Morahan magic
AREMARKABLE innings of 43 not out from Marple’s number nine Patrick Morahan brought a one wicket victory at Warrington last Saturday after all had seemed lost.
After being frustrated by the visiting teams’ lower order in the two previous games at Bowden Lane, Marple skipper Paul Wood won a welcome toss at Warrington’s tree lined Walton Lea ground on Saturday.
His decision to field first though almost backfired, as the home team recovered from the loss of three early wickets to post an above par score of 218 for 9 on a surface that gave some assistance to bowlers of all types.
At 41 for 3, the Marple side probably felt that they were in complete control, with the returning Wylie picking up a couple of wickets, and Morahan showing some welcome hostility with the new ball.
If any such thoughts existed, they were very soon extinguished by the home side’s fourth wicket pair of South African Johan Els, and Brad MacIntosh.
What followed was utter carnage for nine overs. The Marple spinners were carted for 85 runs as the destructive Els and MacIntosh ran riot.
A total nearer 300 than 200 beckoned for Warrington, but Greasley recovered his equilibrium, and with Morahan returning for a second spell, three welcome wickets reduced the total to 144 for 6, but with plenty of overs remaining. Els (61) and MacIntosh (36) will both have been disappointed not to reach a huge score, but the Warrington lower order all showed excellent batting ability.
Heaney made 25, Batey an effortless 23, and Scholes and Soni added 18 useful runs unbeaten for the tenth wicket. Marple were probably relieved at the final tally of 218 for 9.
Greasley recovered well from an early mauling to record 3 for 59, Morahan battled to 3 for 61, and Wylie 2 for 35. Ed Saxelby, used late in this game, bowled six good overs and took 1 for 19.
When Marple replied, James Crisall laced his third ball received through the covers for four.
However, when he got another short one from Ashley Scholes two deliveries later, he mistimed the stroke and was brilliantly caught at point by Tom Higham, much to the delight of a fired up fielding side.
In Mark Makin, fresh from a brilliant century the week before against Oxton, and Mark Bennett, treating all bowlers the same, Marple have two of the league’s form players.
They played with care against a keen attack, but whenever Scholes or Soni strayed, they were able to find the boundary. Bennett was the more dominant player in a good stand of 54.
He played some delightful shots off his legs, but when off spinner MacIntosh was introduced he was trapped lbw for 35.
Paul Wood, in such dominant form this season failed for once, caught at gully off second change bowler Batey for just a single.
Marple were on the back foot at 73 for 3. Jim Morgan seemed to be settling in nicely, but after reaching 13, he played round a straight one from Batey and was bowled.
At 89 for 4, when Andrew Hall came out to join Makin, it appeared that the fifth wicket pairing represented Marple’s last real hope of a win.
After a watchful first half to his innings, Makin began to open up, and brought up a responsible half century as Hall battled to try and find some form.
Just as they were looking secure together, Rudd began a fateful over.
From the first ball Makin clipped to deep square leg, the ball seemingly on course for the boundary.
The Warrington fielding had been tigerish, and belied the team’s lowly position in division one, and now Heaney took the first of two spectacular