Oakmere 1st XI (223/6) Vs Christleton 1st XI (219/9)
A scorching hot Saturday, saw Oakmere hosting Christleton and losing the toss were asked to field. A daunting prospect standing in the sun for 50 overs. However early success from Tom Court (1/41) got the innings underway with a wicket in the 4th over. 2 runs coming from the next 4 overs saw pressure applied early to the batsman and the score moved to 23/1 off 8 overs. As the first powerplay ended a flurry of boundaries got the score moving but Matt Holland coming into the attack broke the growing partnership. 64/2 off 14 overs saw a good early battle between bat and ball. Some tight bowling brought pressure which led to Ethan Mackin claiming the 3rd wicket in the 20th over and Sevi Cupido (2/25) following up with 2 more before the ed of the 25th. At halfway the score was 96/5. With 10 runs coming form the next 8 overs the squeeze was impressive and the scoring halted. However, after the second drinks break the set batsman began to press their advantage and make most of wickets in hand. Moving to 40 overs without further loss the visitors final push was stunted by a wicket from the returning Mackin ending the 50-run partnership. At 146/6 off 42 overs the innings was well poised for an exciting end. The rate grew quickly and the score jumped up with regular scoring shots, but Mackin (4/30) again claimed 2 more wickets in the penultimate over, and Holland (2/47) picked up the 9th in the final over to keep the score at bay. Finishing the innings 214/9 the long 50 overs in the heat were over and a decent score was set.
A chasable score for the home side but a good innings was required. A difficult start saw 2 wickets fall in the 3rd over as the score was reduced to 10/2 early. Cupido joined Matt Worsdale and quickly got into his work making the most of a lightning-fast outfield. With 27 runs coming from the 6th and 7th overs the score was propelled forward through the powerplay. The pair brought up the 50-run partnership off just 42 balls leaving the score at 60/2 after 10 overs. With bowling changes, the rate decreased slightly as the pair continued to tick along and Cupido brought up his 50 in the 23rd over. Worsdale followed suit bringing up his own half century in the 25th over. However, the following over saw the end of the 106-run partnership as Cupido fell for an excellent 57 and his dismissal brought about 5 penalty runs for the home side moving the target to 220. Zach Howdle joined Worsdale at 117/3 off 26 overs. The scoring slowed as the pair reset, looking to strengthen the well-built platform and keep wickets in hand. With only 16 runs coming before the 2nd drinks break the score moved to 133/3 off 34. Boundaries began to flow as Howdle set himself. Reaching 40 overs at 166/3 the 50-run partnership was brought up but soon ended as Howdle (31) fell 2 balls later. Holland joined Worsdale and helped the score to 177/4 off 43, needing 43 from the final 7 overs the tension grew. Running hard in the middle the pair faced only 4 dots and taking 35 runs from the following 4 overs. 7 runs form the 48th brought the scores level and with Worsdale at 96 facing the first ball of the 49th over he unfortunately fell attempting to reach a maiden century. Finishing his innings of 96 from 144 balls Worsdale left the crease with 1 required. A 6th wicket fell before the run was score but the safe hands of Brandon Jones struck the inning boundary. Holland finished 18 not out with a brilliant hand to see the game home. Finishing 223/6 off 49 overs Oakmere took the 20 points.
A great effort from the team, battling through 99 overs in the heat sees them return to winning ways and setting the tone for the second half of the season. They look to repeat this success on Saturday when visiting Ashley.

