Weekend number 2 of the 2024 season saw the Men’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams all in action along with the U13’s Originals who also got their season underway.

Oakmere Men’s 1st XI (182 all out) vs Barrow 1st XI (122 all out) – Oakmere Men’s 1st XI won by 60 runs

The Men’s 1st XI kicked off the Saturday double-header with neighbours Barrow, being asked to bat first after heavy rain overnight. Any worries about the conditions were soon allayed as openers Ric Lyons and Nick Verma made their way past the 50 mark before Lyons fell to the last ball of the 17th over for 31. The remainder of the innings was a stop-start affair with several batters getting going but failing to go on to a big score. Verma (24), Ciaran McDonnell (18), Craig Phelan (13) and Dan Wood (12) all made it to double figures but regular wickets fell, leaving the score at 132/7 in the 36th over. A valuable 41 run partnership between youngster Aaron Court (23) and Matt Worsdale (21) nudged the score towards the 200 mark before the last wicket fell to the final ball of the innings with the score on 182.

Barrow’s reply got off to a slow start with Matt Worsdale and Matt Holland proving hard to score against. Holland (2/20) picked up 2 early breakthroughs, leaving Barrow at 10/2 before Matt Howard (1/15) found an edge behind to leave Barrow struggling at 34/3. Regular wickets continued to fall with the introductions of Ciaran McDonnell (3/30) and Ethan Yeo (3/15). A James Hodkinson run out wrapped up the innings on 122, giving Oakmere a 60 run victory.

Barrow 2nd XI (103 all out) vs Oakmere Men’s 2nd XI (169 all out) – Oakmere Men’s 2nd XI won by 66 runs

It was a similar tale at Barrow in the other part of the double header, with Oakmere losing the toss and being asked to bat first. The bowler friendly conditions saw two early wickets fall with Dan Faulkner and Zach Howdle both receiving excellent swinging deliveries. Nathan Gee and Paul Guilford rallied, taking the score to 42 before the former fell for 21 to another good delivery. After Guilford’s dismissal for 20, Oakmere found themselves in a real hole at 73/6. Captain Mike Dodd remained at the crease, batting patiently and capitalising on any rare loose deliveries. At 103/8, Benedict Verma joined Dodd and the pair batted excellently, rotating strike and running well between the wickets to take the score past the 150 mark before Verma edged behind for a well made 18. Sean McDonnell was the last man to fall with the score on 169 and Dodd unbeaten on 65 for his second half century in two innings.

Oakmere made an exceptional start with the ball as Hamish Shovelton (3/22) and Ben Verma (2/19) charged in and reduced the hosts to 9/5. Barrow’s sixth wicket partnership rallied well, but tight bowling from Ethan Mackin and Zach Howdle made scoring difficult, increasing the required run rate for the hosts. The pressure finally told when Mackin’s persistent line and length forced a loose shot that found the hands of Nathan Gee at mid wicket with the score on 92. Sean McDonnell’s introduction to the attack then saw wickets tumble as he took 3/3 in 4 overs before Gee wrapped up the innings with a run out to give Oakmere a hard fought 66 run victory.

Tattenhall 3rd XI (145 all out) vs Oakmere Men’s 3rd XI (153/5) – Oakmere Men’s 3rd XI won by 8 runs

The Men’s 3rd XI’s first match of the season saw them travel to Tattenhall on a glorious Bank Holiday Sunday. Oakmere won the toss and opted to bat. It was a slow start with Jack Pickering (5) falling in the 10th over with the score on 18 before fellow opener Adrian Watts (3) fell in the 15th over to leave the score at 29/2. Ian Bett (7) was also dismissed in the next over to leave Oakmere struggling on 31/3. This brought together juniors Jack Paget and Jimmy Sidebottom who crafted a very mature partnership of 98 when Jack fell for a well made 45 in the 38th over. Mathew Giles arrived at the crease looking to score quickly, hitting a six from his first ball. Jimmy (38) was dismissed in the penultimate over with Pete Giles (3*) joining son Mathew to take the score to 153/5 at the end of the 40 overs.

Whilst warming up for the second innings, Jimmy unfortunately took a blow to the head, leaving Jack to take the gloves and Will Hardie stepping in as 12th man to help in the field. Oakmere made an early breakthrough in the 4th over when Mathew Giles combining with dad Peter who took a good catch. Tom Court (10 overs, 3 maidens, 1/27) made it 11/2 in the 5th over, bowling the other Tattenhall opener. A solid third wicket partnership saw the scoreboard and run rate increasing before Corey Lewis (8 overs, 2/44) took two wickets in two balls to leave Tattenhall 93/4 in the 21st over. The ever dependable Mike Cushion (10 overs, 6 maidens, 1/12) kept runs at a premium throughout his spell and was rewarded with a wicket when Adrian Watts took a catch to leave the hosts 113/5. Mathew Giles returned to the attack at this point, cleaning up the tail to leave Tattenhall eight runs shy of their target and give himself figures of 5/33 from 9.4 overs.

And also…

The Women’s 1st XI saw progression to the quarter finals of the Cheshire Cup on Sunday after their opposition conceded the fixture.

The U13’s Originals won a great contest against Lymm Oughtrington Park in the final over of their Sunday morning contest in the sun at Overdale Lane.