SANDYFORD HOLD THEIR NERVE TO WIN
SANDYFORD held their nerve to beat Whitmore by two runs in their Kidsgrove and District Junior League Under-18s Division encounter.
Visitors Sandyford looked to be on the back foot after they were bowled out for 87.
Finley Beswick and Joe Warrilow both made 18, but Bryson Bertoni (4-13) and Ryan Roberts (3-12) put Whitmore in control.
Aaqil Mohideen then made 43 in the run chase and at 81-6, Whitmore were on the brink of opening their league season with a victory.
However, Sandyford had one last hurrah and dismissed Whitmore for 85 as Lewis Walley took 4-26 and there were a couple of wickets apiece for Warrilow and Olly Shirley.
Bignall End won on their visit to Porthill Park.
Connor Uren hit eight fours in his 65 not out – and James Cope made an unbeaten 32 – as Porthill Park posted 127-1 from their 30 overs.
Ahsam Zaroof replied with 48, and although Cope captured 3-18, Bignall End secured a three-wicket win with five balls to spare.
Hem Heath were also lastover winners at Stone SP.
Set 143 for victory, halfcenturies from Jack Sullivan (52) and Matt Moore (50) – who put on 105 for the third wicket – saw Hem Heath to their target for the loss of five wickets.
Archie Cleary-baker (35) had earlier top-scored with 35 in Stone SP’S 142-9, while there was 28 apiece from Nick hickey and Edward Batchelor.
Danny Sanders claimed 3-38 for Hem Heath, with Ben Topley and Jack Jones sharing four wickets.
■ IN Under-13s Section Y, Porthill Park won at Hem Heath.
Oscar Bradshaw was in excellent form, making 50 to form the principal contribution to Porthill’s 166-3 declared.
Aarnav Singh (38) and Jack Tidyman (30) lent valuable support. Archie Colclough took two wickets.
Hem Heath were bowled out for 24 in reply as Bradshaw picked up 3-2 and there were double strikes from Tidyman and Oscar Bennett.
Leek were 10-wicket winners at home against Longton.
Cameron Mcnab and Darcy Haydon took 3-2 apiece as Longton were dismissed for 20, and Leek eased to their target.
Newcastle & Hartshill had the better of their draw at Knypersley.
Theo Abel’s 51 was backed up by Eli Graves’ 38 not out as Castle reached 168-4.
Knypersley dug deep after the interval to secure a draw.
Cerys Andrews made 18 and Fletcher Moseley chipped in with 15 as they drew stumps on 66-9, despite two wickets apiece from Anirvin Garimella and Lucy Dowie.
Whitmore were away-day winners at Rode Park & Lawton.
Adam Sherratt and Lakmin Illerperuma contributed 45 and 37 in Whitmore’s 166-8.
Illerperuma then picked up 3-1 to dismiss Rode Park for 58. Sam Marshall led the resistance with 25 not out.
■ IN Under-13s Section Z, Stone SP won by five wickets at Cheadle.
Austin Bourne’s 3-4 was key to Cheadle being restricted to 86-9. Noah Shaw top-scored with 24.
In reply, Connor Shrehorn made 39 and Harry Cheadle struck 20 not out to see Stone SP home.
Little Stoke were in fine form to win by nine wickets at Stafford.
Riley Irving’s 3-9 left Stafford all out for 57, in which Ruben Gill made 23.
Samuel Jones compiled 26 not out to steer Little Stoke to their target.
Moddershall & Oulton and Checkley played out a draw in their meeting.
Alfie Womble (52), Joseph Walley (50) and charlie Price (24no) guided the Modd youngsters to 163-5.
Lorcan Potts (50) replied with a half-century and Joshua Stones weighed in with 48 not out as Checkley closed on 143-5.
■ IN the Under-13s eight-aside division, there were wins for Endon, Burslem, Porthill Park and Leycett.