What a remarkable weekend!
The 1st XI stayed mathematically top of the league after setting too big a total at Roe Green whilst the 2nd XI, spearheaded by an unbeaten ton from Jack Doyle, magnificently chased down a huge target to beat Darcy Lever 1sts.
The following day all 4 teams won their cup games – in which the 1sts posted an even bigger total than the day before, boosted by a century from pro Shivam Chauhan, and the 4ths tail-wagged brilliantly to secure a one-wicket win at Milnrow 3rds.
Skipper James Wharmby (62), Lewis Smith (61), and Danny Pawson (61) were the bedrock on which the First Team total of 280 for 7 was built during their league encounter at Roe Green last Saturday. The hosts found Nathan Bailey continuing his red-hot form as he grabbed 6 for 42 to trigger their dismissal for 190. Bailey now has 60 wickets for the season in all competitions and it was his eighth first-team five-wicket haul.
The 2nds found visitors Darcy Lever in good form with the bat, especially Muhammad Sadiq who struck a classy 123 not out, reaching 274 for 9. Charlie Jackson returned the best figures of 3 for 26, with Wilf Reeve taking 3 for 26 and Uwais Khaliq 2 for 69.
Opener Thomas Orrell hit 39 before Doyle was joined by Danny Ahern at the crease and they put together a pulsating partnership of 153 runs to keep the team in the hunt.
Ahern fell for an excellent 69 but work still had to be done. Doyle remained impregnable, finishing on 113 not out as Khaliq (16) and two sixes from Adam Cheshire (18 not out) added the finishing fireworks for victory with seven balls to spare. The 2nds now lie in fifth place in their division, nine points behind leaders Tottington St Johns 1sts.
Sunday’s Derek Kay Cup semi-final between Prestwich and Denton St Lawrence matched expectations with a high scoring thriller involving almost 700 runs. The 1sts blasted 360 and were all out in the final 45th over.
Chauhan (pictured) cracked a superb 116 in 78 balls, after Wharmby had earlier fallen 3 short of a ton for a fine 97 (taking him past 700 runs for the season), and Sam Holden added a typically no-nonsense 63, which marked his 60th fifty (including 7 centuries) in his first-team career.
However, DSL opener Liam Parkinson rattled up a sparkling 124 and at 199-1, the home side were well on course. Scott Kirwin hit 74, but Prestwich gradually began to peg back the opposition with wickets falling at more regular intervals. Ryan Maddock proved the pick of the bowling with 3 for 57 and Andy Bradley 2 for 52, keeping DSL at bay by 24 runs to earn a place in the final on August 7 against Shaw.
The 2nd XI beat Royton 2nds in the 2nd XI Cup after bowling out the visitors for 106.
Cheshire did the damage with 5 for 23, backed up by Nick Carter who took 2 for 13 (off 9 overs) and Jack O’Brien with 2 for 4. Opener Haris Aziz led the side to a five-wicket victory with an unbeaten 77.
For their Sunday Cup match, the 3rds travelled to Denton West where it is often taylormade for runs, and the Taylors duly obliged.
Opener Adam Taylor hit 58 and the returning Dave Taylor struck 44 to help reach 204 all out, Matt Cuthbert also hitting a useful 32. West were dismissed for 97 as Finlay Lester took 4 for 25 and Thomas Orrell 2 for 12.
When Milnrow 3rds stood at 122 for 1, they looked set for a big total but the dismissals of Toby Gaunt for 58 and Sam Waterworth for 57 swung the game as 4th team skipper Peter Staley bagged 5 for 20, causing the home side to be reduced to 150 all out.
In reply, the 4ths slumped to 74 for 6 before Jack Fisher (29) led a mini revival, however, the last pair came to the wicket with still 24 more runs needed.
Teenager Anis Khaliq (18 not out) showed composure beyond his years and Simon Jackson (7 not out) showed composure befitting his years as they calmly knocked off the runs to earn a thrilling last-gasp victory.
The 5th team friendly at Bowden Vale saw them chasing a total of 215 for 4. They made 168 for 8 in reply, Martin Regan top scoring with 37, 34 from Owen Adams and 27 from Gary Hershcovitch.
ROE GREEN v PRESTWICH 1XI
