Stone stay in the chase
February 29, 2012 Leave a comment
Link to report
http://nssc.play-cricket.com/content/view.asp?id=10351672&cid=200
Premier Division
Wood Lane maintained their lead at the top after beating rock bottom Sandyford by eight wickets. Asad Ali set the tone for the league leaders in the first innings with the ball, with figures of 8-46 on his way to dismissing Sandyford for 106. Wood Lane reached the target in the 30th over, Matthew Hagan batting through the innings hitting 58.
Stone remain eight points behind Wood Lane when they beat Porthill Park batting second by seven wickets. Porthill set Stone 172 to win Dan Hancock top scoring with 33 and Russell Ballard (6-63) doing the damage with the ball. Luke Cheadle (78) and Charl Malan (55 no) then scored the bulk of the runs for Stone as they knocked the runs for the loss of three wickets.
Third placed Leek also won batting second against mid table Burslem. Leek kept it tight with the ball bowling Burslem out for 131 from 47.1 overs. Derbyshire pace-man Stefan Jones (4-47) was the pick of the bowlers. In reply wicket keeper batsmen Alex Mellor then dominated the Burslem attack striking 84 off 71 balls, as Leek chased down the total for the loss of four wickets.
Little Stoke won the relegation clash against Barlaston and moved above them and out off the drop zone. Batting first Richard Adams (78) helped Little Stoke post 229-9. In reply Kafi Kahn made 76 before he was run out and Barlaston fell for 158 from 45 overs , Gareth Morris picking up 5-51.
Hem Heath kept their title hopes alive, beating Longton by 131 runs. Hem Heath looked to be struggling on 97-6, but late runs down order by Stephen Atkinson (66) ensured they made it to 231, despite William Pursers best efforts taking 6-76. In reply only Tom Redfern made 30 after Longton collapsed to 100 all out, Mo Hussian the pick of the bowlers claiming 3-9 off nine overs.
Knypersley gained the winning draw against Audley, having scored 190 from their 55 overs, Ross Salmon hitting 83. Knypersley with help from Nayyar Abbas (7-66) just managed to hold on as Audley finished just three runs behind with one wicket remaining.
Division One
In the race for second place Elworth came out on top as they beat third place Checkley by four wickets. Having won the toss Checkley batted first and were dismissed for 136, Yasir Ali (5-30) doing most of the damage. David Toft in reply made 63 as Elworth passed their promotion rivals total in the 43rd over. Checkley now sit 21 points behind Elworth.
League leaders Chealde maintained their gap at the top at 32 points, when they beat Meir Heath batting second. Meir Heath were restricted to 181, Ian Bailey taking 4-33. In reply Dave Wheeldon was the mainstay of the innings hitting 60 not out as he saw Cheadle over the line for the loss of seven wickets.
Raj Kumar’s 140 wasn’t enough to avoid defeat against rock bottom Oulton as they kept their slim survival hopes alive. Kumar helped Weston set Oulton 272 for victory, and substantial knocks from Ben Cox (76), Tom Spruce (67) and Rob Spruce (64) helped them past the target with four wickets remaining. Oulton are now 36 points behind Weston and safety.
Jason Jinks’s 88 ensured Leycett didn’t get dragged into the relegation battle when they beat second to bottom Blythe. Blythe posted 186-8 from their 55 overs Adam Prime top scoring with 34 not out. In reply Jinks set the standard at the top of the order, before Tas Hussain added to his four wickets in the first innings with 44 not out as he saw Leycett home to win by six wickets.
Matthew Cope’s century was enough to beat Betley by 103 runs. Moddershall had a solid platform before Cope came to the crease at 81-1. Cope then batted through the innings as he hit 101 not out, after A Thorley had struck 71. Moddershall finished their innings on 276-5. Nazakat Ali then took 4-31 as Betley in reply were dismissed for 173.
Norton won easily by at home against Whitmore by eight wickets. Abdul Aqeel struck 90 not out as Whitmore were reduced to 173 all out Geeth Alwiss was the pick of the Norton bowlers as he took 5-61. Alwiss then hit 69 not out as Norton eased past the Whitmore total.
Division Two
Bagnall are now only nine points from safety after they picked up their fifth win in six against relegation rivals Bignall End. Batting first Bignall End were dismissed for 142, Kashif Daud and Colin Wilkinson both picking up four wickets. Bagnall then stuttered over the finishing line six wickets down.
Table topping Meakin went down by seven wickets against Newcastle & Hartshill. Peter Wilshaw (58) helped Meakin to 154, with Andy Parkes taking 5-22. Simon Wood then lead the Newcastle & Hartshill batting line and hit 65 not out as his side reached the total inside 36 overs.
Ashcombe couldn’t take advantage of Meakin’s slip up as they lost to Rode Park & Lawton. Batting first Rode Park reached 188 from their 55 overs, Jonathon Gallimore top scored with 58. In reply Ashcombe were reduced to 163 all out, Steve Liburd taking 5-71.
Silverdale are still in the hunt for promotion after they beat bottom of the table Crewe by 101 runs. John Shenton (75) and Mick Moore (76 no) helped Silverdale post 213-9. Crewe then collapsed to 112 all out, even with the best efforts of Fionn Webb (50).
Kidsgrove beat Alsager batting second by two wickets. In the first innings Oliver Sadler batted through the innings for Alsager as he hit 88 not out and his side finished on 175-9. In reply Kidsgrove lost wickets at regular intervals but Tom Lench (62) stabilised the innings got past the total in the 43rd over.
Caverswall gained the winning draw against Stafford. The Caverswall openers set a solid platform, Owen Price (54) and Jake Edge (71) put on an opening partnership of 125 and Caverswall made 210 in total. Stafford then managed to hold onto a draw nine wickets down Edge picking up four.
Division Three
There are now only three points between second, third and fourth places in Division Three as the race for promotion heats up.
Oakamoor leap-frogged Forsbrook into second place when they beat them by six wickets. Forsbrook stuttered to 123 all out, Muhammad Ayub was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-7 from 10.3 overs. Ayub then hit 68 as Oakamoor eased past the total in the 31st over.
Gtowtham Rathnasabapathi moved Woore into the promotion chase as they beat Hanford by 110 runs. Rathnasabapathi hit 124 at the top of the innings as Woore set Hanford 252 to win. Only Rodger Davis came to terms with the batting as he made 56 as his side were out for 141.
Eccleshall maintained their lead at the top beating Endon by six wickets. Endon collapsed to 132 all out Cameron Sinclair taking 8-46. They then had no problem knocking the total off Jake Derry (47 no) and Sinclair (33 no) seeing them over the line.
Youngster William Kent helped rock bottom Wootton to their third win of the season. Kent opened the bowling and had figures of 3-35 from 14 overs, as Norton-In-Hales were dismissed for 191. Kent then came in at number 10 still needing 41 to win after Clem Mellor (49) and Sid Barker (45) both made starts. Kent saw Wootton over the line finishing on 27 not out from 53 balls.
Stone stayed in the promotion race picking up maximum points against Fenton. Stone got off to a poor start, but Johnathon McCredie (50)and Nicholas Cooper (52) steadied the ship and they managed to make 222-7. In reply Fenton were all out for 164, Chris Mellor (59) top scored.
Moddershall A managed to hold onto a draw in a close game against Wedgewood & Stanfields. Wedgewood set Moddershall A 236 to win, Michael Perry top scored with 71. Moddershall A finished nine runs short of the winning total but only had one wicket in hand. Michael Dyer (88) and Hareesh Reedy (58) being the mainstays of the innings.