Dismal show after safety is secured
AFTER securing their place in the Cheshire County League for next season, Macclesfield 1st XI hosted at Victoria Road bottom of table, and winless Davenham. The visitors won the toss and asked the home side to bat.
There then followed a performance of the most dismal standard as Dean Jackson (7 wickets) and Robin Taylor (3 wickets) ripped open the fragile Macclesfield batting. Only skipper James Cross reached double figures scoring 22 and the innings concluded on 69 all out.
In reply Davenham were reduced to 2 wickets for 5 runs as Miles Bradshaw bowled out the two openers, both for ducks. Jack Massey chipped in with a couple more wickets, one a very good catch in the deep by debutant 13 year old Charlie Ackerley but with so little runs on the board the outcome was a foregone conclusion. It took Davenham only 18 overs to reach the total required and a highly deserved first victory. Paul Parker was 26 not out at the conclusion.
Meanwhile the 2nd XI travelled to Chester Boughton Hall looking for points in their fight to avoid relegation from the 2nd XI Premier Division.
Winning the toss captain Adam Longshaw chose to bat and opened with Chris France and James Coombes. The pair batted sensibly putting on 70 for the first wicket before Coombes was caught and bowled for 12.
However, Brad Potter went for 0 followed quickly by French who was dismissed for 51 leaving Macclesfield on 76-3. Wickets then tumbled and when Ben Curwen was out for 23 with the score on 124-8 the chances of posting a competitive score were slim. Mature batting from youngsters Will Jennings (20) and Sam Hughes (13*) took the all out score to 163 in the 50th over.
In reply Chester BH started strongly with the experienced Matthew Griffiths and Matt Hodges putting on 70 before the later was bowled by Jennings. Jack Yates went quickly after that, bowled by Liam Markie and shortly after a stunning slip catch by the Markie dismissed Griffiths for 49 leaving the home side on 101-3. A stand of 45 gave the home side the edge before Ben Spaven was dismissed for 22 off the bowling of Sam Hughes. Wickets were now falling as Chester fell to 163-8 but
Joe Killoran held the side together with a half century as CBH won by two wickets.
A fighting performance by the 2nds which leaves them 4 points behind Oulton Park and Hyde with one game to play.
The 3rd XI travelled to Woodford 2s and were asked to field first. Perhaps a regretful choice as Woodford were bowled out for 63 with 5 wickets for Miles Horner and two apiece for Ethan Morris and Steve Whittingham. Alex Clinch to scored with 33
The total was no problem for Macc as they knocked off the runs in 18 overs with Yash Jain (29) and Ethan Moris (30) getting the runs.
The 4XI hosted Lindow 3s who won the toss and elected to bat. They scored 208-7 off their 40 overs with two wickets apiece for Ginto George, Matt Cunningham and Jacob Tidswell. Meteeb Memood top scored for Lindow with 104. In reply Macclesfield were all out in the final over for 149. Tidswell top scored with 62, his maiden half century for the club. So the spoils go to Lindow but a very creditable performance from a very young side fielding a number of u13s.