Here’s all the action from the weekend’s matches for Moddershall Cricket Club‘s teams, from the senior first team to the under-11 Panthers, Pumas and Cobras! Thanks to Melvyn Dawson for the reports…
1st Team v Checkley – Winning Draw for Moddershall
Moddershall entertained near rivals and current high flyers Checkley. Checkley won the toss and asked Moddershall to bat first in good bowling conditions. This decision proved correct as Moddershall were quickly reduced to 38-3. Captain Sam KELSALL and 16-year-old Tom HOPE came together and started to rebuild the innings with some excellent stroke play and dogged defence. They put on 171 for the 4th wicket before HOPE, having scored his first 50 in Premier League cricket, fell for 64 off 111 balls including 10 fours and 2 sixes.
KELSALL continued and ended up with 115 not out off only 102 balls including 8 fours and 2 sixes. Thus Moddershall completed their innings finishing with 231 for 4 off allotted 55 overs. In reply Moddershall soon had Checkley on the back foot with a fine opening spell from Mitchell SPENCER with 3 early wickets supported by Matt GOODWIN in reducing Checkley to 8 for 4. The Checkley middle order offered a little resistance but the introduction of Muhammed RAZA who took 2 quick wickets, that had Checkley on the ropes at 117-8, but unfortunately Moddershall were unable to take the final two elusive wickets and Checkley closed on 152-8. SPENCER finished with fine figures of 12 overs, 5 maidens 4 for 21 and RAZA with 2-23 off 13 overs. A good performance against a strong Checkley side.
1st Team v Spondon (2nd Round ECB National K0)
Moddershall travelled to the Derbyshire Premier League leaders with only four players from Saturday’s side, due to seven players being called up for various representative sides.
Spondon, with a full team, batted first and the class showed with them scoring 288-6 off 45 overs, only Ali RAZA with 2-52 having any real success. In reply Moddershall’s batting was no match for their opponents and they were reduced to 117 all out off only 31 overs. Tom HOPE continued his fine run with the bat, scoring with 38.
2nd Team V Burslem (Win for Moddershall by 123 runs)
Moddershall visited Burslem and were inserted on a damp wicket, some gritty batting by Dan GROUNDS 56 and Robert PRICE 38 and a flurry by James MASON (21) enables Moddershall to reach 178-7 off 50 overs. In reply Robert PRICE completed a Man of the Match performance by producing excellent figures of 6-25 off 16.2 overs supported by Ollly SLINN (2-17 off 9 overs) and Burslem were dismissed for only 55, giving Moddershall a superb win.
Moddershall ‘A’ 1st Team V Norton-in-Hales (Win For Norton-in-Hales by 84 runs)
Moddershall ‘A’ travelled to Norton-in-Hales looking for that first victory of the season and came away disappointed. Inserting Norton, Moddershall toiled away and eventually bowled Norton out for 167 with Shaun BRIAN taking 4-56, Kieran GRIFFIN 3-41 and Shaukat BASHIR 2-49 off 21 overs. In reply Moddershall started very steadily and an excellent opening partnership of 40 (Scott Oliver 15 and James FAULCONBRIDGE 23) appeared to have laid the foundations for a successful run chase, however disaster struck and wickets tumbled at very regular intervals with six batsmen not figuring on the score sheet and they were eventually bowled out for 83 with Norton’s professional, Zafar IQBAL, doing the damage with superb figures of 7-31 off 20 overs.
Moddershall ‘A’ 2nd Team V Norton-in-Hales (Norton won by 1 wicket)
In a very low scoring game on an extremely damp wicket Moddershall lost a tight game. Having been invited to bat Moddershall struggled in the conditions and grinded out a score of 52 all out off 48 overs, only Stanley BASRAJ, reaching double figures with 21. Moddershall fought hard and with Norton on 37-6 and then 48-9 thought they were in a wonderful winning position but it was not to be with Norton last man hitting the winning boundary. Dean TOOTH nearly pulled off the match-winning display with 7-27 off 14.4.overs but was unable to capture the final wicket.
Moddershall Phoenix V Stafford 3rd X1 (Phoenix won by 4 wickets)
Moddershall Phoenix continued their winning start to the season when they entertained near neighbours Stafford and pulled off another victory. Having asked Stafford to bat first in damp conditions, Moddershall produced a disciplined bowling performance and reduced Stafford to 157 all out with Nilesh SETUNGA being the pick of the bowling with 5-23, supported by Captain Dinesh COORAY (2-28). In reply, Moddershall batted sensibly and achieved their goal with relative ease with six overs to spare and four wickets in hand. COORAY completed a fine afternoon with a quickfire 32 and he had support from JAYATHILIKA (32) and Ishara WEERASINGHE who finished on 38 not out. A good victory, keeping the Phoenix sitting pretty at the top of the table.
ACADEMY
U15 V Bagnall Norton (Cup) – Win by 105 Runs
U15 progressed to the next round of the Peter Gething Cup by easily beating Bagnall Norton.
Batting first Moddershall achieved 140 for 7 off 20 over’s with Greg CLARK 25 (retired), Dan GROUNDS 23, Connor BALL 22.
In reply Modddershall bowled out Bagnall for 35. Harry BAILEY had remarkable figures of 4wicket for 1 run off 2 over’s and Dan GROUNDS 3-3 off 1.4 over’s.
U15 V Milford HALL (County Cup) – Lost by 9 Runs
The following night the U15’S visited Milford Hall and were unable to repeat their previous nights feat losing narrowly to Milford. Milford batted first and scored 102 for 4 off allocated over’s, in reply Moddershall finished agonisingly short with Harry BAILEY scoring 41 and James CLARK 20.
U13 V LITTLE STOKE (League) – Won by 7 wickets
U13’S visited Little Stoke and pulled off a fine victory having dismissed Little Stoke for only 29, Ted DOWNES with figures of 4 overs, 5 wickets for 6 runs, Emily STONES, 3 Balls and taking 2 wickets. In reply U13 made light work of winning with extra being the top score of 13.
V STONE (County Cup) – Lost by 7 Wickets
Moddershall entertained a strong Stone side and gave them a good game but couldn’t quite pull off the shock. Moddershall batted first and scores a respectable 121 for 1,Aunn SHAH 38, Josh CRUMP 36 not out. In reply Stone proved too strong and scored the required runs with 4 over’s to spare with Emily STONES taking 2-21.
U13 Reds V Checkley… Game rained off
U11 COBRAS V BARLASTON (Cup) – Won by 69 runs
Cobras entertained Barlaston in the Graham Cooper cup and won easily. Batting first Moddershall scored 94-3 (Net 279) Callum HAWKINS starring with the bat scoring 17. In reply Barlaston were restricted to 55-9 (Net 210) pick of the bowling being Jack KNAPPER 3-7 AND Callum WALTERS 2-10.
U11 PANTHERS V ASTON, Cheshire (Cup) – Lost by 5 runs
Panthers visited Aston and lost narrowly by 5 runs, Batting first scored 57-4 (Net 237), in reply Aston scored 87-9 (Net 242), a very good game which went down to the final ball and unfortunately someone has to lose and the Panthers luck was out.
U11 PUMAS V HEM HEATH (CUP) – Lost by 13 runs
Pumas visited Hem Heath and also lost narrowly. Batting first Moddershall scored 34-6 (Net 204) Joe SIMPSON 8 and Joe HAWKINS 7. Hem Heath scored 47-6 (Net 217) to squeeze a narrow victory, Finley BENTLEY-JONES taking 2-8.
