The Men’s 1st XI hosted Heaton Mersey in their final game of the first half of the season, with captain Craig Phelan returning to winning ways at the toss and choosing to bat first. With a solid, steady start, the runs ticked over through the first powerplay until James Norton (10) was the first wicket to fall in the tenth over. Josh Westwood arrived to the crease at 34/1 and quickly got into his work in a partnership with Matt Worsdale that saw 59 runs added in 55 balls. After Westwood hit a large maximum down the ground, an early drinks break was taken with the score on 92/1 after 18 overs. The break was the downfall for Westwood who was dismissed for 34 by the next ball he faced. 4 wickets then fell in the following five overs with the fifth wicket being Worsdale for 40. At 104/5 off 23 overs Zach Howdle and Craig Phelan kept the scoring moving before their growing partnership was halted as Howdle (16) was dismissed at 127/6. Matt Holland joined Phelan and steadied the ship with a second 50-run partnership of the innings. The pair fought hard over the next fifteen overs, adding 54 runs before Phelan (35) was unfortunate to lose his wicket. Holland made a hard fought 17 and the final Pair of Tom Court and Ethan Mackin pushed the score to 198 before the last wicket fell, a strong score but not out of sight for a strong opposition.

The Heaton Mersey reply started rapidly with 11 runs coming from the first ball of the innings as a no ball was hit for six. With the runs coming, so did wickets, with the first falling to Benedict Verma (1/29) at the end of the third over with the score on 21. The second wicket went to Tom Court (1/34) in the sixth over which finished with the score on 49/2. As the powerplay came to an end the runs began to slow and the introduction of Worsdale continued the wickets as he claimed the next two to fall with the fourth wicket seeing the score on 80/4 after 18 overs. With Holland introduced to the attack, the runs remained hard to come by but an injury brought the end to his spell. The pressure of the tight overs lead to Worsdale claiming a run out in the 25th over, leaving Heaton Mersey 96/5 at the half way stage and momentum with the home side. Westwood’s spin continued to apply pressure at one end as Ethan Mackin (1/21) was brought into the attack from the other end, claiming a wicket in his first over. Westwood soon got in on the wicket taking, taking two wickets in the 32nd over as Heaton Mersey fell to 120/8. Westwood (3/30) picked up the ninth wicket of the innings in his next over and the flow of wickets put the fielding side firmly ahead of the game. Some nerves arrives as a final wicket partnership added 26 runs over the next five overs, but the return of Worsdale (3/19) brought the final wicket to see Heaton Mersey all out for 154 in the 40th over.

At the halfway point of the season, two consecutive hard fought victories against strong opposition provides the Men’s 1st XI with momentum going into the reverse fixtures. With Barrow away next week, the Men’s 1st XI will look to make it three victories in a row.

Alderley Edge 2nd XI (237/9) vs Oakmere Men’s 2nd XI (201 all out) – Alderley Edge won by 36 runs

The Men’s 2nd XI travelled to Alderley Edge to take on the league leaders who won the toss and elected to bat first. Matt Howard and Mathew Giles bowled testing opening spells and were backed up by excellent fielding which saw runs at a premium. It was the switch to spin in the form of Jimmy Sidebottom that brought the breakthrough as a quicker ball deceived the batter and trapped him LBW. Sidebottom (3/59) took the next two wickets to fall before a strong fourth wicket partnership pushed the score past the hundred mark for the hosts. Dave Purcell (1/39) eventually picked up the fourth wicket and a slower ball from the returning Matt Howard removed the set batter agonisingly short of a deserved century. Howard (2/34 from 13 overs) bowled superbly on a hot day and picked up his second before Mathew Giles (2/58) also returned to pick up a couple of wickets. A Sean McDonnell run out in the final over gave Oakmere their ninth wicket as Alderley Edge closed on 237/9.

Openers Dave Purcell and Dan Faulkner got Oakmere off to a positive start in the chase. Faulkner (14) was the first wicket to fall but Paul Guilford put together a solid partnership with Purcell to make it honours even at the halfway stage. After Purcell (62) and Guilford (31) fell in quick succession, Jack Mackin (18) and Jack Paget (12) got starts but were unable to kick on as the required run rate grew. Sean McDonnell’s unbeaten 17 at the tail of the innings pushed Oakmere past the 200 mark, but with time running out a run out ended the innings with the score on 201.

Oakmere Men’s 3rd XI (194/7) vs Aston 2nd XI (145 all out) – Oakmere won by 49 runs

The Men’s 3rd XI reached the halfway point of the season as they hosted Aston, winning the toss and electing to bat first. Adrian Watts and George Warburton made a steady start for Oakmere, seeing off the opening bowlers before George fell for 6 and Adrian soon after for 10 to make it 24/2. Will Hardie and Hamish Warburton arrived at the crease and began to increase the run rate before Hamish was out LBW for 16 to a ball that kept low and Will was bowled for 21. James Lewis then arrived at the crease and continued to increase the run rate. Paddy Bratherton supported well until he fell for 6. A crucial partnership of 74 between Lewis and captain Ian Bett then swung the game in Oakmere’s favour before Bett fell for 29. James continued with Harry Peters (6) and Corey Lewis (1*) as Oakmere set Aston 195 to win, with James finishing unbeaten on an excellent 84.

