Stone Cricket Club’s 1st X1 recorded their third win of the season at the weekend with an emphatic victory over last season’s runners-up Knypersley.
The champions dominated the game from the moment Staffs all-rounder Matt Coxon broke through the defences of opener Dan Ball in the first over. Knypersley’s innings gathered very little momentum in the face of accurate bowling from the Stone attack. Steve Morgan’s miserly spell of 18 overs conceded only 19 runs, and with Morgan and Kyle Melis both collecting a brace of wickets, and Coxon collecting three to add to his impressive tally so far this season, the visitors were restricted to 124-9 from their 55 overs.
This total was never going to be enough as Stone’s openers batted with positive intent from the word go. James Dawson raced to 34 before being trapped LBW by Nayyer Abbas. Nevertheless Luke Cheadle continued to find the boundary rope with regularity and recorded his first half century of the season. Cheadle finished unbeaten on 58 and despite the loss of brother Phil for 16, the result was a formality as the champions cruised to an eight-wicket victory with over 35 overs of their innings remaining.
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Stone SP 1st captain Ollie Perry’s unfortunate run with the toss continued as his team were asked to bat 1st at Wedgwood. Slow progress ensued and from their allotted 55 overs the visitors only racked up 189-5. James Sutton top scoring with 64, with late contribution from Nick Cooper arriving to bat lower down the order and hit an unbeaten 40. In reply Wedgwood ran out easy winners knocking off the total with 3.4 overs and 6 wickets in hand. Only Evan Bradford with 2-23 showed any real form with the ball. A disappointing return from Perry’s men!
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Ian Banks took his Stone 2nd X1 to Knypersley to take part in what turned out to be a thrilling fixture. The home side batted first making steady progress to reach 101-2, but the introduction of teenage spinners 18 yr old Sam King and 15 year old Harry Brundrett soon turned round Stone’s fortunes. Brundrett had 3-67 from a marathon spell of 19 overs, while King mopped up the tail to finish with excellent figures of 5-26 from his 9 overs. In reply all looked lost for Stone when the top order were back in the hut for 32, and when Mike Perry departed for 28 with the score on 57, the situation was hardly much better. However wily old veteran Paul Minshall was joined by another teenager 15 year old Jake Powell & they commenced the rescue act, before Minshall departed for 33. Brundrett strode to the crease and the two teenagers turned the game in Stone’s favour with a stand of 71 before Powell departed for a hard-working 43 with Stone requiring 3 to win. Brundrett added 1 to finish unbeaten 41 but both his partners perished LBW for 0 as Stone finished agonisingly 1 run short.
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Stone SP 2nd XI v Crewe 2nd XI
It was a case of another toss won, and another game won, as Rob Price’s mixture of veterans and youth dismantled 10 man Crewe at Swynnerton on Saturday.
Put into bat, Bernie Bishop raced his way to a classy 57 but had very little help from his teammates. Bishop was out with the score on a healthy 95-4. His dismissal though was the catalyst for a monumental collapse as his side limped to a below par 101 all out. Extras were second top scorer as Stone SP2’s teenagers obliterated the Crewe batting line up. 15 year old left arm opening bowler Matt Bailey (1-22), and 14 year old’s Ben Shearing (3-17) and Max Cuthbert (5-26) did all of the damage in exactly 31 overs as Crewe were well and truly derailed.
In reply Shearing added a chanceless 32* whilst supporting the resurgent Mark Townsend. Townsend contributed 51 runs to the target in another 100 plus run opening stand. His nonchalant pull to the boundary off the 1st ball of the 25th over saw SP2 reached their target, win the game by 10 wickets and claim the 20 points ending 102-0. A short game is a happy game!
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On Sunday, Stone entertained Moddershall in a 2nd round Staffs Cup tie and ran out comfortable nine- wicket winners. Batting first Moddershall scored a tidy 186-9 off their 45 overs. George Hawbrook was the leading wicket taker with 3-49, including a wicket with the 1st legal delivery of the game. His opening partner Olly Perry also impressed with 2-19 from his 9 overs and teenager Adam Pursell’s leg spin was again to the fore as he finished with 2-36. In reply Stone were never in trouble in a innings dominated by the Cheadle family. Cousin Johnny making a welcome return to form with 76*, assisted by the two brothers Luke 43 and veteran Phil 39*.
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Stone 2nds were also in action with a tricky away tie in the Talbot Shield at Endon. The home side batted first and made 181-8 from 45 overs, Powell continuing his form from the previous day this time with ball, taking 4-53. Lee James and Ian banks also picking up a couple of wickets apiece. In response, Stone chased well with Nathan White registering his 1st half century for the Club with 51. Wickets tumbled frequently though but Powell(25) and Minshall(23) again came to the fore with a match-winning stand, the elder statesman smashing a 4 to win the game with 2 wickets and 2.4 overs in hand.
