BRAMHALL CC
●●1ST XI V DIDSBURY BRAMHALL’S 1st XI went into Saturday’s home game against bottom-placed Didsbury knowing that anything other than a win could potentially see the Beavers dragged into the relegation places.
It was the away side who won the toss, and asked the Beavers to bat first.
Despite what could be described as batting-friendly conditions, it was the bowlers who made an immediate impact on the game. Seamer Liam Booth reduced the Beavers to 14-2, with 2 wickets in the same over, and then followed up with a further two to leave the hosts in trouble at 55-4. Opener Alex Hunt was the fourth man to fall, having made a composed 27, and was also the fourth to be adjudged LBW to the same bowler.
Iftikhar Naseer, batting at five helped to progress the score along to 86, before he lost another partner to an LBW from left arm spinner Matthew Gregson.
A catch at midwicket saw the Beavers struggling at 99-6.
Iftikhar passed a deserved 50. However, he was unable to score many more, and his stumping for 64 from 62 balls, plunged Bramhall into the mire at 124-7.
A period of relative recovery followed, before wickets eight and nine fell quickly to leave the Beavers on the canvass at 143-9.
Number 11 Luke Littlewood joined number 9 Andy Reynolds, and the pair set about occupying the crease. Reynolds was fortunate to survive a couple of chances, and eventually managed to survive 85 balls to make 43 before being bowled by the returning Booth in the 54th over.
Littlewood remained unbeaten on a crucial 10 from 29 balls, and the pair had put on a gritty 49 for the last wicket to finish on 192 all out.
After the tea break, despite a few wicketless overs to start, Chris Sanders started to find his rhythm and saw his colleagues take two close catches to leave Didsbury on 30-2.
This was soon 34-3 as Simon Wilkinson persuaded Leech to hole out to a grateful Ryan Macciocchi at deep midwicket. Luke Littlewood’s golden day continued, as he came on to pick up 2 somewhat unexpected wickets from full tosses.
Suddenly, Didsbury were in disarray at 44-7, with no obvious way to save the game.
To their credit however, and perhaps Bramhall had become a little lax, the visitors’ lower order defied the home attack for some time. However, Macciocchi’s introduction soon had an effect as he took wicket number eight LBW to see Didsbury stutter on 79-8. And the same bowler soon wrapped up proceedings with his second and third wickets, with Bramhall winning by a healthy 109 runs. Next Saturday’s fixture at Oulton Park is likely to prove a real test. ●●BRAMHALL 2ND XI AT STOCKPORT GEORGIANS BRAMHALL’S 2nd XI headed to third place Stockport Georgians with the home side just 13 points behind the Beavers in the push for promotion.
After being put in to bat, Bramhall openers Ellie Mason and Harry Oliver put on 50 before both fell in quick succession to avoidable run outs. Returning to the side at number three, George Willoughby’s day was unfortunately cut short as an innocuous looking pat down saw the return of a troublesome shoulder injury.
Jack Harris came to the crease alongside stand-in skipper Tim Wood and both set about making use of the postage-stamp ground.
When the third wicket eventually fell, Bramhall had cleared 230 – Harris holing out for a well-made 77. Bramhall posted a competitive 250-6 from their 50 overs.
The Georgians eventually slipped from 195-5 to 206-8. Despite Richards still being having made 70, a tense run chase was called off with more than 30 needed from the final two overs.
A 14 to 7-point haul in Bramhall’s favour ensures they remain in the promotion places behind league leaders Cheadle. Fourth placed Upton visit Church Lane next Saturday.