The Men’s 1st XI hosted Middlewich and for the first time this season captain Craig Phelan lost the toss with Middlewich choosing to field first. A quick start from Oakmere’s openers saw the first wicket partnership push to 41 before Nick Verma (9) was the first batter to fall at the end of the 7th over. Despite the scoring rate slowing slightly after this point, the hosts were still able to build a partnership with James Norton and Josh Westwood passing 50 before Westwood (27) fell with the score on 100 at the end of the 23rd over. Pressure was applied by the visitors and the scoring rate fell somewhat over the next ten overs. Norton was unlucky to fall one run shy of his half century in the 32nd over to make it 120/3. Two further wickets fell in the next 6 overs, bringing captain Phelan and vice captain Matt Holland to the crease together at 144/5 off 38 overs. The pair got into their work quickly with some big overs including 22 off the 43rd which included two sixes from Phelan. The pair moved the score swiftly past 200 and Phelan brought up his 50 in the penultimate over. A century partnership was reached in the final over before Phelan fell for 65 from just 53 balls. Holland remained unbeaten on 25 as Oakmere posted 246/6.

The Middlewich openers matched Oakmere’s quick start with no loss of wicket in the first ten overs. In the 12th over Tom Court (1/31) made the breakthrough to break a 51 run stand. The introduction of spin in Westwood slowed the scoring rate and built pressure which Holland capitalised on as the score reached 77/2 off 21 overs. Wickets then began to fall at regular intervals as Holland (2/18) and Westwood (2/20) continued. With Holland also picking up a run out, the score moved to 121/6 off 37 overs. Benedict Verma (3/30) was reintroduced to the attack and took three wickets in his final two overs, making quick work of the Middlewich lower order. With 109 runs required off the final 7 overs, Holland picked up a second run out to end proceedings with Middlewich all out for 138.

Another all round team performance from the Men’s 1st XI added to the team’s recent winning streak which they will look to continue further on Saturday away at Tattenhall.

Ashton on Mersey 2nd XI (265/8) vs Oakmere Men’s 2nd XI (143 all out) – Ashton on Mersey won by 122 runs

A young Men’s 2nd XI travelled to Ashton on Mersey on Saturday, winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Oakmere got off to a fantastic start with openers Mathew Giles and Brandon Jones striking in consecutive overs with Jimmy Sidebottom taking a good catch off Brandon’s bowling. Giles (2/36) picked up a further wicket before Percy Bratherton was introduced to the attack and picked up an early wicket in his spell as the hosts were reduced to 40/4. A counterattack followed before Percy picked up his second to make it 85/5. Ashton on Mersey’s sixth wicket partnership changed the momentum, picking up regular boundaries as Oakmere tired on a blustery day. Brandon (2/40) eventually got the breakthrough but Ashton on Mersey continued to fight back. Percy (4/57) picked up a further couple of wickets as the hosts finished their innings on 265/8.

Oakmere’s openers in Dan Faulkner and Jack Mackin weathered an excellent opening spell from the hosts that made runs very hard to come by. Faulkner (5) was dismissed in the 13th over before Mathew Giles and Mackin took the attack to the bowlers. Mackin (17) and Giles (25) fell in quick succession to spark regular wickets as Oakmere slipped to 99/9 despite Paul Guilford (14) and James Lewis (16) threatening to get going at one stage. Brandon Jones (39*) and Percy Bratherton shared an excellent tenth wicket partnership worth 44 runs before Percy was the last wicket to fall for 2 with the score on 143.

Oakmere Men’s 3rd XI (129 all out) vs Prestbury 2nd XI (133/7) – Prestbury won by 3 wickets

The Men’s 3rd XI hosted Prestbury 2nd XI who won the toss and asked Oakmere to bat first. Openers Jack Pickering and Will Hardie made a solid start before Jack was caught for 4. George Warburton came to the crease and both he and Will, having played some elegant shots and looking to be going well, fell for 11, leaving the score 27/3. Cameron Giles and Hamish Warburton set about stabilising the innings, putting together a 64 run partnership before Cameron was run out for 30. Further quick wickets fell, including that of Hamish for a well made 42 as the score reached 105/7. Pete Giles (1) was unfortunate to be run out whilst Sean McDonnell (14) and Isaac Brotherton (7) provided some good tail end resistance as Oakmere were bowled out in the final over for 129.

Henri Shovelton and Will Hardie opened the bowling for Oakmere, containing the early run rate with Henri (1/18) making the breakthrough. Sean McDonnell took over, bowling an excellent spell of 2/35 from 10 overs helped out by a pair of excellent catches from George Warburton at deep extra cover and Will Hardie at gully. Sean was ably supported by Jack Pickering who collected 2/24 off 5 overs, including another excellent catch from Will at gully and a worldie of a diving catch from Hamish Warburton at long on whilst running to his right. As the visitors started to edge closer to their target, Peter Giles came on and bowled an excellent containing spell of 1/10 from 4 overs, supported by George Warburton who produced an outstanding in-swinging yorker to bowl the Prestbury danger man for 42. Despite an excellent bowling and fielding performance that reduced Prestbury to 118/7, Oakmere couldn’t find the remaining three wickets with Prestbury reaching their target to take a tight contest.

