Bowler-friendly Bank Holiday for Jets

The Jets enjoyed their August Bank Holiday with two Saturday wins and a Sunday tie over the course of a damp weekend. John Westerby’s fine batting effort for the 2ndXI stood out in a set of fixtures otherwise dominated by the bowlers, including some incisive new-ball bowling from the 1stXI and an incredible finish to the 4thXI fixture on Sunday.

1stXI v Stockport Trinity

The 1stXI welcomed Trinity to London Road and inflicted a first defeat on the league leaders in soggy, miserable conditions. Jake Reynolds won a good toss but the visitors contributed to their own downfall in slumping to a scarcely-believable 11-7 against the nagging bowling of Toby Carson (3-3) and Danny Williams (3-11) that gave nothing away.

A more measured display from the experienced Zaheer Khan and Johnny Reeh in the lower order proved batting wasn’t impossible, the pair eating up 99 deliveries between them and ensuring the match progressed beyond the opening hour. However the innings was in an unsalvageable state as the change bowlers also struck to eventually put Trinity out of their misery for just 43.

Any hopes of a drying outfield helping scoring were removed over tea as showers delayed the restart but Jake Reynolds (16) and Andrew Clarke (11) compiled a solid opening stand of 28 to remove any lingering doubt about the result. Dave Oldfield joined them in double figures with an unbeaten 12* as the Jets knocked the runs off inside 16 overs for a third league win of the season.

Scorecard

Mellor v 2ndXI 

In a peculiarity of the Covid fixture list, the 2ndXI returned to the scene of their last competitive fixture to again take on Mellor. Matt Wragg failed to repeat his batting heroics but it did allow for others in the order to display their batting credentials, led by John Westerby. His immaculate 94* was worth three figures in more hospitable conditions but took the Jets to what looked an imposing 160-4.

Alex Dyson’s men comfortably maintained their 100% record after the interval, the skipper helping himself to four wickets as Mellor were dismissed for 93. This sets up a clash of the unbeaten top two in Div C East next week when the Jets host Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge at PSC.

Scorecard

Styal v 3rdXI

It was a day to forget for the 3rdXI who collapsed in style at Styal to prevent a clean sweep for the Saturday sides. A miserable batting effort mustered a meagre 37 all out with only Andy Welsby (14) making any sort of impact on a slow, low wicket. The hosts required just seven overs in reply but North East did at least avoid a pointless display thanks to wickets for Chris Taylor and Adam Burgess.

As a result the 3rdXI slumped to eighth in the table at the bottom of a collection of teams separated by just four points. It offers the chance to quickly jump back up the rankings but that will require a better display against the runaway leaders Over Peover who are next on the schedule for the Jets.

Scorecard

4thXI v Stockport

Some inspired death bowling led to a remarkable tie on Sunday as the 4thXI played host to Stockport. It appeared an impossible situation for the Jets as the visitors' run chase left them requiring two runs from the final two overs with four wickets in hand. A wicket maiden in the penultimate over from Scott Parkinson looked to have only delayed the inevitable before some incredible scenes in the final over.

Dan Mullany was the hero as he then proceeded to take three wickets in the final over for just a single run to salvage some points for the Jets. After winning an LBW to leave the opposition eight wickets down the innings was ended in successive deliveries as he pinned back the off stump before the last man was caught at mid-off attempting to hit the winning runs.

Scorecard