Make Mine a Double: 2ndXI Crowned Champs & Summer '19 Seen Off in Style

The maiden season of North East Cheshire cricket finished on a bright September Saturday as overseas player Charlie Dahlenburg said goodbye in style, the 2ndXI collected the Club’s second piece of silverware in 2019 and the 3rdXI signed off with a win.

1stXI v Port Sunlight

A top half finish was secured by the 1stXI as they played out a hard-fought draw with Port Sunlight at London Road which belied the fixture’s dead rubber status. A six from the final ball would have left the Jets with a tie but a single saw them 170-7 and short of the visitor’s 175-7. The highlight of the first innings was an over from overseas player Charlie Dahlenburg (1-9) which was certainly eventful, containing a dropped catch, missed stumping, six over the clubhouse and, finally, a wicket caught in the deep.

Dahlenburg then signed off with a final-day fifty to go with his century in the reverse fixture, topping 500 runs for the season in the process. The Australian and Danny Williams added 67 for the first wicket but Port Sunlight slowly strangled the innings as a close finish looked in the offing. Despite the late efforts of Jake Reynolds (27) and a final-over maximum from Will Ritchie the Jets had to settle for a fifth draw of the season but a promising 6th place finish.

Scorecard

Holmes Chapel v 2ndXI

Perhaps the only fitting way for the 2ndXI to be crowned league champions was with one final concession and this was how the last day played out. Alex Dyson’s side have been in superb form when they’ve managed to get out on the pitch in 2019 but with 10 weeks lost it has been a bitter-sweet year, especially after being knocked out of the Twenty20 Cup on the toss of a coin. The essential step of promotion to more competitive cricket has now been confirmed though with the promise of brighter times ahead.

Styal v 3rdXI

A second win over Styal in as many weeks closed out the season for the 3rdXI. Skipper Owen Johnson (3-39) reached 30 wickets for the season before Scott Parkinson (4-16) mopped up the lower order to leave a manageable chase with the home side bowled out from the final ball of the innings for 106.

The chase was then dominated by precocious junior Will Westerby as his 37 at the top of the order was comfortably the game’s highest individual score. Fellow junior Nathan Warner chipped in with an unbeaten 19* as the Jets finished the season on a high with their tenth league win of the campaign to finish in 8th place.

Scorecard