Classy Curwen on point as Macc put Marple to sword
THERE was a delayed start to Macclesfield firsts game against Marple, the early drizzle reducing the game to a maximum of 42 overs per side.
Marple won the toss and elected to bat first and openers Matthew Barrow and Alex Pannell took the score to 20 before Brad Porter struck, Pannell attempting a violent pull shot that travelled a huge distance - but only upwards - and the ball was eventually caught by keeper Jack Mattsson.
Craig Melrose got a deserved wicket when he yorked Marple’s No3 Mark Bennett for a duck, a crucial breakthrough given Bennett made a century in last week’s game.
A few overs later, Melrose got his second of the day with Barrow well caught by James Cross in the gully leaving Marple on 36-3 and needing to rebuild.
Macclesfield created chances to take more wickets but these were missed as a catch was dropped in the slips and another in the outfield allowing Mark Makin and Max Fitzgerald to increase the run rate and put Marple into a much stronger position at 76-3 with 18 overs left of the innings.
At this point Ben Curwen was introduced into the attack and he induced a thin edge from Fitzgerald that was caught by keeper Mattson. In Curwen’s next over Makin aimed a powerful legside shot towards the boundary but unluckily for him Rob Porter was directly in the way at midwicket and he took a reflex catch so both of Marple’s set batsmen were gone.
Curwen’s success continued as he took two more wickets in his 5th over, removing Noakes LBW and Ramsey well caught by John Birchall at point.
Marple had fallen from 76-3 to 98-7 and Macc were on top.
The No8, Joe Cash, took the fight to Macclesfield and he hit three big sixes as he attempted to get the visitors to a competitive score but he was losing partners.
The last ball of Curwen’s seven over spell was a full swinging delivery that bowled Saxelby giving him a 5-wicket haul.
Rob Porter then had the dangerous Cash caught by Finn Nash at gully to leave Marple on 126-9 and soon after he had his second wicket to end the innings as Chalmers was well caught by Curwen diving forward at deep point.
Macclesfield started their reply in pursuit of 136 to win in an entertaining manner as Jack Massey hit the second ball of the innings for a huge six into the neighbouring Parkside ground but the fun didn’t last as he edged behind a few balls later.
Scoring was difficult from then on and Macc lost their second wicket when Angus Thompson was caught behind for four leaving the home team under some pressure on 12-2 in the 9th over.
Opener Rob Porter was joined by Captain James Cross and they put on a crucial stand of 65 that swung the game fully back the home team’s way, beginning steadily and then slowly increasing the tempo.
Cross hit six 4s in his 36 before he was bowled by Makin.
Porter continued to bat fluently in partnership with new man Finn Nash reaching a fine 50 with a six into the hospital.
When Porter was given out LBW for 54 just 21 runs were required, and Nash and Jack Mattsson ensured there would be no slip-ups finishing 21 not out and 5 not out respectively.
This was an entertaining win for Macclesfield who ultimately won many of the key moments with bat and ball as the momentum of the game changed back and forth at various points.
In the watching crowd was former club pro and legendry Australian wicket-keeper Darren “Chuck” Berry visiting his former cricketing home from home and meeting old team mates as he heads to coach the London Spirit in the Hundred.
As a fitting way to complete his visit Chuck and other members of the 1992 and 1993 double-winning Macc team joined the current generation in the changing room for the traditional club song they developed 30 years ago, a nice moment of history in the club’s 175th anniversary year.