Leigh 1st XI (180/5) vs Oakmere Women’s 1st XI (181/4) – Oakmere won by 6 wickets

The Women’s 1st XI travelled to reigning champions Leigh on Sunday and, after a short rain delay which saw the match reduced to 37 overs per side, lost the toss and were asked to field first. Leigh got off to a very good start, but Oakmere never gave up, eventually getting the breakthrough at the end of the 21st over courtesy of an Amy Jones catch off the bowling of Thisumi Jayawarna. Another excellent partnership followed before wickets began to fall in the 34th over with Nat Lyons (1/24) making the breakthrough. Sarah Worsdale (2/28) picked up a couple of scalps and the returning Thisumi (2/24) took another wicket as Leigh posted 180/5.

Oakmere got off to a similarly solid start with openers Kerry Hartnett and Thisumi holding firm. The pair put on 64 before Thisumi became the first wicket to fall for 28. Rach Warrenger joined Kerry, scoring 23 before being caught with the score on 110. Amy Jones (18) and Kerry shared a 50-run partnership to edge Oakmere closer to their target, whilst maintaining a healthy run rate. Nat Lyons added 5 and Sarah Worsdale an unbeaten 6, but a fine captain’s knock from Kerry (78*) saw her carry her bat and carry Oakmere home with three balls to spare.

The reverse fixture takes place at Overdale Lane this Sunday.

Oakmere Women’s 2nd XI (109/2) vs Nantwich 2nd XI (107/5) – Oakmere won by 8 wickets

The Women’s 2nd XI hosted Nantwich in the second round of the Development Knockout Cup on Monday evening at Overdale Lane, winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Charlotte King (1/16) and Abby Lowe (1/11) made early breakthroughs for the hosts before Nantwich’s 3rd wicket partnership put on 49. Jane Tarpey’s spell of 2/10 from 3 overs halted the Nantwich charge and Maddi Lawson picked up a wicket to finish with 1/10 from 4 overs. Nantwich’s 20 overs finished with the score on 107/5.

Oakmere’s response got off to a blazing start, as Emily Faulkner and Abby Lamidey shared an opening stand of 65 before Abby was the first wicket to fall for 23. Emily reached the retirement score of 30 before a good display of running between the wickets from Maddi and Charlotte saw Oakmere near their target. Charlotte was out with the score on 98. The victory was wrapped up with a lovely boundary from Maddi (17*) as Oakmere reached their target with the bets part of two overs to spare.

The victory will see Oakmere host Oxton in the quarter finals.

Oakmere Men’s 2nd XI (94 all out) vs Winnington Park 2nd XI (145/6) – Winnington Park won by 51 runs

The Men’s 2nd XI hosted neighbours Winnington park in t20 action on Tuesday evening with the visitors electing to bat first after winning the toss. Park raced to 51 off the first six overs before Brandon Jones (2/26) made the breakthrough, following it up with a further wicket in his next over to make the score 71/2. Jimmy Sidebottom (1/30) made it 98/3 in the eleventh over with the visitors looking set for a big score. The second half of the innings belonged to Oakmere though, whose bowling and fielding stepped up a notch, with Matt Howard’s 3/12 from 4 overs really putting the brakes on as Park scored 145/6.

After losing openers Hamish Shovelton (6) and Jack Mackin (14) early on in the chase, Mathew Giles and Lewis Newall shared a 52 run partnership and kept up with the required run rate to put Oakmere right back in the game. Unfortunately, the loss of Newall (15) sparked a collapse which saw Oakmere bowled out for 94. Mathew Giles’ entertaining knock of 42 from 31 balls certainly being the highlight.

Tarporley Midweek XI (163/9) vs Oakmere Midweek XI (173/3) – Oakmere won by 10 runs

The Midweek XI were also in action on Tuesday evening, travelling to Bunbury to take on Tarporley. Nathan Gee (21) got the visitors off to a good start which Frank Herrington and Josh Westwood built upon. Westwood retired having made 52 from 31 balls and not long after the score passed the hundred mark, Herrington fell just two runs short of his retirement, scoring 48 from 40 balls. James Norton (26 off 10 balls) and Cameron Giles (18 off 12 balls) pushed the run rate further as Oakmere finished on 173/3 from their 20 overs.

Tarporley’s chase got off to a flyer, with the first wicket coming courtesy of a Matt Holland run out with the score on 49 mid-way through the 4th over. Holland (1/19) followed this by picking up a wicket with the ball before Zach Howdle (3/29) and Jasper Eaton (1/26) got in on the action. Tarporley’s lightning start meant that they were still well in the game but Nathan Gee (3/35) returned to the attack to put the game to bed, as Tarporley fell 10 runs short of their target.