The Men’s 1st XI travelled away to Barrow to start the second half of the season. Facing a side also fighting near the top of the league, a continuation of winning ways was required. Barrow won the toss and elected to bat first. Some very patient bowling started the innings, preventing the opposition from getting a strong start. Looking to make the most of the powerplay the batters began to try and push the score on, however this brought wickets. Benedict Verma struck first midway through the fourth over to make it 6/1. Matt Howard joined in the action in the following over, taking his first wicket. The scoring rate increased with occasional boundaries but wickets continued at regular intervals. Verma took the third before the end of the powerplay with Barrow finishing the first ten overs on 32/3. Howard (3/21) took another two wickets in the next over to see the Barrow top five back in the pavilion after just 11 overs. Ethan Mackin was introduced to the attack in the 15th over and immediately had an impact, taking the sixth wicket with his fourth ball. Two more wickets fell in the next two overs with Verma (3/30) and Mackin taking another each to make it 55/8 after 17 overs. A small partnership began to grow as Verma finished his spell and Matt Worsdale came into the attack. Worsdale (1/15) claimed the ninth wicket with the score on 68. With the lower order trying to counter attack they managed to put on a 21-run partnership for the final wicket before Mackin (3/23) claimed the final wicket to see the innings close on 89 from 26.1 overs. A brilliant effort in the field also saw 8 catches taken by 6 different fielders, aiding the strong bowling on display.

With a low score to chase the Barrow attack came out fighting with some tight bowling and aggressive fields. The scoring was slow and every run was hard fought until the first wicket fell in the fourth over. Nick Verma joined Worsdale at the crease and scoring remained slow. With 4 maidens in the first 10 overs, the powerplay finished with Oakmere 16/1. As the opening bowlers came to the end of their spells the change in attack saw the rate begin to increase. Finishing the 14th over at 27/1, the pair had survived the new ball and with tight fields still searching for wickets, runs began to flow. At 71/1 off 23 overs the result looked in hand. Further bowling changes brought further scoring opportunities and with Worsdale scoring 20 from the final six deliveries, he pushed his team over the line and brought up his half century. Verma finished 25 not out as the pair put oin an unbeaten 87 run partnership and finished 93/1 off 24.2 overs.

A strong all round performance from the team extends their run of wins as they climbed to second in the league. They will be looking to solidify a strong position in the table as they host Runcorn on Saturday.

Oakmere Men’s 2nd XI (159 all out) vs Romiley 2nd XI (292/8) – Romiley won by 133 runs

The Men’s 2nd XI started the return leg of fixtures by hosting Romiley, electing to bowl first after some overnight rain. Romiley got off to a blistering start with the bat, reaching 80 without loss after the first eleven overs. Aaron Court (1/41) made the breakthrough in the fifteenth over, but Romiley did not let this deter them as they powered past the 200 mark without further loss. Dave Purcell (2/42) tempted the mistake in the 40th over with Jack Mackin making no mistake under the catch on the boundary and he repeated the feat just three balls later with Nathan Gee taking the catch this time to make it 210/3. With the platform set, further runs came in the final ten overs but wickets fell at regular intervals to Tom Court (2/58) and Mathew Giles (3/45).

Dan Faulkner (15) and Nathan Gee (29) got Oakmere off to a positive start in the reply but after their wickets, it was only Dave Purcell (46) and Paul Guilford (38*) who got to grips with the strong Romiley attack as Oakmere were dismissed for 159.

Langley 2nd XI (246/5) vs Oakmere Men’s 3rd XI (155/7) – Langley won by 91 runs

The Men’s 3rd XI made the long trip to Langley on Saturday and asked their hosts to bat first after winning the toss. Henri Shovelton picked up an early wicket for Oakmere but a century partnership for the second wicket put Langley in the ascendancy. Jack Pickering (1/24) made the breakthrough when he found an edge. The score passed the 200 mark before Corey Lewis removed the Langley opener shortly after he had reached three figures. Henri (2/44) picked up a further wicket before Percy Bratherton (1/49) got in on the action as Langley finished their innings on 246/5.

After losing an early wicket in the reply, Jack Pickering and Hamish Warburton steadied the ship before Hamish was caught for 22. Brandon Jones joined Jack and the two pushed the score on further. Pickering was bowled for a well made 41, leaving Brandon to be joined by Cameron Giles. The pair put on 68 runs together before Brandon fell for 37. Tight bowling kept Oakmere behind the required run rate and the chasing of quick runs saw further wickets fall as Oakmere finished their innings on 155/7.

Oakmere Women’s 2nd XI (127/3) vs Alvanley 1st XI (74 all out) – Oakmere won by 53 runs

The Women’s 2nd XI took on Alvanley on Monday evening at Overdale Lane in a league fixture. The visitors won the toss, electing to bowl first and they reduced Oakmere to 17/2 early on. This became 48/3 in the eighth over, but thereafter Maddi Lawson (61*) and Carys Salomon (20*) batted brilliantly, sharing an unbroken stand worth 79 runs as Oakmere finished their 20 overs on 127/3.

A run out in the opening stages of the response set the tone for a great bowling and fielding display by Oakmere as regular wickets fell which saw Alvanley all out for 74. The wickets were shared around with Carys Salomon (2/4), Kate Renshaw (2/5), Maddi Lawson (2/6) and Abbi Lamidey (2/8) all picking up a couple of scalps, with Fearne Davison (1/16) also chipping in.

Oakmere Women’s 2nd XI (116/3) vs Oxton 1st XI (49/8) – Oakmere won by 67 runs

The Women’s 2nd XI played a second home game in two days on Tuesday evening, this time taking on Oxton in the Quarter Finals of the Development Knockout Cup. As on Monday evening, the visitors won the toss and elected to field first. After losing a wicket in the first over, it was a great recovery from the Oakmere batters. Emily Faulkner retired having reached 30, before Layla Dwyer (15) and Thisumi Jayawarna (20) added to the score. Abbi Lamidey (14*) and Maddi Lawson (6*) pushed the score on as Oakmere posted 116/3 from their 20 overs.

It was another excellent bowling performance from Oakmere, making runs hard to come by and building pressure early. The pressure brought wickets for Kate Renshaw (3/6), Maddi Lawson (2/1), Carys Salomon (1/2), Fearne Davison (1/4) and Abbi Lamidey (1/8) as Oxton finished their innings on 49/8.

Two excellent victories in two days for the Women’s 2nd XI have seen them rise to second in Division 3 West of the Cheshire Women’s Cricket League and progress to the semi finals of the Development Knockout Cup, where they will host Alvanley in a repeat of Monday evening’s fixture.