Poynton Cricket Matters

POYNTON CRICKET MATTERS

ISSUE Fifty – six

june 2011

FIRSTS STRING FOUR WINS TOGETHER

The first match to tell you about this month was another defeat, as we could only manage 149 at Widnes and fell to defeat by four wickets. The match was notable for a maiden first team 50 from 17 year old Josh Hampson with 52, by no means the last time he would play a starring role.

But from being without a win at that stage, the team has now responded with four successive wins. Christleton were kept down to 166/8, where Rick Clark took 4/60 and Brian Kingham 3/43, his first 1st XI wickets in 12 years. 58 from Rhys Burke in the opening slot and 34 not out from Brian, now at number five, completed a six wicket win.

Rhys hit the headlines the next week at Bramhall, where he finished the innings, and his spell of 6/80 with a hat-trick. Chasing 196, Poynton cruised to 114/1 at six per over (Paul Gould 54, Rhys and Josh both 30), but then collapsed to 123/5. But the experience of Brian and Rick remained and we eventually won by four wickets.

Bottom club Cheadle were next, and here we posted 174/7, with Josh again starring with 67. Simon Dunn (26*) and Mark Coram (23*) added vital runs at the end after the innings had threatened to fall away. Cheadle crumbled to 122 all out – Jon Hadley 4/18 and Rick 4/44.

It was victory at Irby in the latest match, featuring the highest of the successful run chases. The Wirral club totalled 202/9 (Rick 4/53, Rhys 3/60), but this was no match for us as we won by five wickets with more than three overs in hand. Josh anchored the chase with another very mature knock of 61 not out, and the task was finished by a cameo 29 not out from Joe Hopkins. Rick contributed a typically aggressive 48 and Rhys 30 in an excellent team batting performance.

Recent weeks have also seen the 1st XI exit the Cheshire Cup in a high-scoring clash at Stockport. Stockport scored 243/7 (Danny Williams 3/43) and we could only reply with 193 (Josh 56, Rhys 38)

SECONDS STILL IN TITLE CONTENTION

Poynton 2nd XI remain second in their division despite a few disappointing results of late. There was certainly nothing disappointing in the top-of-the-table game with Stockport, as Jimmy Williams recorded extraordinary figures of 8/49 to bowl our opponents out for 160. Tom Hamnett’s unbeaten 52 completed a comfortable six wicket win.

Jimmy was not finished there, as he recorded 7/35 in 15 overs at Christleton the following week. Poynton required 237 to win, but Christleton is always a fast-scoring ground, and three half centuries saw us home by seven wickets. Joe Hopkins made 53 in the opening slot, and the task was completed by Adam Williams (69*) and Tom Hamnett (61*)

Unfortunately the winning run ended here and we struggled to 139 all out against Oxton. We fought all the way in reply, as Rick Burton took 4/41 and Jimmy 3/34 in 19.4 overs, only to see our opponents last pair get them over the line.

Rick was in the wickets again with 3/50 the next week, but Malpas posted 197/4 and we could only reply with 172 all out, fading away after a good start from Joe Hopkins and Tom Berzins (both 44) and Mark Fletcher (42).

Poynton then had the better of a draw with Bredbury St Mark’s, as we posted 165/8 (Mark 55), then reduced Bredbury to 118/8 (Paul Bowler 3/13).

THIRDS ALSO IN GOOD POSITION

Our 3rd XI are also in the top half of their division. This is in spite of the fact that my report on the last month starts with mention of two defeats. Bryan Thompson top scored with 34 against Elworth, but we could only manage 139, and our opponents cruised home by six wickets.

Francis Turnbull top scored with 63 against Urmston where we totaled 162, but again we only took four wickets in reply.

A cancelled match followed, before we got back to winning ways over Stockport. Keith Hallam scored 73 and Jacob Warner 30 in an excellent total of 216/9, and Stockport could only reply with 109, as Keith continued his excellent day by blitzing the top order in a spell of 4-8 in seven overs.

In the last month, the thirds have also been eliminated from the Jack Gardner Trophy in the first knockout round. We scored 104/7 in 20 overs (Jim Wilde 30), but Widnes won off the last ball, despite Andy Heath’s 3/19. Conceding 29 extras to just one from Widnes had unfortunately played a major role.

LEGENDS TOP THE TABLE

A return perhaps to some of the dominant Poynton veterans teams of a few years back? For the first three matches of the last month, the 100 per cent record continued, firstly there was a large score of 138/4 against Bredbury Saints (Doug Martin 32 retired, Francis Turnbull 29). Bredbury never came close at 83/7 (Dave Hollick 3/16).

Jim Wilde made 26 and Bryan Thompson 25 in another good total of 130/5, but Bollington ran us closer at 121/5. Nigel Potts was the best Poynton bowler with 2/14.

The run making of the previous weeks was then eclipsed at Bramhall. Four reached the retirement score of 30: Brian Kingham, Francis, Bryan and Tony Berzins as we amassed 173/4. Bramhall could only reply with 113/8 (Andy Walmsley 3/21).

The winning run ended abruptly against Macclesfield though. Brian and Jim both made 30 but our total of 108/5 was passed for the loss of only one wicket.

‘Poynton Legend’ Kevin Bell recently made his debut for Cheshire Over 50s.

GIRLS REMAIN UNDEFEATED

It was two wins out of two for Poynton Under 13 girls when they beat Bredbury St Mark’s by 36 runs. Georgia Bath starred again, taking two wickets for two runs.

In match three, Hope Anderson’s 2/3 and Beth Garnett’s 25 retired were the highlights of a 71 run win over Sale.

The good form continued with a massive win over Sale by 95 runs, and the team are now looking an excellent bet for a semi-final spot. Alex Moon’s 26 not out and Nicole Tunney’s 3/11 were the highlights here.

CLUB NOW ON TWITTER

Poynton Sports Club now has a Twitter account - @poyntonsports. Howard Smith can be contacted at should you wish to publicise events via Twitter.

DIARY

General Sports Club Events:

Saturday July 2 Tapas Night

1st Sunday of every month Club Walk (10.30am)

·  5 miles starting and ending from the club. £6 for optional Carvery lunch at the club on return.

Club websites:

www.poynton.play-cricket.com

www.poyntonsports.com

Online Club Shop:

http://www.keycricket.com/poynton/

Best wishes.

Martin.

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