at around a run a ball, in a very good opening stand of 72 before Jack Massey took his second wicket of the day.
His under-16 teammate Ben Curwen then took a wicket of his own. Clarke reached a well-made half century before being bowled shortly after by the versatile Cross.
Further wickets being taken and good fielding restricted Bramhall to 133/5 after their flying start.
Macclesfield opened with the same pair, but the form was not continued as skipper Cross was swiftly dismissed in the second over of the innings by West. Bramhall were relentless with the ball and took two more wickers in quick succession. Macclesfield collapsed to 37-5, including two run outs, necessitating a serious effort to get back into the fixture.
Fin McCance and Jack Massey looked to steady the innings before the latter began to play his signature long arm shots, finding the boundary regularly. McCance was caught to a good catch by Archie Tittle before Ben Curwen was stumped. Paddy Turner was next to the middle and began to find the boundary.
However Massey was stumped trying to play another big shot for an excellent 35 off 26 deliveries. Macclesfield were eventually all out for 108 as Paddy Turner was bowled for 21.
Taking four points and remaining top of the Division 1 East table, Macclesfield welcome Marple on Saturday.
As mentioned the Macclesfield 2nd XI’s fixture versus Hyde fell victim to the weather with the ground flooded and relentless rain all afternoon.
The Macclesfield 3rd XI were also in action on Saturday and lost in a tight finish against Stockport Trinity. Stockport Trinity were bowled out for 146 in the final over of their 40 overs per side fixture before beating Macclesfield by 20 runs. Chris Flint top scored with 21 for Macclesfield.
The 4th XI played a friendly against Urmston with a mixture of Academy players and ‘elder statesmen’ and gave a creditable performance.
Using eight bowlers Urmston were restricted to 131-3 off their 25 overs. Two wickets for Josh Rajendren. In reply the Macclesfield got somewhat bogged down and were eventually all out for 90.
Nevertheless excellent experience for the youngsters against an experienced Urmston side and a big thank you to Kerridge CC for hosting.
The Sunday team started their fixture vs Elworth on Sunday but only managed six overs before the rain meant that the game had to be abandoned.