Marple Edged out in gritty contest
years of experience, caused problems for all the home batsmen. However, the three players that managed to register double figures were to have a crucial part in the posting of a respectable total in trying conditions.
Firstly, Ed Foster, a very useful acquisition from Birmingham League side, Shrewsbury, ghosted his way to 26.
This elegant left hander could well prove to be a superb signing for Alderley, and it was with some relief for Marple that he was adjudged lbw to Greasley at 52 for 3. This brought in Richard Wilkinson at number five. The former Cheshire allrounder is well known to Marple players, but today he looked fitter and sharper than in recent seasons.
He clubbed Greasley for a brutal six, but the young, talented, home batsmen at the other end could not stay with him.
It was left to veteran and former Lancashire opening bat, Mark Currie at number 8, to make a third vital contribution of 24. Wilkinson made the game’s top score of 35, and his frustration at being lbw to Greasley was apparent at 106 for 7. Currie was brilliantly stumped by Morgan off Greasley at 123 for 8, who was right on his game, spinning the ball sharply and being miserly with his length. Liam Brown returned to mop up the tail, and Marple were reasonably happy with having to chase just 134 for victory, although mindful that batting conditions were far from straightforward. Greasley had 5 for 42 from 14 overs, Wylie 3 for 53 from 17 overs delivered in a single spell, and Brown 2 for 26.
There was an element of farce to the start of the Marple reply. After just two overs, there was a problem with a damaged ball. It took more than five minutes to locate a suitable replacement, but this delay undoubtedly affected Jim Morgan’s concentration.
He followed his superb century at Timperley two weeks ago, with a duck, lbw to Wilkinson, who settled immediately into a demanding spell. Ramsay followed, caught at slip, three balls later, and Marple were 1 for 2. The home attack gave absolutely nothing away, sensing that the game was there was the taking. Wilkinson’s partner, JakeHill was wicketless in his initial spell, but was nonetheless, very hard to get away. It took all the experience and nous of Marple’s third wicket pair, Andrew Hall and Paul Wood, to steady the ship with some gutsy and determined batting. Boundaries were rare, but Wood played a couple fine back foot drives off Hill to ease the visiting supporter’s nerves a little.
Wilkinson and Hall, old Cheshire teammates, had a battle royal, with the batsman desperate not to give it away, and Wilkinson beating the outside edge regularly and also rapping Hall a painful blow on the fingers.
Keeper and Captain for Alderley, Adam Worrall now came into his own. He had made a duck earlier in the afternoon, but now set a largely defensive field once Wilkinson has established a degree of control on the proceedings. His played his trump card next with the introduction of Foster to replace Hill. Foster is a medium paced bowler of metronomic accuracy, and conditions suited him to a tee. Worrall is a fine keeper and he stood up to stumps as his bowlers found a length just short of being drivable, and delivered gun barrel straight at the stumps. Runs dried up, with a scoring rate of under two per over being the norm from now on.
Marple’s normally free flowing scorers just could not get on top, despite battling to gain ascendancy. Wood (22) looked in good form, but both he and Hall (21) fell lbw. From 49 for 4 it was always going to be an uphill struggle, although Makin and Paulett also reached the 20’s showing commendable application. When Paulett was eighth out at 93 the game was up, despite George Clarke showing resolution with a hard fought 9 not out. Like Brown earlier, Hill with 2 for 19, returned to clean up the tail, and Marple’s determined battle of almost 52 overs for 101 runs was ultimately in vain.
A rejuvenated Wilkinson had 3 for 22 from 13 overs, and Foster 4 for 27 from 17, being almost impossible to score off.
This was not a great spectacle as a game, with the pitch not conducive to free flowing shot making.
However, the skill of the more experienced players of both sides shone through, with the all round performances of Wilkinson and Foster proving decisive. Next Saturday, May 11th, Marple are at home to Grappenhall with a 12.30pm start.