Langley firsts stroll in while seconds stun
LANGLEY 1st XI got back to winning ways at the weekend with a hard-fought win at home to Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat. They were soon in trouble as they were reduced to 1-2 as Andrew Burke and Alex Berzins picked up early wickets.
Ladybridge recovered to 41-2 but then lost three more wickets in quick succession as they wobbled to 51-4.
Again the visitors fought back to reach 90-4 but once again another batch of wickets saw them struggling on 104-7.
Baker (36) and Padfield (17) took the score to 153 before paceman Burke returned to claim two wickets, assisted by Steve Whittingham who took the last wicket as Ladybridge closed on 154 all out.
For Langley, Burke and Berzins both took 3-33.
In response, Langley lost both Aussies early on as Paully Morgan (4) was bowled and Pat Horgan (12) was LBW, the home side struggling to 21-2.
Zak Howdle and Andy Pawley rallied, adding 50, before the latter was caught in the covers for 18.
Olly Wheelton (4) soon followed and when Howdle (40) was bowled the game was in the balance with Langley on 102-5.
Tom Potts (25), Matty Betteridge (11) and Whittingham (13) all chipped in and it was left to Berzins (10no) and Si Patterson (4no) to take Langley to a tense victory.
The result saw Langley move back into second place, 20 points behind Heaton Mersey.
Langley’s 2nd XI turned the form book upside down – with only one win all season previously, they defeated run away leaders Ashley.
Ashley batted first and lost two early wickets as David Frame trapped Cavanagh (1) LBW and then bowled H Hatchell (0).
Ashley rallied but the introduction of skipper Matt Barber saw the hosts fall apart as he claimed five wickets in a devastating spell.
Evans (17) was caught at slip by Frame, Wardle (20), Johnstone (0) and McCall (1) were all bowled and C Hatchell was caught behind by Hughes.
Dave Letven also took a wicket as Alves (1) was well caught at midwicket by Ben Simnet as Ashley were in the mire on 70-8.
Semple (41) and Pritchard (11) rallied, adding 32 before the former perished, caught on the boundary by Frame as Callum Love claimed a first wicket. Ashley then scrambled to 116-9 off their 45 overs.
Matt Barber, 5-16 off 10 overs, bowled superbly supported by Frame 2-36 off 14 overs, Love 1-21 off 11 overs and Letven 1-34 off 10 overs.
In reply, birthday boy Rick Hughes and the evergreen Rick Laughton opened up. The duo batted very well, adding 47 before Hughes (21) miscued and was caught in the covers.
Ben Simnet joined Laughton and the duo continued the good work, they looked in little trouble as the league leaders were struggling to find a breakthrough.
Langley strolled to a nine-wicket victory with Laughton (47no) and Simnet (33no).
It was an excellent performance by Langley who fielded superbly – youngsters Isaac Anderson, Dan Jones and Tom Roberts all performed very well. Langley 2nd XI remain rooted to the bottom of the league and must maintain this level of form.