Haslington 1st XI (139/3) Vs Oakmere 1st XI (136 all out)
The 1st XI visited Haslington on Saturday and winning the toss chose to bat first. The innings started steadily until James Norton (10) fell in the 5gth over and the second wicket came in the next ball. Finishing 5 overs at 14/2 a rebuild was required and Sevi Cupido joining Dave Purcell brought some balance to the innings. The pair moved out for the first powerplay and moved nicely towards the 20th over until Cupido (27) fell and again was followed by a second wicket in the over. At 79/4 off 20 overs the innings was back on track but wickets continued to fall. Purcell (31) fell in the 21st over and 3 wickets in 6 balls opened the door for the opposition. The 6th wicket fell in the following over and the score was 90/6 off 22 overs. Benedict Verma and Brandon Jones took to the crease looking to halt the collapse and managed to survive past the half way point. Boundaries started to come after the break and the score was recovering before Verma (15) was dismissed in the 29th over with the score at 127/7. Jones (18) continued on and some watchful batting lengthened the innings however, with the next wicket falling in the 34th over the final two followed in consecutive overs. Finishing the innings in 36 overs the score was 136 all out.
The reply started swiftly with regular boundaries ticking the score along until the first wicket was claimed by Matt Holland in the 5th over. Tom Court followed with the second wicket 2 balls later and the score was 29/2. The scoring rate was not halted as the boundaries continued with the search for the 3rd wicket. Holland finally struck at the end of the 13th over with the score at 78/3. The opposition trying to finish the game quickly were well ahead of the rate and the continued pressure on the bowlers made wicket taking a difficult ask. The batting side continued on their way and moved past the required total in 22.1 overs finishing 139/3.
A disappointing outing to start the second half of the season sees the 1st XI move to 6th in the league and will look to bounce back with a strong performance hosting Christleton on Saturday.

Oakmere 2nd XI (157 all out) Vs Cheadle Hulme 2nd XI (159/5)
The 2nd XI hoisted Cheadle Hulme and chose to bat first on Saturday. Off t a steady start the side got out for the 1st powerplay without loss of a wicket. The 1st fell in the 11th over and was followed by another 10 over partnership between Hamish Warburton and Paul Guilford. 2 more wickets fell before drinks but Warburton continued. Warburton moved past his 50 in the 30th over as he watched 2 more wickets fall and the score moved to 97/5 off 30 overs. Warburton eventually fell for a well made 70 in the 35th over and wickets began to fall. Mike Dodd provided stability from one end with a well fought 21 but the flow of wickets brought the innings to an early end at 157 all out off 43.3 overs.
Cheadle Hulme responded well with a strong opening partnership taking 20 overs to break. Matt Howard finally made the break through with the score at 99/1 off 20 overs. Wickets followed quicker with Sean McDonnell claiming 2 before te end of the 25th over and the score moved to 119/3. McDonnell picked up his third in the 29th over and Harry Peters claimed is first in the 34th over but the opening partnership had broken the back of the chase and the visiting side reached their target with 13 overs to spare. Finishing at 159/5 off 36.3 overs the visiting side took the 20 points.
A hard fought game with many positives to take sees the 2nd XI enter the second half of the season and look to get into winning momentum against Upton 3rd XI on Saturday.

Oakmere 3rd XI (137 all out) Vs Appleton 3rd XI (141/5)
The 3rd XI won the toss and chose to bat first and got off to a rocky start with some early wickets. A partnership of the two Lewis’ (Zak and James) helped stabilise the innings taking the score to 66 before Zak (18) was dismissed. James continued to score as regular wickets fell form he other end with 6 ducks in the innings. Defining the phrase stand and deliver, James Lewis struck 20 boundaries as he batted to the 35th over when he was dismissed on 99 from just 74 balls. Falling as the 9th wicket Lewis was quickly followed by the 10th and the innings ended. Finishing at 137 all out from 34.5 overs the target was set.
3 early wickets for Roger Pickering (3/25) saw the chase moved to 24/3 off 11 overs providing an excellent start to defend the low total. However a 4th wicket partnership bloomed and the visiting side moved to 94 before another wicket fell. Eventually Pete Giles (1/32) claimed the wicket and not long after a run out followed to move the score to 103/5. The hunt for the 6th wicket continued but it never came as the visitors moved past the total finishing at 141/5 off 34.3 overs.
Despite the loss, the 3rd XI remain 3rd in the league in a strong position entering the second half of the season. They visit Glazebury 2nd XI on Saturday looking to get the first win of the return fixtures.

Oakmere Women’s 1st XI (159/7) Vs Didsbury Women’s 1st XI (161/2)
The Women’s 1st XI won the toss and chose to bat first. A rocky start saw a one wicket fall early but Pheobe Cottam and Emily Renshaw (15) began to build the score moving to 45 before Renshaw fell. Another partnership threatened with Thisumi Jayawarna (14) before she too fell with the score now 80/3. Cottam continued and saw another wicket fall at the other end as the score moved past 100 and Cottam moved past her 50. She was the next to fall for a well fought 60. Kate Renshaw played a string hand at the end of the innings finishing 28 not out to boost the score to a final total of 159/7 off 40 overs.
The reply saw a long hunt for the first breakthrough with a 98 run opening partnership breaking the back of the chase. Charlotte King (1/48) eventually got the breakthrough in the 27th over. Kate Renshaw (1/25) took the second in the 30th over at 134/2. The match finished with a flourish of boundaries and the visitors reached the target ending at 161/2 from 33 overs.
The women’s 1st XI will look to bounce back with a win when they host Lindow on the 26th of July.

Nantwich Women’s 2nd XI (130/5) Vs Oakmere Women’s 2nd XI (85/4)
The women’s 2nd XI hosted Nantwich and were asked to field first. Early wickets helped the team as Fearne Davison (1/7) took one and a runout dismissed another. A big 86 run partnership moved the score forward but 3 wickets late on from Maddi Lawson (3/25) kept the total within reach at 130/5 off 20 overs.
The reply saw a few partnerships threaten with Lawson getting a quick 29 and King finishing 17 not out but with some regular wickets and tight bowling the score finished at 85/4 off the 20 overs and Oakmere fell 45 runs short.

Chester Boughton Hall Women’s 2nd XI (114/4) Vs Oakmere Women’s 2nd XI (113/7)
The Women’s 2nd XI played on consecutive days and looked to follow up with a win. This time batting first Lawson backed up a good performance with another 30 before retiring, supported by Thisumi Jayawarna who reached her 32 off just 23 balls. Jackie Faulkner contributed late in the innings alongside Zoe Davies to move the score up to a final total of 113/7 off 20 overs.
A 760 run opening partnership got the chase well underway but some tight bowling in the middle overs kept the rate at bay. As three of the batters retired, Layla Dwyer also picked up 2 wickets as the game came to a tight conclusion. Needing 26 from the final 5 overs some tight bowling kept the Oakmere side in the game. With 2 needed in the final over a a single brought scored level and a run out from Jayawarna put pressure on the opposition. Two dots took thew game to the final ball where unfortunately a single secured victory for the batting side.
A well fought game to take it to the final ball saw many positives for the women’s 2nd XI to take forward.