Defending champions Wood Lane get their first win of the season

All divisions of the league were affected by the weather this week, with many matches abandoned or having reduced overs.

Premier Division

Defending champions Wood Lane got their first win of the season against Checkley, beating them by five wickets. They restricted Checkley to 76, Asad Ali taking 4-39. It then took them 31.5 overs to reach their target, Daniel Brierly (26no) and Deane Jervis (7no) seeing them over the line.

Longton and Leek could only manage a draw. Longton were put in to bat and posted 145-4 from 34 overs, Stefan Ruduch top scoring with 49. In reply Leek only managed to bat 27.3 overs as they finished on 101-3, Alex Mellor finishing on 58no.

A draw was also the result between Little Stoke and Knypersley. Little Stoke batted first and stuttered to 132-7 from their 55 overs, Greg Massingham (44) top scoring. Knypersley’s innings was cut short to 26 overs, as they finished on 54-1.

There was no play possible between, Audley and Porthill Park, Burslem and Cheadle, Hem Heath and Stone.

Division One

Elworth picked up the full 25 points against Barlaston as they defended 136.  Alex Edmonstone (46) and Matthew Buckley (38no) were the mainstay of the Barlaston innings, Mark Stanyer (4-55) was the pick of the bowlers. Barlaston were then dismissed for 92, Yasir Ali took figures of 4-23.

Aqab Ahmed’s 76no wasn’t enough to prevent Blythe losing by eight wickets against Leycett. Tas Hussain took 4-59 as Blythe were reduced to 148-6. Leycett then reached the target in the 36^th over, Richard Walker and Hassan Haleem both passing 50.

Whitmore and Meakin was abandoned in the second innings. Meakin were put in to bat and finished on 132-9, Imran Arif claiming figures of 5-44. The match was the abandoned in the first over of the second innings.

There was no play possible between, Meir Heath and Silverdale, Moddershall and Norton, Sandyford and Betley.

Division Two

Ashcombe Park picked up 20 points after they dismissed Eccleshall for 100. Josh Johnson and Rizwan Haider both taking four wickets. Ashcombe then knocked off the runs in the 23^rd over, Haider smashing 61no off 59 balls.

Newcastle & Hartshill also got the 20 points at home as they chased down 93 against Rode Park & Lawton. Sathpath Kelum ripped through the away side’s batting line up taking 7-36 as they were all out for 92. The home side then passed the target after 21 overs for the loss of four wickets, Muhammad Fayaz top scored with 61no.

Caverswall claimed the winning draw at home against Stafford. The home side batted first and posted 185-6 from 36.4 overs, Anthony Dutton top scoring with 55no. Stafford were then restricted to 125-7, the innings being built around Dave Foster (57no), the pick of the bowlers was Tom East as he took4-27.

There was no play possible between, Alsager and Woore, Bignall End and Weston, Kidsgrove and Oulton.

Division Three

Oakamoor comprehensively beat Fenton at home picking up 20 points. Matt Wolf demolished the away sides batting line up taking 5-20, the only resistance was Phil Hall’s 35no as Fenton were dismissed for 58. In reply Oakamoor passed the winning line in the 29^th over for the loss of two wickets.

Crewe also won batting second after they reduced Moddershall A to 104 all out; Shahid Mahboob was the main wicket taker with 4-48. Crewe lost seven wickets on their way to victory Mahboob top scoring with 30.

Asif Raza efforts weren’t enough to save his Bagnall side from defeat against Church Eaton. Raza took 8-57 in the second innings, but Church Eaton managed to hold on and win by one wicket as they chased down Bagnall’s 103. Matt White also took 5-50 in the first innings for the Church Eaton.

There was no play possible between, Hanford and Forsbrook, Wedgewood & Stanfields and Endon.  Norton-In-Hales and Stone did manage to get 31.4 overs in before the rain hit.

The battle heats up at the top

3th July

Link to report

http://nssc.play-cricket.com/content/view.asp?id=10353827&cid=200

Premier Division

Hem Heath kept the pressure on Wood Lane when they collected maximum points against strugglers Little Stoke. Hem Heath won the toss and decided to bat and made their way to 176-9, Ben McQuire top scoring with 48, Daniel Richardson picking up his first five wicket haul of the season with figures of 5-41. In reply Little Stoke collapsed to 84 all out, Andrew Harris taking 4-30. Hem Heath move into second seven points behind leaders Wood Lane and Little Stoke are one point above the relegation zone.

Leek also maintained their challenge for the title, after they beat Longton batting second. Stefan Jones and Colin Dearden both took four wickets for Leek as they bowled the visitors out for 101. It took Leek 33 overs to knock the target off; they are now nine points off the pace at the top.

With their challengers both winning Wood Lane could only manage a winning draw against Stone. Batting first Wood Lane’s Daniel Brierley (72) and Steven Brierley (53 no) put their side in a strong position at 253-7 from 54 overs. Stone then made a strong start and Luke Cheadle (49) and James Dawson (47) put on 81 for the opening partnership, but Stone could only reach 220 from 56 overs.

Sandyford sit bottom after losing batting second to Audley. The away side set Sandyford 224 to win, Robert Hemmings top scored with 53. In the second innings Craig Barker set about the strugglers batting line up as he took 7-69 and Sandyford were dismissed for 160. Little Stoke are now seven points from safety.

Barlaston, in their bid to beat the drop, got the winning draw against Porthill Park. Dan Hancock (91) and Ian Butler (53) helped Porthill set 263-6 from 54 overs. In reply Barlaston reached 244-7 from 44 overs. Barlaston sit one point behind Little Stoke in safety.

Burslem beat Knypersley batting first by 24 runs. Burslem set the home side 154 to win, Michael Rowley (48) and Christopher Roberts (42) being the main contributors. Imran Arif then tore through the Knypersley batting line taking 8-46 as they were dismissed for 129.

