Senior Sides Return to Action with Three Wins

After a dismal month the return of cricket weather saw the completion of a full schedule of weekend fixtures. The 1st and 2ndXI returned to action as if they’d never been away whilst Sunday saw the 4thXI execute a perfectly timed run chase thanks to a captain’s innings.

1stXI v Stockport Trinity

The final-ball win at Kingsley felt like a lifetime ago for the 1stXI as they entered a league encounter for the first time in a month keen to make up for lost time. Stockport Trinity were the visitors to London Road, champions of the Covid-reduced 2020 season whilst splitting a pair of low-scoring encounters with the Jets in which the sides batting first were skittled cheaply. There was to be no repeat of that formula here once Jake Reynolds won the toss and elected to bat.

The first innings set the tone for the day as a wicket offering nothing to the quicks encouraged aggressive strokeplay. A fluent opening stand of 78 was only ended once the visitors took pace off the ball, Clarke (50) and Reynolds (33) both falling to the offbreak of visiting captain Hugill (3-34). Useful hands from Rob Berkeley and John Westerby helped see off the slow bowlers and set up a grandstand finish to the innings with wickets in hand and the returning Sam Waller entering the fray.

The result was the score more than doubling in the final ten overs, Waller smiting nine maximums in a brutal 70 from just 27 deliveries to take North East to 210-7 and end the game as a contest. It rendered the second innings a non-event as, even without frontline spinner Dave Oldfield, the Jets had enough options to put the keeper up to the stumps and strangle the scoring. The change bowlers shared all ten wickets, led by goldenarm Will Westerby (3-6) and the nagging mediums of Toby Carson (3-14) to dismiss Trinity for 77.

Lindow v 2ndXI

The second string continued to chip away at the deficit in Division C, rising to 5th in the table as they also returned to action with a win away to Lindow. Skipper Dyson’s decision to bowl first was backed up by an economical display from a varied attack led by the left arm pace of Finn Pearce (3-29). The host’s only chance of posting a competitive total was the positive batting of Ed Coffey but when he was run out by a bullet throw from Ed Parkinson the innings meandered to a close at 109 all out.

The final wicket fell to Saul Gould who then formed the backbone of the chase by carrying his bat for a well-compiled 43* (7x4, 1x6, 73b). It wasn’t without a scare as wickets twice fell in clumps, first to Jack Rae (2-31) and then Josh Cornthwaite (3-18). However, the Jets made it home comfortably as Gould found capable partners in Alex Dyson (20*) and then Ed Parkinson (17*) to secure 25pts on a welcome return to league action ahead of a fixture against league leaders Hawk Green next week.

3rdXI v Over Peover

Another game and another one that got away for the 3rdXI who, after a positive start, have now found ways to lose consecutive games they were positioned to win. Here the bowlers did their piece, dismissing five visiting batsmen for ducks including both openers clean bowled by the inform Chris Taylor (3-8). Extras top scored for Peover who were all out for 90 which appeared a simple prospect to chase down but proved to be anything but.

10 overs from opening bowler Alex Ingargiola (4-8) changed the complexion of the game as his immaculate line and length was too much for the Jets. It was a real procession with the scoreboard at one point reading a catastrophic 22-8. Manusha Wettasinghe (18) and Adam Burgess (15) salvaged some pride with a stand of 31 for the ninth wicket but the Jets could only produce a wretched 57 all out and a huge point swing in another low-scoring loss.

4thXI v Didsbury

A captain’s innings from Damien Mullany made it consecutive wins for the 4thXI who have taken to life well in Sunday Division 1. After watching his young top order slip to 44-5 in the second innings, the Director of Cricket combined with Sam Thompson for a match-winning stand of 85 for the sixth wicket. Mullany finished with an unbeaten 74* (10x4, 0x6, 106b) to complete a well-timed run chase in the penultimate over.

Earlier, a seven-man Jets attack had helped contain Didsbury to 146-7. New ball pair Simon Hare and Sam Thompson bowled well without reward, as change bowler Dan Mullany (3-23) was the pick. Braces for Jamie Bray (2-26) and Pete Heath (2-48) helped things along to complete a positive start to the season that sees Damo’s charges sitting third in the table after consecutive promotions to start life.