Porthill Park ensure it’s a club double with title joy
PORTHILL Park seconds were in no mood to be left out of the club’s title-winning celebrations at the weekend.
The first team clinched the Premier Division crown - and the seconds rounded off a superb campaign by finishing top of Division Two.
Porthill Park made it 10 wins from their 11 outings with victory at Barlaston to keep fellow hopefuls Norton in Hales at arm’s length on the final day.
Barlaston were invited to bat by the table-toppers and made excellent progress to 180-5 from their 40 overs.
Ben Grange struck 52 and Jon Taylor added 47, with Tom Mason picking up a couple of wickets for Porthill Park.
Mason then played a key role with the bat after the interval as he compiled an unbeaten 46.
And with Leo Plummer (45) and Will Price (38no) also in fine fettle, Porthill Park were able to seal a five-wicket win to kick off the celebrations.
Norton in Hales ended up as runners-up and they finished off their summer schedule with a seven-wicket triumph at home against Bignall End.
Bignall End opted to bat first, but didn’t make the most of that decision and were rolled for just 87.
Babar Khan’s 4-20 was instrumental in their demise, ably assisted by double strikes from Ewan Farnell and Michael Dyer.
Ali Khan-ahmadzai (19) and Ahsam Zaroof (16) were the only Bignall End batsmen to make any notable progress.
That target proved to be no issue for Norton in Hales as Alex Thorley helped himself to 31 to set the home side on their way to a comprehensive success.
Sandbach took third place, despite losing at Caverswall on the last Saturday.
Sandbach put themselves in a good position at halfway after amassing 196-8.
O’shay Reddy top-scored with 54, which contained 11 fours, while Gareth Lennon (46) and Jack Kesteven (38) kept the runs flowing in the formative stages of the afternoon.
Mike Dodd and Jamie Ball picked up 3-19 and 3-35 respectively.
Dodd was at the forefront of Caverswall’s impressive chase, hitting seven fours and four sixes in his 73.
Opener Glen Moore (43) had set solid foundations, which enabled Caverswall to eventually cross the line - seven wickets down - with three balls remaining.
Spinner Ross Kesteven claimed 3-59 for Sandbach.
Silverdale produced an excellent batting performance to win at home against Rode Park & Lawton.
Set 186 for victory, they knocked off the runs for the loss of one wicket and with more than 11 overs to spare.
Mick Moore’s unbeaten 74, a rapid 27-ball 65 not out from Ethan Sheriff and Chris Brookes’ 36 powered Silverdale across the line.
Garry Porter had earlier taken 4-29 in Rode Park & Lawton’s 185-9.
Scott Cheadle top-scored with 35, with Chris Henderson (29), Thomas Atkinson (26) and Andrew Marshall (23no) all chipping in to good effect.
Stafford won by four wickets at home against Oakamoor.
Tom Sherratt (47), Adam Keates (34) and Will Leeson
(32) guided Oakamoor to 169-7 from their allocation. Matthew Turner scooped 3-36. Robert James’ 57 was
backed up by Ashley Lunn’s 28 and 21 from Mo Ahmed after the interval as Stafford banked the points. Kris Heathcote took a couple for wickets for Oakamoor.
Kidsgrove conceded their home fixture against Alsager.