Division One

Cheadle have secured their place in the Premier Division by picking up maximum points against rock bottom Oulton. Adam Alcock’s 106 not out set Cheadle on their way to 286-8 from 54 overs. In reply Oulton were dismissed for 177, James Sellers and Simon Plant both picking up four wickets.

Elworth are also placed in a strong position, after they won batting first against Meir Heath. David Toft stabilised the Elworth innings with 68 as they were dismissed for 154, Iftikhar Asghar taking 5-35. Meir Heath then fell narrowly short finishing on 141 all out, Steve Morgan taking 7-44.

Checkley’s promotion challenge took a huge blow when they lost to Leycett. Checkley won the toss and decided to bat, and didn’t get off to the best start, but numbers eight and nine Richard Cooper (51no) and Gavin Carr (50no)  got Checkley to 176-7.  Leycett knocked off the total in the 62^nd over, Richard Walker (72no) saw his side over the line and was supported by Tas Hussain (60). Checkley are now 27 points behind  Elworth.

Blythe are one point from safety behind Betley after losing to Moddershall. Blythe won the toss and put Moddershall into bat and Chris Plant top scored with 76 as the home side finished on 241-9, Peter Finch was the pick of the bowlers taking 5-87. Blythe then got off to the worst possible start and found themselves 0-3, which then turned into 57-8. Aqab Ahmed put some respectability into the innings with his 63, but they were dismissed for 138, Shaun Brian taking 6-26 from 14.5 overs.

Betley couldn’t take advantage of Blythe’s loss as they also fell to defeat against Norton. Betley batted first and stumbled to 129-9 from their 55 overs, Neil Harrison (54no) being the mainstay of the innings, Geeth Alwiss picking up his fourth five wicket haul of the season with figures of 5-32. Norton chased down the target in 29 overs.

Weston move four points clear of the relegation zone with a winning draw against mid table Whitmore. Weston’s top order all fired, with Raj Kumar leading the batting line up with 90 as they finished on 283-5 from 53 overs. In reply Whitmore reached 254-7 from 57 overs Justin Mould top scoring with 57.

Division Two

JG Meakin sealed their promotion and the division two title with maximum points against Bagnall. Matthew Redican at number eight for Meakin hit 87 as they set Baganll 279 to win. Bagnall then slumped to 128 all out, Simon Gordon hitting 55 and the only other person to make double figures was Colin Wilkinson. Bagnall are 21 points from safety.

Caverswall moved into second place when they beat relegated Crewe batting first. Rob King’s 80 not out helped Caverswall to 210-4 from 38.4 overs. In the second innings the only resistance Crewe put up was through Yasser Tariq (63) as they collapsed to 116 all out.

Ashcombe moved into third place one point behind Caverswall after they beat Kidsgrove batting first. David Proffitt (72) and Phillip Clowes (68) held the Ashcombe innings together as they were dismissed for 193. Kidsgrove in reply were all out for 180, Greg Massingham (60) top scoring, while Proffitt (3-17) was the pick of the bowlers.

Silverdale dropped to fifth after they lost Bignall End who have now moved 30 points clear of the relegation zone. Bignall End batted first and set promotion chasing Silverdale 184 to win, Simon Howle (69) being the mainstay of the innings. Silverdale then collapsed to 119 all out, only opener John Shenton (57) giving resistance. Silverdale are now five points behind Caverswall .

Fourth placed Newcastle & Hartshill could only manage a winning draw when they were unable to bowl Alsager out after setting them 201 to win. Openers Andy Elliot (54) and Muhammad Fayaz (46) were the main contributors to the Newcastle & Hartshill innings.  Alsager then managed to make it to 111-6 from 36 overs. Newcastle & Hartshill sit four points behind second place.

Richard Brazier’s century was enough to brush aside Rode Park & Lawton. Having restricted Rode Park to 148 Brazier smashed 105 not out from 108 balls as Stafford knocked the total off without losing a wicket.

Division Three

Eccleshall confirmed they are Division Three champions, after they beat rock bottom Wootton batting second by four wickets. Wootton were restricted to 154-8 from their 55 overs, Josh Stevens (53) top scoring. Eccleshall then reached the total with the loss of six wickets.

Woore remain in second place after they were able to defend 194 against Norton-In-Hales. After a slow start it was Mohammed Shanavaz Jamal who helped Woore get up to their total. In reply Norton-In-Hales were dismissed for 154, Kannathasan Kavithasan and Andrew Kenvyn both taking four wickets.

Oakamoor are seven points behind Woore in third place after they beat Endon by four wickets. Oakamoor won the toss and put Endon into bat and the home side had runs throughout the top order, Alex Bailey (46) top scoring, as Endon set Oakamoor 192 to win. They reached the target in the 39^th over, Muhammad Ayub (79) and Eddie Brookes (62no) were the main contributors to the innings.

Forsbrook fell behind in the promotion race as they could only manage a winning draw against Fenton. David Mitchell (69) and Matthew Bailey (67) helped Forsbrook set the home side 260 to win. In reply Fenton made it to 156-4 from 42 overs. Forsbrook are now in fourth place 19 points off the pace.

Moddershall beat Hanford batting second by three wickets after they restricted the home side to 160, Muhammad Masuod Akhtar’s 61 not out being the main contributor. Sam Moores (49) then set the tone for Moddershall and Dave Stupples (40no) saw his team over the finishing line.

Stone won batting second against Wedgewood & Stanfields by eight wickets. Stone dismissed Wedgewood for a modest, 100 Neil Podmore the pick of the bowlers picking up figures of 5-32. James Sutton (40no) and Nicholas Cooper (30 no) then guided Stone to victory in 22 overs.