The Men’s 1st XI hosted Mobberley in their final home game of the season, with the visitors winning the toss and electing to bat first. Starting the first innings strongly, Matt Worsdale (1/27) took a wicket in the first over. The pressure was kept up throughout the powerplay before Matt Howard took the second wicket in the eighth over with the score at 22/2. Howard (2/19) also picked up the third wicket to fall with the score at 37/3 off 12 overs. After a strong start for Oakmere, the batting side began to rebuild with a partnership forming steadily. Tight bowling kept the score from flowing and after 20 overs the score had only moved to 56/3. As the search for a breakthrough continued, the scoring rate began to slowly rise. The fourth wicket finally came for Josh Westwood in the 25th over, laving the visiting side 82/4 at the halfway stage. Continuing after the break Westwood (2/31) claimed his second wicket in the 31st over. At 95/5 another partnership began to grow until the 39th over when some smart work by Craig Phelan at slip brought a run out for the sixth wicket. At 123/6 wickets began to fall at regular intervals with Benedict Verma and Matt Holland returning to the attack. Holland (1/29) and Verma (3/21) took the final four wickets to fall in five overs to put an abrupt end to the innings with the score on 144 after 44.4 overs.

After a strong bowling effort, the target was set and a disciplined batting effort was needed to gain the 20 points. A steady start was stunted by wickets in the 4th and 6th overs, leaving the score at 20/2 off 6 overs. Wickets continued to fall with two more in the first powerplay as Phelan (10) fell to the final ball of the powerplay to make it 36/4. Two further wickets fell in the next five overs as Westwood (12) was eventually dismissed and the score fell to 50/6 from 15 overs. A partnership began to form with a rebuild required to stabilise the innings. Jack Mackin survived with Matt Holland until the 23rd over when Mackin was the seventh wicket to fall. At the halfway point the score sat at 72/7. Holland continued to battle but after the drinks break he was finally dismissed for 24 as Oakmere found themselves 92/8 at the end of 30 overs. In three further overs the final two wickets were taken as Oakmere were bowled out for 99.

A disappointing effort with the bat left the team short and unable to claim the 20 points. With one final fixture away at Heaton Mersey to come, the side sit 4th in the league table, knowing a win will take them into at least third position and still give them a chance at promotion.

Warrington 2nd XI (190 all out) vs Oakmere Men’s 2nd XI (191/5) – Oakmere won by 5 wickets

The Men’s 2nd XI’s final away game of the season saw them make the short trip to Warrington. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first but they were met by the in form youngster Henri Shovelton (3/32) who struck in three of his first four overs to reduce Warrington to 28/3. Tom Court got in on the act soon after, finding an edge to make it 38/4. After a brief fightback from Warrington, Brandon Jones (1/13), Corey Lewis (1/12) and Aaron Court (1/12) all struck in quick succession to make it 65/7. Warrington rallied well, passing into three figures without further loss before Dave Purcell eventually made the breakthrough with the score on 110. Tom Court (2/48) returned to make it 132/9 before a final wicket partnership propelled the score towards 200. Purcell (2/30) took the final wicket in the last over, with Paul Guilford getting a stumping to wrap up the innings at 190 all out.

Dave Purcell and Aaron Court got Oakmere off to a quick start in the chase but Purcell (11) was the first of two wickets to fall in the fifth over as the score went from 23/0 to 23/2. Frank Herrington (11) added 30 runs with Court but after he and Brandon Jones fell, Oakmere looked like they were facing an uphill task from 71/4. Paul Guilford (38) shared in a solid stand worth 70 runs with Court before he was caught before Mathew Giles joined Court at the crease. The pair batted excellently to see Oakmere to their target with just over three overs spare with Giles finishing unbeaten on 30 and Aaron carrying his bat for 90.

The win secured survival for the Men’s 2nd XI, who have consistently fielded young sides throughout the season having been promoted last year with a much more senior squad. It has been great to see the development of our young players as they have transitioned well to life in senior cricket.

Oakmere Men’s 3rd XI (88 all out) vs Haslington 3rd XI (182 all out) – Haslington won by 94 runs

The Men’s 3rd XI hosted Haslington in their final home fixture of the season, winning the toss and electing to field first. Percy Bratherton got Oakmere off to a great start, taking a wicket in the early stages. Haslington rallied and past the 50 mark before the second wicket fell to Harry Peters (1/15). Bratherton returned to take the third wicket before going on to take two further wickets and finish with figures of 4/44. James Collins (2/10) took his maiden senior wickets whilst Cameron Giles’ leg spin took 3/40 as Haslington were bowled out for 182.

Oakmere struggled against a strong Haslington bowling attack in the chase, falling to 28/5 in the early stages. Youngsters Sam Domville (18), James Collins (31) and Dan Gilbert (11) rallied well in response to the early setbacks, but after they were dismissed the innings was soon wrapped up with the score on 88.

Leyland 1st XI vs Oakmere Women’s 1st XI – Match Cancelled (Rain)

The Women’s 1st XI’s final fixture of the season was cancelled following persistent rain at Leyland. The 6 points taken from the contest sees the side finish 5th in Division 1 of the Cheshire Women’s Cricket League having won 6 games, lost 6 games and seeing 2 games abandoned.

Oakmere U15’s vs Alvanley U15’s – Match Cancelled (Rain)

There was also persistent rain at Overdale Lane which saw the U15’s North Cheshire Junior Cricket league Cup Final postponed. The fixture will be rearranged for early on in the 2026 season.