Batsmen cause tons of trouble!
NSSCL Division Five batsmen were not affected by the earlyseason conditions as three centuries were recorded on the opening weekend.
The most important one arrived at Woore where home batsman Hassan Haleem reached three figures in a 10run victory over Leek seconds.
It proved to be a highscoring affair as Haleem’s 116, containing 21 fours and one maximum, powered Woore to an imposing 292-7.
Skipper Tas Hussain (40) and youngster Matthew Kenvyn (30) also made merry to leave Leek with an uphill task.
Brad Grindey claimed 3-64 for the Moorlanders - and they attacked the target with gusto.
Sam Slater (61), Joel Bayley (58), Joshua Woodcock (57) and Matt Nicholls (47) ensured that the contest went right down to the wire.
However, a double strike from Hussain proved to be crucial as Leek fell just short on 282-7 at the close.
Ashcombe Park’s Nick Goodwin was also buying the beers after the second team’s easy win at home against Little Stoke 2s.
Goodwin compiled an unbeaten 112, hitting 17 fours and one six, as he shared an opening stand of 199 with Joe Thompson (66).
The duo’s exploits enabled Ashcombe Park to post 235-2 to virtually put the game out of reach.
Finley Simms’ 41 was backed up by 38 from Nick Bratt and Euan Irving’s 32 after the interval, but it was not enough and Little Stoke were bowled out for 133.
That was largely thanks to Jacob Johnson’s 5-23, although experienced duo Grant Roberts and Lee Slater also helped themselves to a couple of wickets apiece.
Sandon were also in imposing mood on their journey to Caverswall seconds.
Set 175 for victory, they needed only 31.2 overs to complete a seven-wicket success.
Andy Wootton (56no) and Greg Swanwick (43) were the main contributors to the chase.
Kurt Preece had earlier struck 39 for Caverswall, but Hareesh Sathyanathan Nair (4-32) and Mark Attwood (340) limited the home side to 174 all out.
In NSSCL Division Six Endon secured a six-wicket win on their trip to Wood Lane.
Steve Joddrell (4-30) was instrumental in dismissing Wood Lane for 88, despite Rob Glenn’s 39.
Alex Dutton (25), Oliver
Rogerson (24) and Guy Tinwell (21no) soon had Endon celebrating an easy win. Lewis Gibson snared 3-40.
Oakamoor seconds banked the spoils from their home encounter with Sandyford.
Sandyford took first use and posted 193-5 on the back of decent efforts from Gareth Rigby (35no), Stephan Shemilt (34), George Allen (32no) and Liam Pattison (30).
Paul Hammersley and Matthew Carnwell took two wickets apiece.
Carnwell was then at the centre of Oakamoor’s run chase, making 63.
And with Harry Smith compiling an unbeaten 43, Oakamoor secured a fourwicket triumph.