Seconds outgunned by visitors

MACCLESFIELD CC’s third eleven were at home on Parkside on Saturday to Chester Broughton Hall with the visitors winning the toss and putting Maccy into bat.

Macclesfield certainly didn’t waste their chance to open with Yash Jain and James Ross putting on a solid 40 to start with Ross falling for 16.

The next pairing of Stewart ‘Alfie’ Garnett and Jain proved to be even more potent though with them making a partnership of 145.

Alfie hit an excellent 66 before being bowled and Jain going on to get a brilliant 96, just short of his century.

It was a fantastic knock that was brought to an end when he went LBW, thankfully the decision fell to a very, very experienced cricketer so there can be no doubt about the accuracy of the call.

Oliver Beecroft and veteran Steve Whittingham both added twenty plus for a very grand total of 243 with the loss of only two wickets after their 40 overs.

Very good work and some excellent batting from Macclesfield putting them in a strong position on paper at least.

Broughton Hall, however, were keen to spoil the party and proved themselves to be a formidable batting team with their opening bat Wundle putting in a shift with an excellent 119 before McFarlane brought the game home with a half century in the last over of the game.

A tough one for Macclesfield having put on such a good score but lessons learnt for sure.

Macclesfield’s fourth eleven were away to locals Toft who won the toss, putting Macclesfield into bat.

Macclesfield’s opening batting partnership couldn’t get the team off to the sort of start that was needed but number 3 and the reliable Aju Clement was excellent value for money for Macclesfield eventually scoring a very good 53 and giving Macclesfield something to build around.

A few of Macclesfield’s batsmen managed to support Aju with Chris Horsfield, Sibi Joseph and Dinahar Vivekanandan managing double figures with Joseph next best with 21.

Extras again chipped in their bit with a second top contribution of 28.

Macclesfield all out in 38 overs for 153 giving them something to defend.

Credit to Toft’s batters, they applied themselves well, all six ‘bats’ used reached double figures in a good team effort.

Macc’s bowlers picked up a few wickets along the way with Noah Bourne getting one as did Vivekanandan but Macclesfield’s Radha Ramachandran picked up two, one of which was a wonder ball clean bowling their opener with a leg breaker.

Toft’s batting was good though and they eventually made the total required in just over 32 overs to take the win.