Macc’s Division 1 status secure
FOR the second week running, Macclesfield 1st XI had a must win relegation battle – this time at Bramhall – with only eight points separating the teams.
Stand-in skipper John Birchall, on winning the toss, had no hesitation in asking Bramhall to bat on a wicket that had succumbed to the previous day’s heavy rain storms.
Indeed, there was a thought about moving to an adjoining strip or even declaring the wicket unfit.
Macclesfield started the bowling with Craig Melrose and Miles Bradshaw and a hard battle commenced with openers Ashley West and Greg Dixon.
It was not until the 10th over that a breakthrough came for the visitors with Bradshaw dismissing Dixon for 15 and, very next ball, Jack Clark to leave Brmhall on 25-2.
The following over saw Melrose claim his first wicket as West was caught very well by Jack Massey.
And 25-3 quickly became 37-4 as Bradshaw dismissed Bridgeman for 1.
In games of cricket there are often pivotal moments, winning the toss was one such example in this game.
Another was in the 17th over when Melrose induced the dangerous Bramhall captain Nick Cantello to play a delivery slightly early and sky the ball.
It looked to be safe but Brad Porter sprinted a fair distance, dived and took a magnificent catch just above the ground. Cantello had scored 19 off just 18 balls and had looked in fine form.
At 50-5 Macclesfield were in the ascendency.
By now skipper Birchall had to consider his bowling options as Melrose and Bradshaw has used 10 overs each of their allotted 15.
The decision was to keep Melrose on and replace Bradshaw with Ian Tait, making his first appearance for the 1s for some years.
It proved an inspired call as a further two dismissals for Melrose had Bramhall struggling at 65-7.
Tait followed a first over maiden by bowling Ryan
Macciocchi for 11. At 67- 8 and only 26 overs gone the visitors were well in control.
Oli Webb and Sean McNicholl dug in and started to give Bramhall some hope but Tait struck again to dismiss Webb for a run a ball 23.
The 9th wicket had put on 25 valuable runs but at 90- 9 with 18 overs left Macclesfield were confident.
Pivotal moment number three! The 10th wicket pairing of McNicholl and veteran Simon Wilkinson turned the game round. They used the remaining overs to develop a stand of 50.
Macc changed their bowlers frequently, bringing the spinners on but could not get a breakthrough as the batters played sensibly. You could sense the spirits dropping amongst the fielders as every run was cheered vociferously from the home dressing room.
The Bramhall innings concluded on the last ball when McNicholl was dismissed for 18, having patiently faced 86 balls. Wilkinson was not out 31. Melrose took 4-22, Bradshaw 4 -52 and Tait 2-18.
Macclesfield needed a firm start with openers Massey and Rob Porter. On a wicket that was still proving difficult the batters tried to take the game to Bramhall and not get bogged down.
With 10 overs gone Porter skied a shot and was caught for 13 with the score on 37. When Jack Mattson fell for a golden duck next over Bramhall were well and truly in the game.
Some eyebrows were raised when 16 year old Brad Porter joined Massey but they put on 21 runs, a significant amount in a low scoring game, before Massey was caught by Clark off Wilkinson. At 62-3 with 27 overs left another youngster, 15year old Fin Nash joined Porter.
They batted carefully although not without a few difficult moments but put on 24 runs for the 4th wicket before Porter was bowled by Wilkinson.
When Harry Elms was dismissed in the 38th over and Nash in the next for a patient 19, Macclesfield were now 100-6 and the 41 runs required seemed a long way off.
With the spinners turning the ball greatly and fielders vociferously appealing for anything, it required a clear focus from the batters.
Skipper Birchall led from the front trying to keep the score board ticking without taking any undue risk. Bradshaw helped himself to 11 runs off 8 balls as he and Birchall put on 17 for the 7th wicket.
However, Bradshaw then reversed swept Macciocchi and it was brilliantly anticipated by Cantello at slip who held the catch. 24 runs, or 3 wickets required and 9 overs left. Would this be another pivotal moment in a game where nerves on both sides were being stretched to the limit?
The scoring rate slowed with only 6 runs off the next 4 overs as Macclesfield crept toward the total under immense pressure. However Birchall with a 4 and Craig Melrose with a 6 released the pressure, leaving 2 runs required off the last 2 overs which was achieved with 7 balls to spare.
Birchall scored 20 and Melrose 12 , both not out. Wilkinson finished with 2
-32 off his 15 overs and Macciocchi 3 -40.
A tension-filled game, hard fought by both sides but the 25 points secures Macclesfield’s position in Division 1 whereas Bramhall go into the last week in a three way fight with Lindow and Marple to avoid relegation.
●●IN the penultimate match of the season, Captain Matt Cunningham’s 4th XI team were looking to extend their winning run to six games in a row when they welcomed Prestbury to Victoria Road on Saturday.
The visitors have also been on a strong run recently, thanks in no smalls part to their Captain Gabor Simon’s impressive form with the bat. The visiting skipper won the toss and elected to bat first, putting faith in his side’s abilities to put on a strong total.
Some very good bowling from James Ross saw Macclesfield take the early wicket of Alastair Knight for 5 and Ethan Bullivent also picked up the wicket of Prestbury’s Santi Houghton with an excellent delivery. The captain Simon continued his excellent batting form though and struck up a crucial partnership with Ridley Partridge, both batting well and Simon going on to make his century.
Macclesfield got wickets with brilliant catches from Harry Boyd, Luke Mottram and Noah Bourne.
The standout in the bowling attack was James Ross for Macclesfield who picked up four wickets in total.
However, Prestbury punished just about every ball that gave them an opportunity and ended their innings with a impressive 223 with 30 of the those coming from the last over, making it a tough task ahead for Macclesfield.
In reply, Macclesfield never really got going. James Ross added to his bowling with the team’s best performance with the bat and hit 27 runs, but in the end too many of the home team’s batsmen gave away their wickets too easily and fell way short of the visitors’ total with just 75.
A disappointing week for the home side but they get the chance for payback when they visit Prestbury next week on the last day of the season.