The Men’s 1st XI travelled to Mobberley on Saturday and for only the second time this season captain Craig Phelan lost the toss, with Mobberley choosing to field first. Oakmere’s got off to a quick start, scoring 24 from the first three overs before James Norton was the first wicket to fall for 14. The runs slowed through the rest of the powerplay before the second wicket fell in the tenth over as Matt Worsdale (16) was dismissed at 42/2. Craig Phelan (12) joined Josh Westwood and upped the rate once more with some quick boundaries but the wickets continued to fall as the score moved to 59/4 from 12 overs. Westwood and Zach howdle threatened another partnership but Westwood fell for 13 in the 18th over to make it 80/5. Four further wickets fell before the end of the 22nd over. Howdle (19*) continued from one end and with a few more boundaries, he pushed the score past 100 before the final wicket fell with Oakmere all out for 101 from 24 overs.

With a low total to defend, tight bowling and high intensity fielding was required from the off to give any hope of a victory. This was shown from the off with Matt Holland claiming a run out in the first over. A second wicket followed in the sixth over as Matt Worsdale trapped a batter LBW to make it 21/2. Two more wickets from Worsdale (3/23) in the eighth over really put the pressure on Mobberley. The ninth over saw another run out, with Zach Howdle continuing the early momentum to leave Mobberley struggling on 36/5. A partnership then threatened to grow however was halted by the third run out of the innings with Holland picking up his second to get the sixth wicket. Holland then entered the attack with Josh Westwood and tight bowling slowed the scoring rate. Eventually a breakthrough came at 69/7 through Holland. Benedict Verma returned to the attack and continued his threatening bowling from his opening spell which earned him the next wicket. With the game precariously placed at 74/8, Verma (2/18) struck again to give Oakmere the upper hand. Mobberley’s final pair put up a strong fight with occasional boundaries really boosting the score and making nerves jangle as ball continued to beat the bat in the main. With just 3 runs required, Holland began his final over and managed to find the edge with his first ball with captain Phelan taking the catch to leave Mobberley 99 all out and give Oakmere a 2 run victory.

A brilliant fight back to win a thrilling, tight game brings the Men’s 1st XI their sixth win from the first ten games. They will look to continue this momentum as they host Heaton Mersey on Saturday in the final game of the first half of the season.

Oakmere Men’s 2nd XI (151 all out) vs Warrington 2nd XI (259/9) – Warrington won by 108 runs

A young Men’s 2nd XI hosted Warrington on Saturday at Overdale Lane, with the visitors winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Opening bowlers Matt Howard and Corey Lewis applied early pressure with the ball, with Corey reaping the rewards with a couple of early scalps courtesy of a Percy Bratherton catch at square leg and a stumping from stand-in wicket keeper Mike Dodd. Warrington fought back well with a steady third wicket partnership, but runs were hard to come by. Matt Norton (1/40) eventually made the breakthrough with the score on 91 after he found an edge just before a heavy shower delayed proceedings. After the rain delay, Oakmere struggled with the wet ball before Matt Howard returned to the attack and picked up a deserved wicket after finding an edge behind. With wickets in hand, Warrington were able to go on the attack and up the run rate. A Sean McDonnell run out brought a fifth wicket partnership worth 83 runs to an end which was swiftly followed by a further wicket for Corey Lewis (3/46). Warrington continued to chance their arm which saw Howard (3/41) pick up a further couple of deserved wicket courtesy of two excellent catches from Dave Purcell at extra cover, one making good ground running in and one a superb one-handed over the shoulder effort running backwards. Mike Dodd added a run out to see the ninth wicket fall as Warrington posted 259/9 from their 50 overs.

As the sun came out for the second innings, the moisture from the earlier showers gave a bit of spice to the pitch, with Warrington’s bowlers remaining disciplined and getting their rewards as Oakmere fell to 46/5 early on. James Lewis added 29 before he was caught behind and Matt Howard was looking good for his 19 before he found the fielder on the boundary. At 88/8 Matt Norton and Sean McDonnell were brought together and took advantage of some rare loose deliveries. The pair added 58 before McDonnell was bowled for 35 and Norton was the last wicket to fall for 21 with the score on 151.

Haslington 3rd XI (249 all out) vs Oakmere Men’s 3rd XI (89 all out) – Haslington won by 160 runs

The Men’s 3rd XI travelled to Haslington on Saturday where the home side won the toss and elected to bat first. Henri Shovelton and Ian Bett took early wickets for Oakmere before Haslington put together a solid fourth wicket partnership. This was broken by Rachel Tidd (1/40) before Henri (2/42) returned to the attack to take his second wicket and make it 113/5 in the 23rd over. As Oakmere’s bowlers and fielders began to tire in the heat, Haslington took advantage, pushing up the scoring rate. There were wickets in the closing stages for Hamish Warburton (2/37), Ian Bett (3/57), Pete Giles (1/44) and Harry Peters (1/21) as Haslington were bowled out for 249 in the final over.

Oakmere struggled to get going in the chase and were bowled out for 89 with Harry (15), Hamish (16) and Henri (21) the only batters to make it into double figures.

Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI (130/3) vs Oakmere Women’s 2nd XI (110/6) – Chester Boughton Hall won by 20 runs

The Women’s 2nd XI were back in league action on Tuesday evening, taking on Chester Boughton Hall and electing to field first. Abby Lowe (1/10) made the initial breakthrough for Oakmere but a solid second wicket partnership put Chester in a strong position. Jane Tarpey (2/13) took two wickets at the back end of the innings as Chester posted 130/3 from their 20 overs.

Layla Dwyer and Emily Faulkner started well with the bat for Oakmere, putting on 29 before Emily was bowled for 10 with the score on 29. A cluster of wickets saw Oakmere fall to 51/4, but Layla remained at the crease and put on a partnership worth fifty runs with Abbi Lamidey. Layla was eventually stumped for 55, after scoring her first senior fifty! Abbi soon followed for 20 as Oakmere finished their 20 overs on 110/6, 20 runs short of their target.

Marchwiel and Wrexham Outlaws (63 all out) vs Oakmere Midweek XI (169/6) – Oakmere on by 106 runs

The Midweek XI had their return fixture against Marchwiel and Wrexham on Wednesday. Batting first, Matt Holland and Matt Worsdale got Oakmere off to a solid start, before Holland fell for 14 from as many balls. An excellent second wicket partnership between Worsdale and Jack Mackin put Oakmere in the driving seat. Worsdale retired for 51 from just 31 deliveries as the pair took the score past the 100 mark in the 12th over. Mackin fell in the next over just short of a half century on 43 from just 30 deliveries. Zach Howdle’s unbeaten 26 from 20 overs propelled Oakmere to a healthy total of 169/6 from their 20 overs.

Ethan Mackin (1/7) made an early breakthrough with the ball for Oakmere and despite not managing to take any further wickets, tight bowling kept runs in check. The second wicket partnership was broken by Sean McDonnell at the end of the 10th over with the score on 43. As the Marchwiel batters chased quick runs, wickets began to fall with McDonnell (2/13) picking up a second and Will Hardie (1/11), Josh Westwood (4/8) and Matt Worsdale (1/0) getting in on the act as the home side were bowled out for 63.