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Hulme have no mercy

Mike Talbot-Butler
18/ 6/2008

AS THE season’s half-way mark nears, the battle for the Right Move Abroad ECB Cheshire County Premier League title is beginning to develop into a three-cornered affair involving current leaders Alderley Edge, second-placed Bowdon and Oulton Park - the latter chasing their fourth successive title.

All three won comfortably on Saturday to open a gap on the other challengers, with Alderley recording their sixth success in nine games at struggling Heaton Mersey.

Their attack was strengthened by the inclusion of Lancashire fast bowler Oliver Newby who claimed 3-38, although they found it impossible to dismiss Mersey’s Australian batsman Brent McDonald, who contributed an unbeaten 105 to his side’s declared tally of 179 for 9.

Alderley Edge had the game won inside 36 overs after tea, with former Lancashire batsman Mark Currie scoring an unbeaten 97 and Sohail Rauf 43.

With Oxton losing their first game heavily at Poynton, Didsbury moved to the top of Division One for the first time with a seven-wicket victory at Upton.

Timperley’s winning run ended at Bramhall where they lost a tight game by 12 runs after the home side had posted 218 (Danny Humphreys 51, Ross Edwards 5-51).

In-form left-hander Tom Twiney (dropped at nought and four) nearly pulled it off with a fine 97 for Timperley, aided by Mark Maddocks (37).

But the match-winner was Simon Wilkinson with a 7-47 spell, his third return of six wickets or more.

Cheadle Hulme inflicted Bollington’s ninth successive defeat at Grove Park, after declaring on 190 for 3 in 46 overs (David Hawes 48).

Wicket-keeper Ged McKiernam top-scored with 35 as Bolly put up a stirring fight before being bowled out in the 50th over for 152 (Ewan McCray 5-52).

Birkenhead Park exchanged places in the bottom two with Cheadle thanks to a four-wicket home win.

Zia ur Rehman’s leg-spin claimed 4-42 as Cheadle were dismissed for 157, a tally which Park overhauled for the loss of six batsmen. Andy Gibson led the way with a solid 44.

In Division Two, Stockport Georgians’ surge went on with a three-wicket home win over Bredbury St Mark’s, who were restricted to 169 for 9 (A Lees 45, John Leggatt 5-47).

Ifti Hussain smacked 45 not out off 40 balls as Georgians went on to win with nine balls to spare.

Marple had former wicket-keeping star Steve Worrall back in harness in their draw with Sale at Bowden Lane.

He top-scored with 41 in a tally of 176, to which Sale responded with 150 for 9 (John Taylor 37) to edge the points 10-9.