3rdXI Topple League Leaders

The Jets batters failed to cash in on a week 12 heatwave which yielded mixed results across the board. The 2nd and 3rdXI both successfully defended low scores to commence the second half of the season in winning style as all four sides look to remain involved at the top of their divisions.

Kingsley v 1stXI

The 1stXI saw their lead at the top of Division 3 reduced as they failed the test in a fixture against Kingsley that is always keenly contested. The hosts are a well-drilled side, capable enough to knock two Premier League teams out of the cup this season, and they roundly outplayed the Jets at their own game. Nobody exemplified that more than stalwart skipper Ben Stoddart who did the hard yards up the slope and into the breeze having won the toss, extolling the virtues of discipline and rewarded with remarkable figures of 8-18.

The ones contributed to their own downfall with some miserable shot selection that saw the hard work of the first hour against the new ball go completely to waste. Seven were meekly caught, set batters Clarke (30) and Reynolds (21) starting the rot before a triple-wicket maiden caused flashbacks of Ashley away. 125 all out was never going to be enough, but the lads made a fist of it in response to only heighten frustration with the batting efforts.

Instead the Jets needed absolutely everything to go their way on a day where the momentum was all with the home side. They stuck to the task but, despite wickets falling with some regularity, there was nothing to spark a match-changing collapse. The highlight of the innings came with debutant Sam Turnbull (2-18) claiming his maiden 1stXI wickets but the spoils went to the hosts, cruising home for the loss of 6 wickets to sharpen minds that the ones need to be at the races every week.

2ndXI v Heaton Mersey Village

A tight victory over Heaton Mersey Village meant the chasing pack again made ground on the 2ndXI who could only claim 10 points thanks to a 15-run margin of victory. A shocking start saw the Jets 0-2 after electing to bat, Owen Johnson back down to earth with a four-ball duck after last week’s big hundred. A deep batting lineup added sixty runs for the last three wickets though, Manusha Wettasinghe top-scoring from eight in the order with a spritely 30 (3x4, 2x6, 39b) to help post 156 all out and set the visitors four-an-over to win.

With Sam Turnbull called up for the first team, Chester Bowden partnered Andy Heath as the new ball attack quickly reduced HMV to 9-3. Despite 36 from middle order bat Donovan Hobson, the visitors were always behind the rate and Owen Johnson (3-39) sparked a second collapse to 110-9. Frustratingly though the final pair were allowed to add 31 runs which robbed the 2ndXI of additional bonus points and saw Timperley go level with the Jets as both teams have 11 wins and a loss through 12 weeks.

3rdXI v Mellor

A league double over leaders Mellor helped to blow the promotion race in Division C wide open. A stand of 88 for the third wicket between Adam Burgess (63) and Scott Parkinson (41) proved to be the difference in a low-scoring encounter as the rest of the Jets batting struggled against the bowling of Oliver Bielecki (5-12). The final seven wickets fell for just 47 runs to leave the 3rdXI 158 all out but it proved to be just enough despite Mellor batting their full 40-over allocation.

Luke Johnson (2-15) bowled with pace and accuracy to claim the two key wickets and Burgess completed a man-of-the-match turn with 3-30, as a result Mellor were held to just 148-8. A ten-run win for the Jets keeps them in a promotion race that was looking over when Saturday’s visitors peeled off a long unbeaten run to start the season. Now just nine points separate the top three to keep all senior sides in the mix for their respective divisions.

Grappenhall v 4thXI

Whilst the three Jets sides who batted first on Saturday struggled to set large targets the Grappenhall Sunday side showed how things are done by peeling off 241-5 against the 4thXI. Veteran Australian Ben Clissold smashed a rapid 55 (11x4, 1x6, 37b) to make use of a flat pitch and quick outfield as only Ed Parkinson (3-42) kept the scoring in check, helped by a couple of sharp catches from Alex Dickman and Dave Bridge. A target in excess of a run-a-ball proved too much but the Jets at least improved on last week’s meek batting display.

North East were dismissed for 191 in response, six batters reaching double figures but without anyone kicking on to a match-defining score in the chase. Teenagers Ed Parkinson (43*) and Matt Mullany (37) enjoyed a stand of 59 but the fours fell to consecutive defeats after their long unbeaten run in league and cup to open the season.