Promotion dreams slip away for thirds

MACCLESFIELD 3s hosted Ashley in a top of the table clash. Miles Horner won the toss and invited 1st place Ashley to bat.

Paddy Turner, returning after a lengthy absence opened the bowling and soon dismissed Jon Lloyd.

However Declan Cavanagh and Tom Bramhall steadied the ship, going on to make 21 and 39 respectively. Turner finished with 4 wickets for 21 runs .

However the pick of the Macclesfield bowlers was Steve ‘The General’ Whittingham who was brought on later in the innings and proceeded to mop up the tail with 4 wickets for 23 runs.

Ashley were all out for 140 in the last over, an obtainable total.

Ian Kenny and Joe Haigh opened for the home side but Kenny was out early for 15 runs, brining Yoz Hughes to the crease. The two batted sensibly and steadily advancing to 71-1 before the introduction of David Alves who proceeded to rip through the Macclesfield batting. Haigh (22) and Hughes (27) being two of his victims as the hosts were reduced to 85 – 7.

A late flurry from Steve Moores and Alastair Knight took the Macc total to 121 all out, an extremely disappointing performance after such a good start. The result with two matches to go rules out any promotion chance.

The 4th team made the short trip Over Peover 2XI but a young side was off the pace being bowled out for 68.

Over Peover knocked the runs off in 17 overs but not before George Ackerley (1) and Charlie Ackerley (2) plus a run out dismissed 4 batters.

The Sunday XI had an exciting last over victory against Woodley. 4 wickets for Ben Farmer and 3 for Tom Jennings as Woodley posted 164 in their 40 overs. In reply Macclesfield lost early wickets but Tom Jennings (35) and Charlie Ackerley (30) steadied the ship before James Ross (16) and Ben Farmer (28*) took the home side to victory with 2 balls remaining.