Bowden Ton Fires 2ndXI to Win

7 Jul 2021

Chester Bowden struck the second North East Cheshire century of the summer as the U19s batsman accumulated an unbeaten 109* for the 2ndXI. It helped secure the lone victory of the weekend for the Jets as the back leg of the season commenced.

1stXI v Cheadle Hulme

Title favourites Cheadle Hulme escaped from London Road with their unbeaten record still intact, claiming a tight victory by just 5 runs in a pulsating fixture. It was a frustrating result for the 1stXI who failed to take advantage of enjoying the best of the conditions, 8pts feeling like scant reward in such a tight game. Ultimately the Jets were made to pay for a sloppy first hour in which five catches went to ground and the chance to really put Cheadle Hulme under pressure was wasted.

It was a good toss to win on a pitch that remained helpful to the bowlers all day long but never more so than in the opening exchanges of a game reduced to 36 overs per side. It was a time to be ruthless but North East were the opposite, giving lives to Wilde, Taylor and Akram to prevent early inroads. The change bowlers found better luck, led by the containing spin of Dave Oldfield (4-16), but it was a chance missed as the visitors were all out from the final ball for 127.

The reply got off to the best possible start as Jake Reynolds sent the first ball scorching through the covers, but in the blink of an eye the Jets were 10-3 and had failed to blunt the new ball. Life was easier against the spinners as the 1stXI rebuilt but the return of Nauman Akram (5-32) to the attack paid immediate dividends. Set batsman Dave Oldfield (37) gloved behind to leave Dave Bridge (35*) to shepherd the tail. He did a superb job and with the pacemen bowled out it was anyone’s game, but Bridge ultimately ran out of partners as Cheadle Hulme snuck home.

Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge v 2ndXI

Needing a clean sweep of wins in the second half of the season to stand any chance of promotion, the 2ndXI started the back leg of their campaign with a strong performance at Ladybridge. Chester Bowden struck a maiden 2ndXI century to power a defendable 218-5, batting through the entire innings to accumulate an unbeaten 109* (10x4, 3x6, 121b). He added 82 with Sam Scragg (38) and 61 with Matt Mullany (34) as the young batsmen enjoyed their work despite the efforts of Hooton (2-39) and Sadiq (2-50).

In reply none of the hosts could turn starts into a meaningful score as all of the Jets’ bowling attack chipped away to find success. Reuben Cutts (3-12) took out the middle order with a trio of scalps, leaving the Johnson twins to take out the tail. Owen marked his first senior game of 2021 with 2-22, whilst Luke clean bowled Warke and Richardson to finish with 2-17 to help dismiss the hosts for 111.

Europa Exiles v 3rdXI

Table-topping Europa Exiles dealt the 3rdXI a sixth league defeat of 2021 as half centuries from both home opening batsmen proved the difference. After an opening stand of 121, no other home batsman made more than 13 as the Jets fought until the end to keep the score down to 151-7. Adam Burgess (2-31) dismissed both set batsmen to allow teenager Max Collins (3-33) to bowl a fiery spell at the middle order. Credit also to Dom Larkin whose ten over allocation cost just 11 runs.

The North East reply was a story of starts with no major knocks. Messrs Oswell, Burgess, Welsby and Taylor all got in but failed to kick on to a match-defining score. It meant the result was never in doubt as every Europa bowler delivered a brace of wickets to prevent any meaningful stands and dismiss the threes for just 101.