Inaugural Matchday as UKFast Cheshire Cricket League Commences

The inaugural matchday for North East Cheshire Cricket Club was marked by a bank holiday heatwave as the UKFast Cheshire Cricket League campaign got underway. Sadly, all three sides didn't make it out onto the field but it was a positive start and a winning one for the 1stXI...

1stXI v Barnton

At London Road the 1stXI hosted Barnton and produced a pleasing display infront of a bumper home crowd making the most of the sunshine. Skipper Jake Reynolds won the toss and elected to field first, shuffling his pack well in the heat as all five of a balanced attack found success.

Things didn't come easy for the Jets in the face of some disciplined batting, particularly from visiting overseas Brayden Tracey (50). However, wickets at key times and a miserly end to the innings from Toby Carson (3-49) and Dave Oldfield (2-19) restricted Barnton to 170-9 and a manageable chase in good batting conditions.

Chris Williams started brightly in reply but his dismissal, LBW to Devanny (2-46), brought together the youngest and oldest members of the 1stXI for a match-defining partnership. Sam Waller (40) and veteran Andrew Clarke (67) added 93 runs for the second wicket, the former losing the new ball with a towering maximum over long on. Clarke was then in ruthless form against the spinners before a smattering of wickets left Dahlenburg (20*) and Ritchie (15*) with pleasing cameos to secure victory by 5 wickets with more than 10 overs to spare.

Scorecard

Glazebury v 2ndXI

Unfortunately the 2ndXI season suffered a false start as their opposition conceded on the eve of the game. They will hope for better luck next week at home to Hartford to kickstart an important campaign in which promotion is essential.

Mellor v 3rdXI

Owen Johnson made his captaincy bow leading a good mix of youth and experience to Mellor for the start of the 3rdXI campaign (pictured). Taking on a 1stXI would be a tough task first up but things were looking positive when, after winning the toss, John Westerby (48) and Alex Oswell (21) added a half-century opening stand.

Only Luke Johnson would join them in double figures though, the Jets subsiding to 121 all out in the face of some fine bowling from James Reeve (4-15). Luke added to his runs with 2-14 after tea but, despite being joined by twin OJ (2-21) and Jack Parkey (2-20) with braces of their own, it was a valiant defeat as Tom Reeve's 48 helped guide Mellor home for the loss of 7 wickets.

Scorecard

Image: Captain Owen Johnson lines up his inaugural 3rdXI away at Mellor CC.