Stone CC 1st XI v Little Stoke CC 1st XI (30th May)
League: North Staffs and South Cheshire League Premier Division A
Little Stoke visited neighbours Stone for the second time in a week and found it hard going once again. They won the toss and put Stone in to bat but the hosts set off in determined fashion as openers Luke Cheadle and Jim Dawson put on 81 before Cheadle was stumped on 32 by Andrew Frost from the bowling of Gareth Morris. Dawson was then joined by Philip Cheadle and the pair built an even more impressive partnership of 146 until Cheadle was caught on 76 by Josh Renshaw, again from the bowling of Morris. Sam Johnson and Matt Coxon then came and went quickly, both victims of James Ecclestone as Stone declared on 279-4 from 49 overs. Jim Dawson with an outstanding, unbeaten 140.
Faced with a daunting target, Little Stoke made a tentative start and were 9-1 as Richard Adams became the first of 5 victims for Matthew Coxon. The next 3 wickets fell soon after as Stone took control reducing Little Stoke to 38-4. This brought James Ecclestone and Dan Richardson together and they showed a much more resolute approach putting on 70 for the 5th wicket, Ecclestone caught behind for 60. Richardson was looking in great form but was frustrated as he was caught and bowled by Adam Purcell on 49. As the middle order fought hard to reach 195-9 it was left to Gurshwin Rabie and skipper Morris to hold out for the last 9 overs but with 5 overs remaining Steve Morgan trapped Rabie(31) lbw to secure a comfortable win and the 25 points for Stone.
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Little Stoke CC 2nd XI v Stone 2nd XI (30th May)
League: North Staffs and South Cheshire League Premier Division B – 2015
Little Stoke elected to bat first and were unexpectedly struggling as the first three batsmen could muster just 15 between them as Stone bowlers Jake Powell and Harry Brundrett claimed the early initiative. However, Harvey Collins (38) Andy Hodson(24) and Ed Gaffney with 40 restored some pride on a difficult track as the hosts reached a respectable 152 all-out from 49.4 overs. Brundrett was the pick of the Stone bowlers with 4-52.
Stone also struggled to find runs and with Mat Phillips, James Murphy and Greg Whalley claiming 2 wickets each, the visitors found themselves on the back foot before too long. When father and son Huw (1-4) and Rhys Owens (3-4) cleaned up the final 4 wickets, Stone were all out for just 85 to leave Little Stoke to claim a 67-run victory to stay top of the table.
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Once again Liam Hickey stood in for 1st team call up Ollie Perry and took a youthful side to Moddershall in Stone SP 1st X1‘s Division 3A campaign. After being asked to bat first, Hickey led from the front with a well-constructed 63 with contributions from in-form James Sutton 45 and John Cheadle’s 26 as the visitors amassed 225-8 in their allotted 55 overs, young spinner Harry Bailey taking 4-40 for Moddershall. In reply Moddershall lost wickets at regular intervals before a last wicket stand between Ali Shah who remained unbeaten on 64 and Bashir 13* held Stone at bay as they survived the last 10 overs to leave Stone with a winning draw. For the visitors, Kiwi Ryan Wall was the pick with 4-36.
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It was a case of history repeating itself at Swynnerton on Saturday as another lost toss precipitated another defeat for Rob Price’s Stone SP 2nd XI. This time Moddershall A 2nd XI were the victors after choosing to bat second after calling correctly and bettering their opponents in every department.
Wickets fell regularly as Stone SP spluttered to a below par score of 125 all out in the 46th over of their innings. Dave Tooth collected 5 for 37 and James Mason 4 for 45 as Moddershall turned the screw. It could have been a hell of a lot worse for Stone SP without the efforts of number 11 Matt Bailey who joined skipper Price with the score a miserable 60 for 9! Bailey added 17 runs to the target, but it was Price with a chanceless 55no that gave some respectability to the home side’s total.
In reply, Moddershall opening bat Joe Mason matched his brothers efforts with the ball to make it a good day for the Mason family. With support from Paul Jackson (15) and Stan Basraj (18) Mason blasted 14 boundaries on his way to a match defining 76no in a team total of 129-3. Max Cuthbert once more shouldered the burden of the bowling for Stone SP and chipped in with a couple of wickets (2-51), but in truth Moddershall A never looked in trouble and made it home off just 36 overs with plenty of time to spare. Stone SP 2nd XI have had better days – but at least we got to see the end of the FA Cup final!
