Senior Sides Deliver Perfect Weekend

Fifties, five-fors and hat-tricks were the order of the weekend as the Jets senior sides returned a second clean sweep of the season with a set of impressive individual and team performances.

Port Sunlight v 1stXI

On the day that Port Sunlight officially opened their excellent new clubhouse the 1stXI played the role of party poopers with an expertly judged run chase in front of a partisan home crowd. James Banner (21*) was the hero, sending the first two balls of the final over to the boundary before scampering a two that took the Jets past the home side’s first-innings total of 200-9. It ended Sunlight’s six-match winning streak and saw the batting lineup stand up after a few lean weeks even in victory.

Such a sizeable chase seemed a million miles away when an electric opening burst from Jamie Henderson (5-45) had the hosts 15-4. Simon Melberzs (76) was the prize scalp though and his wicket eluded the Jets as veteran Wayne Greve (47) proved a perfect foil for his captain. The 1stXI failed to execute their plans and the result was a century stand that put the home side back in the ascendancy. Sunlight eventually posted an even 200-9, Henderson returning for a well-deserved maiden Jets five-for.

If ever there was a day to chase 200 this was it on a flat deck, rapid outfield and in energy-sapping conditions for the bowlers. A fifty opening stand set the tone and, whilst the required rate steadily rose, the equation never got out of hand. The top order all chipped in but it was the impetus provided by Will Ritchie that made the Jets favourites. His 51 (6x4, 1x6, 32b) broke the back of the chase but his dismissal in the penultimate over suggested there may be one final twist until the cool head of Banner saw North East prevail.

2ndXI v Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge

The 2ndXI bounced back from their midweek cup disappointment with a routine win over Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge at London Road. The game was quickly over as a contest as the visitors' top six all fell in single figures after they elected to take first use. The bowlers were in little mood for niceties, led by the club’s leading wicket-taker Jimmy Williams. His typically accurate 3-18 dismissed Ladybridge for 103 with help from seamers Joe Rooney (2-15) and Matt Wragg (2-6).

Wragg then swapped leather for willow to smash a quickfire 35 (8x4, 0x6, 26b) to dominate the chase after a brief wobble against the new ball. Fran Turnbull assisted with a spritely 29 that included six boundaries before falling with the Jets one hit away from victory. It left Dave Bridge to carry his bat for 20*, all of which were boundary fours including the winning runs. The 2ndXI must now keep chipping away in the hope that results go their way elsewhere to reignite a potential promotion challenge.

3rdXI v Offerton

A trio of Saturday wins was confirmed when the 3rdXI claimed an excellent win over second-place Offerton. As with the ones and twos, the threes also lost the toss and were sentenced to bowl. Young paceman Max Collins provided the champagne moment of the weekend, claiming the club’s first hat-trick to end the innings at 148. He did it all himself as a caught and bowled was bookended by two deliveries that disturbed the batmen’s stumps as seven of the wickets fell to members of the junior section.

The 3rdXI then produced something that had been missing in the season to date as Adam Burgess (63) and Rory Caine (45*) provided some top-order runs that turned into an immaculate century stand. It did have an unintended side-effect as Chris Espley suffered pad rash at number three but, following the loss of Burgess, there was no collapse as Caine carried his bat. Cameos from Kris Bajaj and skipper Andy Welsby helped take the Jets home with almost 10 overs to spare for a morale-boosting win.

Bredbury St Marks v 4thXI

The clean sweep for the weekend was delivered as the 4thXI arrested their recent poor form with a dominant display away to Bredbury. Dan Mullany struck a career-best 71 to help the fours to an imposing 237-9 on a ground where various Jets batsmen have enjoyed themselves in the season to date. Scott Parkinson, Damien Mullany and Sam Scragg all chipped in with scores in the thirties to set the hosts a challenging run-a-ball to win the game.

Three new-ball wickets for Sam Turnbull (3-45) quickly put the Jets in charge after the interval, taking the youngster past thirty wickets for the season in the process. Dan Mullany (3-21) completed a fine day’s work with three scalps of his own, clean bowling the only two home batsmen to make an impact on the scoreboard. Bredbury were eventually dismissed in the final over for 186, the 4thXI victorious by 51 runs.