Dyson Continues to Hoover Up Victories with Dominant 2ndXI

World Cup Final weekend saw a topsy turvy winning draw for the 1st XI at London Road while the Twos and Threes Both registered wins chasing against Winnington Park and Trafford MV respectively.

1stXI v Oakmere

The 1stXI extended their unbeaten run in Division 1 to 8 weeks but the Jets currently occupy a position as ‘best of the rest’ as they continue to be blighted by draws. This was one of the less frustrating afternoons as for long periods of the second innings the game was Oakmere’s to lose and only some improved bowling turned the game on its head and left the visitors clinging on to save the game.

Form pair Charlie Dahlenburg (24) and Andrew Clarke (50) eked out a valuable opening stand of 47 in an attritional early period where the new ball offered lavish assistance for the bowlers. Whilst the middle order failed to cash in as conditions eased, strong lower order batting from Dave Oldfield (42) and Jamie Henderson (12*) carried the 1stXI to the cusp of maximum batting points until the former was caught from the final ball of the innings.

179-9 looked a testing total but some unusually generous bowling supported a second wicket stand of 98 that made an Oakmere victory look a formality heading into the last hour. However, the removal of both set batsmen by Toby Carson (2-36) changed the complexion of the game and sparked a collapse as seven wickets fell in quick succession to leave the previously unimaginable scenario of the visitors batting out for a draw.

Scorecard

Winnington Park v 2ndXI

The 2ndXI’s relentless title march continued at Winnington Park, despite the hosts becoming the first side to accumulate a three figure score against Alex Dyson’s men in league action this season. Despite totalling 123 they were still dismissed inside 30 overs, left-arm spinner Mikey Gilmour (4-25) the pick of the attack as seven batsmen were caught in the cordon in addition to a pair of stumpings for Alex Dickman.

Chester Bowden, the club’s leading runscorer in all competitions, then marshalled the chase with a composed 42* after a typically brisk 33 from Matt Wragg had opened the innings. A six-wicket win was quickly confirmed as the side count down the weeks until a clash with second-placed Knutsford who are currently 31pts adrift of the Jets.

Scorecard

3rdXI v Trafford MV

A stand of 127 between Andy Heath (42*) and Will Ritchie (71) helped the 3rdXI chase down a competitive total of 180 set by visitors Trafford MV on Jackson’s Edge. MV looked in trouble at 22-3 but rallied around some increasingly impressive lower order hitting to gain maximum batting points despite the best efforts of a bowling unit led by Alex Oswell (3-42) and skipper Owen Johnson (2-46).

North East endured a similar start, slumping to 36-3, but counted on the 1stXI experience in the middle order to recover to a winning situation. Will Ritchie provided the acceleration in a boundary-laden innings, eventually caught in the deep for 71 (11x4, 2x6), whilst Andy Heath remained to collect a red inker. The Threes now travel to Appleton next week hunting a first back-to-back win to help improve their midtable status.

Scorecard