SMITH ON THE TON TRAIL TO AID CHURCH EATON’S POINTS PUSH
DAN Smith compiled a century to put Church Eaton on the road to victory at home against Meakins thirds in NSSCL Division Six.
Smith struck 13 fours and three sixes in his 105 as Church Eaton made serene progress to 257-7 from their allocation.
Adrian Melbourn (51no) was in good form as well, while William Hollins and Joshua Higgins took two wickets apiece.
Helen Hughes replied with 19, but Meakins were dismissed for 78 after tea.
Douglas Hughes did the damage with 3-16, aided along the way by Will Ross’ 3-29.
That left Church Eaton in second place, but it’s Betley who are top after a fifth straight win at home against Whitmore seconds.
Whitmore were skittled for 111, in which Jonathan Phipps claimed 3-2 and Luke Taylor picked up 3-30.
Mustafa Mazhar top-scored for Whitmore with 20, with Terry Mitchener (19) and Yumeth Athauda (18) not far behind.
Betley eased to an eight-wicket triumph after the interval as Luke Taylor hit five fours and three sixes in his 51 not out and Lewis Clarke chipped in with 32.
Stafford thirds won a high-scoring encounter at Hanford seconds.
Half-centuries from Dan Howe (69) and Dave Cartlidge (64) were the main contributions to Stafford’s imposing 223-8. Shayan Hussain captured 4-28.
Hussain made 24 in the run chase and Kasim Ahmed top-scored with 67, but Hanford’s brave challenge came to an end with the score on 181.
Kannan Bhuvanachandran claimed 4-31 and there were two
wickets apiece for Nooh Salam and Cartlidge.
Oakamoor seconds cruised to an eight-wicket victory at Moddershall & Oulton fifths.
The Modd men were bundled out for 66 as Johnathan Clowes took 3-8 and Edward Brookes added 3-15. Chris Wright top-scored with 18.
Clowes’ 24 and Joe Avery’s 22 not out guided Oakamoor past the post in comfort.
Chris Sheperd was in excellent form in Leycett seconds’ win at Newcastle & Hartshill thirds.
Sheperd scored an unbeaten 129, hitting 18 boundaries, and Patrick Wilkes weighed in with 58 as the duo put on 187 for the second wicket.
That helped Leycett to a mammoth 242-4, in which Lee Slaymaker claimed two wickets..
Castle showed fighting spirit in reply, but were always behind the rate as they eventually drew stumps on 178-9. Vinnie Purcell (48), Vincent Handley (41) and Daniel Bogges (38no) made the most progress with the bat.
However, Dan O’gorman (331),
Ben Shirley (3-33) and Joe Tomkinson (3-38) all took three wickets apiece to keep Castle at arm’s length.
Stafford seconds won at home against their Sandyford counterparts.
Ali Siddiqi’s 58 was backed up by Mark Evans’ 49 as Stafford reached 225-6 from their 40 overs.
Asachveer Singh-kaller (32) and Ellie Cope (26) led the Sandyford reply, but Sam Haynes’ 3-11 ensured the visitors were all out for 104.
Oscar Bell, Mansoor Hussain and James Scerri shared six wickets.