Saul Gould Hits 96 as 1stXI Defeat Oakmere

A full set of Saturday wins helped consolidate the club's positive position heading into the final six weeks of the 2022 season as the Jets batters found some fluent form. Saul Gould narrowly missed out on a maiden 1stXI hundred at Oakmere, whilst there was a second ton of the year for Owen Johnson in the threes among some other fine individual displays across the weekend.

Oakmere v 1stXI

A hard-earned 25pts was the Jets reward from their trip to Oakmere where Saul Gould formed the backbone of the 1stXI’s innings. The opener was finally dismissed for a quality 96 (10x4, 0x6, 155b) in the last over of the innings, putting a high value on his wicket after initially getting the team off to a flying start. Gould pounced on some loose deliveries to send the new ball to the fence in a quickfire opening stand of 54, and by drinks the score had swelled into three figures for the loss of just one wicket.

Oakmere found some greater control in the second half with the spin of Hodgkinson (3-48) and Guest (4-59) pegging the Jets back enough to prevent posting a score in excess of 200. Neither could part Gould from the crease though as he reached the final over a single boundary away from three figures. Sadly for the travelling spectators, the returning Holland was on the money as he pinned the exhausted opener LBW and added last man Toby Carson for good measure as North East were all out for 192. 

Carson (2-25) exacted some measure of revenge by quickly removing both Oakmere openers, the second well caught by stand-in keeper Sam Scragg. It set the tone for a more disciplined effort in the field that would ultimately centre around finding a way to dismiss Oakmere’s returning overseas Zander Potgieter. Even well below 100% fitness he was still in dangerous form with a hard-hitting 49, but Dave Oldfield (4-40) finally induced a false shot to have him caught in the deep as Manning Berry (2-26) and Jamie Henderson (2-31) ensured he was running out of partners - Oakmere finishing well short on 126.

2ndXI v Woodford

The 2ndXI opened up a gap to third-place Timperley with a comfortable home win over neighbours Woodford. The Jets lost just four wickets after being invited to take first use, the middle order all cashing in to some degree to help post 177. John Westerby (57) and Dan Mullany (29) did the hard work in adding 79 for the third wicket, setting a platform for an aggressive finish to the innings. That was provided by Manusha Wettasinghe (30*) and Matt Wragg (33*) who put bat to ball to good effect as remained unbeaten at the close to set the visitors in excess of 4.5rpo to chase.

This scoreboard pressure helped yield an incredible four run-outs in the second innings to aid the Jets cause. With Jimmy Williams unavailable and Adam Burgess bowling ten luckless overs to go wicketless it was a different look altogether as the six wickets for the bowlers were shared between Ed Parkinson (3-19), Sam Turnbull (1-24) and Wettasinghe (2-29) - completing a fine display from the allrounder. Woodford did keep the 2ndXI out in the field for 39 overs but without ever threatening a successful chase, eventually all out for 142.

3rdXI v Rostherne

Owen Johnson struck his second unbeaten century of the season as the 3rdXI poured on the runs against visitors Rostherne at Jackson’s Edge. Johnson carried his bat for an even 100* (7x4, 0x6, 110b), reaching the milestone from a spilled catch in the deep in the final over of the innings. His average in Division C now sits at a scarcely believable 143 having only been dismissed three times all season, here helping the Jets to an eventual 210-6 with father John (40) next top score.

The second innings also contained a remarkable individual effort, Rostherne’s Alex Etherington hitting 82* not out despite none of his teammates making it into double figures around him. It helped the visitors survive their allocation to be 110-9 at the close, Chris Taylor’s 3-25 leading the way for the threes and that man OJ chipping in with 3-36 to complete a fine afternoon’s work as the Jets consolidated third place in the table.

4thXI v Bramhall

With several key players called up for 1stXI cup duty, the 4thXI fell to a heavy home defeat against Bramhall on Sunday. A week after piling on their biggest score of the season, the Jets were shot out for just 60 of which 25 came from the bat of Rob Bowden. Other contributions were scarce as only Nick Knight and Seamus Walsh joined the opener in double figures, the fours leaving over seven overs unused as the innings came to a quick conclusion.

The visitors were in equally ruthless form with the bat, quickly completing the formalities after the tea break. Sam Thompson took the only wicket to fall, well snaffled by Walsh, but that was as good as it got as Bramhall raced to their target. Smith and Mohammed both finished unbeaten on 23* to all but end any chance of a league title and promotion to the Sunday Premier League in what has still been an excellent season for the fours.

1stXI v Romiley

A tough task away to the highest ranked side left in the Cheshire Shield proved too much for the 1stXI on Sunday as they were easily second best at Romiley. It was a good test for a much-changed team as the hosts showed why they are in the box seat in the Division 2 promotion race with a strong display. The quality of their running was a particular step up from what the Jets have faced this season and that helped swell the score rather than an array of expansive shots. The ones also struggled to contain extras, leaking 36 on a deteriorating pitch and undulating outfield that was particularly tough for both keepers.

There were positives on the bowling front as Ed Parkinson claimed 2-22 on 1stXI debut, including a classical off-spinners dismissal to castle opener Roberts through the gate for 49. The part-time seam of Chester Bowden chipped in with 3-22 too as the home side looked to push on in the latter stages, left-hander David Badrock reaching his fifty in the final over of the innings to finish with a busy 52* at better than a run-a-ball. 236-7 was an imposing tally and one that soon proved well beyond the Jets, albeit in some mitigating circumstances after the interval.

The Romiley attack found the perfect lines and lengths to exploit an increasing lack of bounce, scuttling through the Jets lineup with seven bowled and an LBW as many played on or were undone by instinctively looking to play off the back foot. A real embarrassment was only avoided thanks to Jake Reynolds whose lone hand yielded a hard-hitting and boundary-laden 63, including one lost ball launched out of the ground and over some nearby housing. There was nothing resembling a partnership though as the Jets were put out of their misery inside 20 overs and left to focus on league matters for the remainder of the campaign