Upton 3rd XI (236/7) Vs Okamere 2nd XI (234/5)
The 2nd XI visited Upton and winning the toss decided to bat first. Getting off to a good start Dave Purcell put on a 48-run stand with George Warburton (10) who eventually fell for the first wicket in the 15th over. Purcell continued as 2 more wickets fell from the other end before the 20th over. Reaching halfway at 93/3 a platform had been set and the p[air continued until Giles (19) dismissal in the 28th over. Two overs later Purcell brought up his well made 50. With Dan Faulkner at the crease the pair slowly manoeuvred through the next 10 overs and slowly ticked along the score, preventing any further wickets. Faulkner (17) fell in the 40th over bringing the score to 145/5. With wickets in hand the Mike Dodd looked to push on the score through the last ten over with Purcell. The pair struck regular boundaries and the rate increased dramatically taking just 33 balls to bring up the 50-run partnership. In the 48th over Purcell brough up his 2nd hundreds of the season and saw through the innings to finish 116 not out off 150 balls. An excellent inning from the captain, carrying his bat and helping post a defendable total. Dodd supported with 39 not out from 24 balls and the unbeaten 89 run partnership drove the final total to 234/5 off 50 overs.
Having a good total to bowl at the bowlers knew they had to fight hard on a good pitch against a strong opposition. The chasing side started fast but failed to exit the first powerplay without loss as Mat Giles (1/42) struck in the 7th over breaking the 47-run stand. Exiting the powerplay a run out from Warburton brought the next break through and brought a flurry of wickets with Percy Bratherton (1/52) and a run out from Hamish Warburton bringing wickets before the 15th. 68/4 off 14 overs left the visiting side in good stead looking to capitalise on the chaos caused. However, the next wicket proved harder to come by with a long partnership taking the batting side to the halfway point at 108/4 off 25 overs. The partnership continued and the search for wickets grew at they moved to the 40th over still 4 down. At 178/4 off 40 overs, 57 was needed from the final 10. The game hung in the balance with a few wickets needed to tip it in the favour of Oakmere. Matt Howard was the one to finally break the partnership in the 47th over when the score had been carried to 218/5. Howard took a second in the over and applied the pressure onto the new batsman. 16 was required from the final 3 overs. The 48th conceded 10 runs and though Howard (3/39) claimed the 7th wicket in the 49th over, a boundary off the following ball pushed the chasing side over the line. They finished 236/7 off 48.3 overs.
A disappointing loss after a hard-fought game sees the 2nd XI searching to return to winning ways on Saturday when they host Ashley.

Glazebury 1st (166/8) XI Vs Oakmere 3rd XI (163 all out)
Losing the toss the 3rd XI was asked to field first. Getting two early break throughs Harry Peters (2/28) started the innings well assisted by economical bowling from Ian Bett (0/9). Dan Gilbert (1/21) and Sean McDonell (1/23) also picked up wickets to move the side to 68/4. A big partnership moved the score to 138 before James Lewis (4/15) entered the attack and took 4 wickets at the back end of the innings to keep the scoring at bay and led to a final total of 166/8 off 40 overs.
The chase started shaky with 3 early wickets in quick succession. However, Adrian Watts (24) and Sam Domville (27) provided some stability and moved to score towards the target. When the partnership was broken a few more wickets fell quickly but an excellent innings from Dan Gilbert brought the 3rd XI back into the game. Regular wickets fella round Gilbert (44) who pushed the score on and drew the scores close however, despite a strong effort the side fell just 3 runs short of the target. The innings ended at 163 all out form 35.3 overs.
A strong effort on a hot day from the 3s brough a painfully close defeat but the team remain 3rd in the league looking to press on a strong run for the second half of the season. They host Mere Europa 1st XI next week.

Oakmere women’s 2nd XI (147/5) Vs Runcorn women’s 1st XI 158/2)
The Women’s 2nd XI hosted Runcorn and losing the toss were asked to field first. Runcorn made the most of the decision and came out strong with a 90-run opening partnership before Emily Faulkner (1/15) got the breakthrough. Charlotte King (1/12) claimed the second wicket at 117/2 off 14.1 overs. The 3rd wicket partnership saw through the innings and drove the score to finish at 158/2 off 20 overs.
Chasing the score one early wicket fell However, Layla Dwyer continued at the other end scoring well taking 20 runs form the 3rd over. The second and third fell in quick succession to move the score to 43/3 off 5 overs. The 10th over was another good one for Dwyer scoring 15 off the over however, it also brought the wicket of Carys Salomon (13) and Imogen Wood came to the crease. Dwyer brought up her 50 in the 11th over off just 27 balls with 9 boundaries. After the 11th the scoring slowed. With the score 100/4 off 14 overs a big final push was needed. A few big overs kept the game tight until 30 was needed from the final two overs. A good effort brought 18 from the overs and saw Dwyer dismissed for 66 with 3 balls remaining. Wood remained 31 not out off 30 balls with a goof fight to he end but the innings ended at 147/5 off 20 overs, 11 runs short of the target.
The Women’s 2nd XI next play on the 28th July when they visit Chester Boughton Hall Women’s 2nd XI.