An impressive bowling display by David Womble helped Stone 1st X1 to a much-needed victory against Whitmore last weekend.
Womble’s impressive 5 for 52 performance restricted Whitmore to a score of 168. Dries Nell with 3 for 34 also weighed in with key wickets.
In reply, Stone made hard work of the chase, losing Luke Cheadle early with the score on just 5. Runs for Richard Harvey (42), Phil Cheadle (34) and Matt Coxon 38 made the chase look comfortable, but a clatter of late wickets saw the Lichfield Road supporters give out a sigh of relief when the line was crossed with just two wickets remaining.
Stone are now 7th in the Premier Table, where just 35 points separate eight clubs
In the reverse fixture, Whitmore controlled the game and Stone 2nd X1 were very much second best. Whitmore eased to 212 for 3 declared. In reply, Dylan Davies (33) and Declan Wardell (30) opened and suggested that it was going to be a close contest. Stone then dramatically collapsed from 63 for 0 to 96 all out – a poor performance which will have their absent captain Oliver Perry scratching his head.
The two Swynnerton-based Stone SP sides enjoyed great wins against Hanford. The Stone SP 1st X1 were on their travels, won the toss and asked their hosts to bat. Hanford were dismissed for a lowly 77 with three wickets each for Aidan Schmid and Chris Banks, Jack Winfield and Neil Podmore also chipping in with two apiece. The run chase was not easy however and they lost five wickets in reaching their target.
At Swynnerton, captain Hylton Bennett was again the centre of attention in the Stone SP 2nd X1 victory. Bennett won the toss and put his visitors into bat and then weighed in with 5 for 12, whilst Chris Lindop picked up three wickets. Hanford were all out for 173. In reply victory required Bennett to score an undefeated 48 to see his side home. No other batsmen capitalised on good starts.
This week, Stone 1st X1 travel to Longton, whereas the Stone SP 1st X1 welcome Norton in Hales to Swynnerton. The second team fixtures are reversed.
Stone 1st XI through to 20:20 quarter-finals
Sunday saw Stone 1st X1 cruise through to the next round of the league 20:20 tournament. In a three-way competition between Stone, Longton and Knypersley, Stone won both their matches easily. After Longton had beaten Knypersley in the first match of the day, Knypersley were Stone’s first opponents. Knypersley batted first and through tight bowling were dismissed for 135. Pick of the bowlers was Wasim Khan with 3 for 28.
Stone openers then set about the task with confidence, Jim Dawson (42) and Luke Cheadle (64) enjoying an opening partnership of 78. When Dawson was out it was left to Luke with his brother, Phil (21) to close out the match and secure a nine-wicket victory.
In the second match, Stone again bowled first and Matt Coxon with 5 for 14 blew away the Longton batters, with Khan again picking up two important wickets. Longton were dismissed in the 20th over for 108. Dawson (54) and Luke Cheadle (50) saw their side reach 107, before Cheadle fell, closely followed next ball by Matt Coxon.
A convincing eight-wicket victory sees them through to the quarter finals on 7th July.