Aston went about their chase positively but Corey Lewis and Henri Shovelton bowled superbly to keep the run rate in check and cause regular problems for the batters. Henri picked up the first two wickets to leave the visitors 24/2. A fifty run third wicket partnership brought Aston back into the game until Pete Giles’ introduction to the attack brought the breakthrough. Will Hardie and Ian Bett then took up the reins with the ball and continued to apply pressure which saw wickets fall when Henri (4/28) and Corey (2/38) were brought back into the attack. A fantastic James Lewis brought the eighth wicket before Pete (2/28) and Will (1/21) returned to wrap things up and give Oakmere a 49 run victory. A superb team performance with many contributing to a well deserved win.

Stockport Georgians 1st XI (139 all out) vs Oakmere Women’s 1st XI (140/3) – Oakmere won by 7 wickets

The Women’s 1st XI travelled to take on Stockport Georgians on Sunday, winning the toss and electing to field first. They made a great start with Nat Lyons (1/13) and Sarah Worsdale (1/32) picking up early wickets to leave Georgians 7/2. A third wicket partnership worth in excess of 50 runs settled things for the hosts before Annie Rashid picked up a caught and bowled to break the partnership. Wickets then began to fall at regular intervals as Kate Skelhorn (2/39), Emily Faulkner (3/14), Layla Dwyer (1/8) and a further wicket for Annie (2/22) saw Georgians bowled out for 139.

Despite losing Phoebe Cottam (8) early on, Nat Lyons and Rachel Warrenger put together an excellent partnership for the second wicket which broke the back of the chase. Nat fell for an excellent 73 with the score on 108, before Rach (29) and Sarah (18*) saw Oakmere home with five and a half overs to spare.

Oakmere Women’s 2nd XI (88/4) vs Nantwich 2nd XI (89/5) – Nantwich won by 1 run

The Women’s 2nd XI again hosted Nantwich on Monday evening, with the visitors winning the toss and electing to bat first. Solid bowling and fielding all round made runs hard to come by but there was no breakthrough until the score was on 48 with Ruth Farrell (1/7) taking a catch off her on bowling. The effort in the field continued with regular wickets then falling as Nantwich finished their 20 overs on 89/5. There were wickets for Jane Tarpey (1/10), Maddi Lawson (1/7) and Layla Dwyer (1/14) with Layla also picking up a run out.

Nantwich matched Oakmere’s effort in the field and with the ball and despite falling behind the required rate early on, a 45 run partnership between Emily Faulkner (25) and Charlotte King (19) brought Oakmere right back into the contest. With both falling in quick succession, it turned the game back in Nantwich’s favour. Carys Salomon (3*) and Olivia Standish (2*) put in a great effort but fell agonisingly short as Oakmere finished on 88/4, just one run short of Nantwich’s score.

Oakmere Midweek XI (59/2) vs Mold Midweek XI (55 all out) – Oakmere won by 8 wickets

The Midweek XI hosted Mold on Tuesday evening. The visitors made a positive start with the bat, reaching 30 without loss before Tom Court (1/4) made the breakthrough. The breakthrough opened the floodgates for Oakmere as Matt Worsdale (1/21), Corey Lewis (2/11), Ethan Mackin (2/2) and Henri Shovelton (3/12) all got in on the act as Mold were dismissed for 55.

Frank Herrington’s 24 put Mold on the back foot early on and Josh Westwood’s unbeaten 16 from 6 balls finished the job as Oakmere chased their target in the eighth over.

Saughall Midweek XI (175/3) vs Oakmere Midweek XI (172/2) – Saughall won by 7 wickets

The Midweek XI were again in action on Thursday evening, this time taking on Saughall at Barrow. Frank Herrington (28) continued his good form at the top of the order before he was the first wicket to fall with the score on 55. Josh Westwood retired after hitting 51 from 29 balls including 8 boundaries and a maximum. Harry Poole (50*) also made a half century and was ably supported by youngster George Warburton (21*) as Oakmere posted 172/2 from their 20 overs.

Oakmere started well with the ball, keeping Saughall slightly behind the rate beyond the halfway stage as Mathew Giles (1/31) and Josh Westwood (1/28) picked up wickets. With 47 required from the final 5 overs, Oakmere were in the driving seat but a middle order blitz saw those required runs picked up in just 16 deliveries, despite a wicket for Jimmy Sidebottom (1/38).

Stockport Georgians 1st XI (151/2) vs Oakmere Women’s 1st XI (121/8) – Stockport Georgians won by 30 runs

The Women’s 1st XI made their second trip to Stockport in a week for a T20 fixture on Thursday evening. The hosts batted first and made the most of difficult bowling conditions as they posted 151/2 from their 20 overs with Layla Dwyer (2/23) picking up both wickets to fall, one courtesy of a good stumping by Maddi Lawson.

Kerry Hartnett (22), Sarah Worsdale (26), Jess Lewis (16) and Maddi Lawson (14) all got going with the bat, but could not push on as Oakmere finished their innings on 121.