Captain Craig inspires third win
CHEADLE seconds’ captain Craig Smith led from the front as his side chalked up their third successive NSSCL Division Three victory on their trip to Eccleshall.
Smith starred with the bat first of all as he helped the Moorlanders recover from 55-5 to post 187-9 from their 40 overs.
The skipper compiled 54, hitting eight fours, and Ben Degg top-scored with 56 - striking two fours and four sixes - as the duo put on 100 for the sixth wicket.
James Carruthers picked up 4-43 for Eccleshall, with Chris Gask adding a couple of victims.
Smith then played a lead role with the ball, snaring 3-27, to restrict the home side to 156-9 in reply.
Karl Mason top-scored with 20 not out, while Smith’s bowling exploits were backed up by double strikes from Ryan and Scott Harvey.
Smith’s men are level on points at the top with Checkley seconds, who beat their Meakins counterparts at Four Trees.
Home side Checkley managed to amass 195 all out, in which Ben Carrigan (31), Thomas Carrigan (27), Kevin Whitehurst (26) and Adam Cottier (23) all made handy contributions.
Oliver Radzins and Tariq Mughal scooped 3-29 and 3-33 respectively.
Mughal (24) and Tom Fox (20) impressed after tea, but Meakins collapsed from 58-2 to 87 all out.
Experienced all-rounder Nick Hunt instigated that slide, taking 4-1, while Dan Amos and Thomas Carrigan shared four wickets.
Wedgwood are in third place following a six-wicket win at home against Rode Park & Lawton.
Usman Saleem’s 3-14 was instrumental in limiting Rode Park & Lawton to 99-9 from their allocation. Jonathan Gallimore made 26.
Kamau Leverock (3-32) took three wickets in Wedgwood’s reply, but they managed to ease to their target as Rizwan Ramzan made an unbeaten 40 and Saleem chipped in with 23.
Hem Heath seconds claimed their first win of the league season against Hanford, who themselves have now lost all three encounters.
Muhammad Afzaal’s 50 was backed up by Wasim Khan’s 47 as Hem Heath reached 193 all out.
Syed Haider (3-15) and Sibtain Haider (3-25) took three wickets apiece, with Abu Sayed Jamil and Zain Mohammad taking the other wickets. In their run chase, Hanford slipped to 80 all out - Atique Khan making 17 not out - as Matthew Rogerson did the damage with 4-33.
Longton seconds had a fine away day as they pocketed the points on their visit to Elworth. Luke Woodward made 52, which contained eight fours, and Tom Saji added 37, as Longton made progress to 171-9.
Connor Flowers and James Yates claimed 3-33 and 3-36 respectively.
Sam Baldwin’s 30 and 23 from Joe Hodson fronted the Elworth response, but Brodie Mack captured 3-41 as the home side were bowled out for 124.
Meir Heath seconds defeated Newcastle & Hartshill 2nd XI.
Hosts Meir Heath had Jake Heath (29) to thank for steering them to 126 all out. Jack Wilson (4-24) and
George Hickman (3-25) were in fine form with the ball for Castle.
Their batting failed to fire after the interval, though, as they were skittled for 54. Hickman top-scored with 16, but Maz Akhtar (3-4), Asim Ali (3-9) and Abid Hussain (3-12) ensured the points stayed with the home side.