Poynton snared by Hunter

POYNTON went down to defeat in this run spree, where for victors Stockport Georgians it was simply a case of one man having a superb day.

There was little hint of what was to follow when Georgians lost their first three wickets with only three runs on the board. This however brought Matt Hunter to the wicket, and the first indications of the danger he posed came when the score advanced by 27 in his first four overs at the crease - this was a player who would not be digging in defensively to help his side recover.

Hunter first added 56 with Ben Jones, before Jones fell to a superb slip catch by Brian Kingham.

After reaching his century in brisk fashion from 101 balls, what followed was utter destruction of the Poynton attack from Hunter, as he reached 171 not out from just 124 balls.

His innings featured 18 fours and nine sixes.

Hunter found the perfect foil in James Locke, who himself made 40 not out, and together the pair added an unbroken 187 for the sixth wicket. 146 runs came in the last 12 overs alone.

Adam Williams started the reply with some superb shots in making 60 from 51 balls. When Chris Williams replaced him at the crease and began striking the ball cleanly as well, Poynton took drinks on 116-3, and with 25 overs left were still thinking of an unlikely victory. On this excellent pitch anything remained possible.

Unfortunately, both Chris Williams (23) and Kingham (22) fell in quick succession, and something of a clatter of wickets fell thereafter, before experienced campaigners Jimmy Williams and Pete Heath at least made Georgians sweat for a time before they grabbed the last wicket.