CHEADLE PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF IN DREAM START TO CAMPAIGN
CHEADLE seconds laid down an early marker with a comprehensive victory over Sandbach in their Division One opener.
The Moorlanders, promoted as Division Three champions last summer, cruised to the points on home turf against their Cheshire rivals.
Half-centuries from Ben Degg and Jake Mills enabled them to amass 222-7 from their 40 overs in the first half of the afternoon.
Degg hit nine fours and three sixes in his 55-ball 74 not out, while Mills’ 57 featured seven boundaries and one maximum.
Craig Smith (26) and Joshua Jackson (25) also kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Jack Collett (3-40) and Sean Manning (3-42) were the main men with the ball for Sandbach.
In reply, Ather Abid hit six fours and two sixes in his 65.
But that was the only noteworthy contribution in the chase as they were eventually bowled out for 132.
Jack Winfield helped himself to 3-31, while there were double strikes from James Jackson, Ryan Elwell and Sam Akram.
Endon carried over their fine form from the end of last season to open up this campaign with a win at Meir Heath. They banked the points from their first match in a low-scoring encounter.
Endon were dismissed for 121, in which Sam Rowley top-scored with 32 and Daniel Bailey made a crucial 21 lower down.
Dale Heath and Barney Britton captured 3-12 and 3-24 respectively, with Maz Akhtar chipping in with two victims.
Heath (45) fronted the home side’s reply, supported by Stefan Read’s 15 and 14 from Asim Ali.
But their efforts were not enough as Meir Heath were restricted to 104-9 from their 40 overs.
Kyle Brassington took 4-23 and there were two wickets for Rowley.
Porthill Park seconds also had joy on the road as they edged out their Stone SP counterparts by eight runs.
Visitors Porthill Park stuck 136 all out on the board early on, aided by Will Kilgariff’s 34 and Tom Timmis’ 31. Devon Pollard (4-18) was the star with the ball for Stone SP, allied to twin strikes from Joel Davies and James Cope.
Pollard (27no) showed off his all-round credentials after tea as Stone SP hunted down their target.
John Cheadle (25) and Steve Aston (20) were also in good opening-day nick, but Stone SP were bowled out for 128 with eight balls remaining.
Adam Ralphs helped himself to 3-27, with six wickets being shared by Blake Blumeris, Liam Hassett and Tom Kesteven.
Hem Heath seconds opened up in fine fashion with an impressive success at Rode Park & Lawton.
Nazakat Ali’s 37 was backed up by 31 apiece from Matthew Rogerson and Ben Lucas as Hem Heath made their way to 188-6 from their allocation.
Jacob Mountford and Jack Harrison both claimed two scalps.
Trent Stirk (27) top-scored in reply, but Rode Park & Lawton succumbed for 126.
That was largely thanks to Ali’s 4-7, plus two wickets each for Rob Price and Wasim Khan.
Barlaston had an easy first Saturday of the summer as they swept aside the challenge of Blythe.
Visitors Blythe were rocking on 22-6 at one stage before Chris Gask launched a one-man recovery mission to help them to 97 all out.
Gask hit 10 fours in his 54, but Jack Davies’ 3-10 and 3-18 from Ethan Smith left Barlaston in command.
And it was a position of strength they never relinquished as they eased to an eight-wicket victory inside 21 overs.
Brian Sims (35no), Davies (25no), Sam Plant (21) and Fida Hussain (15) saw the Swans home.
Bignall End returned from Oakamoor with a four-wicket success under their belts.
They were set 135 - and George Harding produced a perfectlypaced innings to see them home.
Openers Martin Dawson (20) and Jon Maskrey (18) had laid decent foundations before Harding took centre stage.
He made 72 not out – including five fours and two sixes – to guide Bignall End to the points with two overs to spare.
Kris Heathcote (3-24) was the pick of the Oakamoor bowlers, having earlier made 22 in their 134-7.
James Smith (28), Tom Sherratt (26) and Joe Avery (21no) also chipped in to good effect. Ahsam Zaroof (3-30) was the pick of the Bignall End bowling attack.