Muddled Marple
MARPLE slumped to a seven wicket defeat at Bowdon’s picturesque South Downs Road ground last Saturday, as the previous week’s victory failed to inspire the visiting batsmen.
In a game reduced to fifty overs per side due to heavy overnight rain, Marple were always on the back foot in a fixture that has seen results seesaw between the two sides in recent seasons.
This season, Marple’s top order has failed to fire as a unit since the first game back in mid April.
Bowdon has historically been a tricky ground on which to score freely, but last Saturday saw a superb batting track prepared by the home groundsman, a worthy successor to the late lamented Peter Marron.
Marple do not know whether to “stick or twist” at present.
Do they bat time and get themselves “in”, or go for broke from ball one and attempt to dominate the opposition as is the modern way? Either way, nothing is working for Marple’s undoubtedly talented top order.
Muddled thinking would appear to be hampering progress and continues to keep the side on the lower rungs of the Cheshire County Premier League this season.
Five of the top six managed double figures, and Sam Harbinson and Jim Morgan will have been particularly annoyed to get out in the twenties when appearing to be well set, having seen off the threat of Bowdon’s quality opening bowler Chris Ashling.
Aussie off spinner Richard Carter had chipped in with three wickets and Marple looked down and out at 89 for 8.
However, form man Paul Wood was joined by his brother Chris, unbelievably low in the order at number ten.
Sanity prevailed, as with sensible application and quality strokeplay from both players, Marple reached a respectable and competitive total of 196 for 8, using up the full fifty overs in the process.
The brothers in arms added a superb 107 unbroken for the ninth wicket, with thirteen fours and a six apiece entertaining a good sized crowd of all ages.
Paul Wood finished on 70 not out, and Chris 39 not out. For Bowdon, Carter was the most successful bowler with 3 for