Nantwich attack has Marple in spin
THE slow, left-arm spin mode of attack has been Marple’s undoing on several occasions over the recent past and proved the case again at the weekend.
Against a buoyant Nantwich side, they faced a twin pronged assault which ultimately led to their downfall.
The very warm, dry May and early June has left the Marple ground light brown in appearance, and with the outfield lightning quick, Marple skipper Paul Wood elected to bat first on winning the toss.
Once more, his side failed to get off to a good start.
Jim Morgan, fresh from two good scores, chased a wide delivery from McCormack and was comfortably pouched by Ireland test wicket keeper Niall O’Brien.
With a secure batting line up yet to be established this season, Wood took on the responsibility of the number three spot himself.
Although McCormack was a little wayward at times, Jimmy Warrington was right on the spot.
The former Cheshire opening bowler is still sharp and young enough, but now has the experience to back up his ability.
He gave nothing away, and Ramsey and Wood had to be on their mettle to see off his opening salvo.
With good application, this they achieved, and no further wickets fell as first McCormack and then Warrington were replaced by the slow left arm spin of Ollie Griffiths and Shaniel Patel.
Griffiths is well known to Marple from past exploits, and he has the reputation of being possibly the most miserly and awkward bowler in the premier league. The score had risen to 44 before Nantwich had the bonus of two wickets from Patel.
Firstly, Wood (12) was bowled having failed to pick an arm ball, and then Bennett (7) scooped the ball to deep mid wicket where Cook-Sievewright took an excellent catch inches from the turf.
At 52 for 3, Marple were already under the cosh.
Ramsey had looked confident and secure against the pace bowlers, but against the spin he floundered, seemingly not having a basic plan of action. Once again, after getting himself in and looking set on course for a big score, an injudicious stroke cost him his wicket, this time giving Griffiths his first of the afternoon.
He will have been very disappointed to not go on from his 26. Mark Makin was moved down to number 6, as he is a fine player of spin. He looked in good order from the start, lofting Patel for 4 and then an effortless 6. At 83 for 5, he seemed to be unluckily given out caught behind for 20 off Griffiths.
Another piece of poor running saw Schofield run out after a mix up with Mudasser, and when Saxelby was lbw to Griffiths first ball, Marple at 84 for 7 were looking at being routed for less than 100.
Jack Grundy has worked on his batting in recent weeks with the aim of making himself a useful lower order player.
His conscientiousness has been rewarded, as he followed up his 24 against Alderley Edge with a confident 28, and the innings’ top score, here.
It took the return of Warrington to bring his fine effort to an end. The final three Marple wickets showed resolve, and a final total of 147 all out was posted. Moroney also got in on the act with a Marple highest of 20, a knock that contained some pleasing drives. For Nantwich, Griffiths continued his mastery over Marple batsmen with 4 for 31 from his 17 overs, and Patel had 3 for 45 from 14.5 overs.
Marple were in the game, but probably about 40 short of being really competetive on a surface that saw spin, and was not as quick as it appeared. With lefthander O’Brien partnering Brown at the top of order, Wood opted to try Greasley with the new ball.
Brown comfortably chipped him over the top for a boundary in his opening over, but then Marple had the great bonus with Grundy’s first delivery.
O’Brien was the second left handed international wicket keeper to play at Marple in under a week, England’s Phil Mustard having played for Northumberland against Cheshire the week before.
O’Brien’s innings lasted just one ball as he got a leading edge and Grundy took the return catch. Marple’s joy was doubled when Grundy produced a beauty in his next over to bowl Johnstone, and Nantwich were 12 for 2. With O’Brien back in the shed, Greasley was removed from the attack, and Moroney replaced him from the bottom end. Marple now had their best period of the game.
Runs were hard to come by as the Marple seamers now caused the problems. Robinson (8) was well held at short extra cover by Bennett, and then Nantwich skipper, the powerful Ray Doyle (12), was held off a skier by Ed Saxelby to give Moroney a second scalp. At 40 for four, Marple were in control.
All the while though, Brown had played sensibly. There were no frills in his innings, and Rimmer at number 6, was also patient in getting himself established. Greasley returned, and Wood replaced Grundy in an attempt to keep the pressure on.
It was tight cricket, but only one chance came Marple’s way. At 53, Rimmer flashed at Wood and the ball flew hard and high to second slip. It was a tough chance, but the normally safe hands of Makin were unable to grab onto it.
From this point onwards, although Marple never gave up, there were few alarms for the terrific fifth wicket stand, full of application and concentration. Wood switched his bowlers around, but for once, Greasley could not find the magic.
Brown, in particular, played him as well as anyone this season, getting right forward to smother any spin, lofting the occasional boundary, and running well between the wickets with Rimmer.
Although Bennett, Mudasser and Saxelby gave little away when they came into the attack, a six wicket win for the visitors came up in the 43rd over.
Brown played an old fashioned opener’s knock of 61 not out. He was not going to give Marple a sniff of getting back into the game. Rimmer, was a little more free flowing with 8 fours and a 6 ending on 60 not out, but nonetheless rock solid in defence when necessary. Grundy with 2 for 17 and Moroney 2 for 27 both had good days for Marple to follow up their lower order batting.
So Marple are back down to earth after back to back wins, admittedly against possibly the best side they have faced this season. The batting remains the biggest worry.
The batsmen certainly have good ability, but it would seem that each player would need to have a more concerted plan of action. Nantwich’s Brown gave a good example of a batsman playing to his own strengths, and working out what he could do against each bowler.
In the short term it does not get any easier for Marple, with a visit to table toppers Timperley next Saturday, 12.30pm start. They remain in seventh position in the table.