Oakmere 1st XI (247/7) Vs Tattenhall 1st XI (299/9)
The 1st XI hosted Tattenhall on Saturday and winning the toss chose to bowl first. The away side came out hard and quickly got to 50 first the first wicket before Benedict Verma (1/42) claimed the first wicket at 51/1 in the 7th over. Continuing at a good rate the first powerplay ended with the batting side at 86/1 from 10 overs. The rate began to slow slightly up to the next wicket which came for Sevi Cupido in the 17th over at 117/2. 3 overs later, Ethan Mackin followed up with the 3rd wicket and Cupido claimed his 2nd in the following over. At 134/4 from 21 overs the momentum was shifting in the direction of the fielding side. Mackin continued the good spell in the 28th over with a 5th wicket for the side and the score moved to 161/5 from 28 overs. A brilliant bowling partnership from Mackin (2/53) and Cupido brought 53/5 from 14 overs taking the score to 170/5 after 30 overs. Mat Giles (1/16) joined the attack and struck in his first over. Some tight bowling saw the boundaries dry up but continuous singles kept the score ticking along. At 222/6 off 40 overs a good final 10 overs were required to keep the target within reach. Cupido (3/37) returning to the attack claimed his 3rd and the score moved to 251/7 off 45 overs. Looking to accelerate to the end of the innings the rate increased once more. Two wickets from Holland (2/69) helped keep the score under 300 as a final total of 299/9 off 50 overs was set.
A large score set for this pitch looked a looming total and the home side knew a good innings was required for 20 points. A steady watchful start brought only 12 runs from the first 6 overs before runs began to flow more freely as James Norton and Matt Worsdale got themselves set at the crease. 41/0 after the powerplay saw the pair begin to set the platform for the innings. The pair brought up their 50-run partnership in the 14th over and continued through the middle overs. The pair brought up the 100-run opening partnership in the 24th over. In the following over Worsdale reached his 50 off 69 balls and the side reached drinks at 107/0 off 25 over. A good first half set the platform for the rest of the innings. The pair continued after drinks, looking to accelerate the scoring and unfortunately the push for runs led to the run out of Worsdale for 77 from 94 balls in the 30th over. This ended the 135-run partnership. Norton continued and brought up his 50 off 90 balls in the 32nd over. Assisted by Frank Herrington the pair continued to tick over the runs before Herrington (14) fell in the 36th over. The 4th wicket followed in the next over and the score moved to 164/4 form 37 overs. Aaron Court came to the crease and got into his work quickly striking some boundaries. After a well-played gritty innings, Norton was eventually dismissed in the 41st over for 69 from 114 balls and the score moved to 189/5 from 41 overs. With the required rate climbing over 10 an over the target looked to drift away from the chasing side. Another wicket fell two overs later, but Court continued and played his shots in partnership with Verma. The pair added some good runs before Court was dismissed for 33 from 32 balls. Verma continued to the end and finished 29 not out from 26 balls but the final push was only enough to bring the final score to 247/7 from 50 overs.
A disappointing 52 run loss leaves the 1st team 8th in the league with 3 games left to play. The side look to end the season strong, starting on Saturday with a visit to Oulton Park.

Port Light 2nd XI (219 all out) Vs Oakmere 2nd XI (252/7)
Visiting Port Sunlight, the second team lost the toss and were asked to bat first. The innings was off to a rocky start losing two wickets in the powerplay including Jack Pickering (10) to take the side to 43/2 from 10 overs. Nathan Gee kept the runs coming and the score ticking as he was joined by Craig Phelan. Gee (39) was dismissed in the 15th over with the score at 66/3. Phelan continued supported by George Warburton to take the side past the 100-run mark before Warburton (14) fell just before drinks. At 110/4 after 25 overs the side were well set to accelerate through the second half of the innings. Dan Faulkner occupied the crease beside Phelan who continued to bat watchfully and eventually brought up his 50 from 89 balls in the 35th over. At 161/4 from 35 overs the 50-run partnership helped move the score on for the visiting side. Faulkner (27) was dismissed in the 41st over breaking the 78-run partnership and moving the score to 187/5. Phelan began to accelerate in the final 10 overs with Mike Dodd, and the score had bumped up to 246/6 when Dodd (22) was dismissed in the 49th over. Phelan had moved into the 90s and a leg bye got him on strike for the final ball of the innings. Unfortunately, Phelan was dismissed on the final ball and fell 4 runs short of his century ending a brilliant innings of 96 from 134 balls. The innings ended at 252/7 from 50 overs.
A strong first half set a good total for the bowlers to defend. An early wicket for Percy Bratherton (1/24) kept the team’s momentum going and with Corey Lewis claiming a wicket in the 6th over the good start continued. The powerplay ended at 59/2 from 10 overs. The runs continued to flow however, so did the wickets with Henri Shovelton (1/28) claiming one in the 11th over and Gee (1/28) taking one in the 16th over. At 82/4 from 16 the runs began to dry up as the pressure was applied to the batsman. A partnership began to grow slowly through the middle overs, and the batting side made it to 153/4 after 30 overs. With the game in the balance a double wicket maiden from Brandon Jones (2/14) in the 34th over swung the momentum back in the fielding sides favour. The score was 168/6 from 34 overs and another partnership began to threaten again before Phelan (1/35) joined the attack and claimed his first wicket. Lewis returned to the attack and joined in claiming the 8th and moving the score to 207/8 from 42 overs. 4 overs later Lewis (4/41) took two wickets in two balls as he finished off the innings with the score at 219 all out from 46 overs.
A brilliant all-round performance from the second XI gets them back to winning ways and look to build on this for the remainder of the season. Next week they host Winnington Park 2nd XI.

OAKMERE 3rd XI (243/7) v’s FRODSHAM 2nd XI (180/9)
Oakmere’s 3 XI hosted a Frodsham 2 XI and, having won the toss, elected to bat first. A steady loss of wickets for single figure scores meant Oakmere found themselves 4 wickets down for 35 runs off the first 10 overs. James Lewis and Issac Brotherton then set about steadying the ship building a 110-run partnership over the following 15 overs increasing the run rate Brotherton top edged to the keeper for a well-made 23. Ben Hardie fell quickly bringing Sean McDonnell to the crease to ably support Lewis who continued to bat aggressively, eventually retiring on 121 not out. McDonnell batted through to the end of the innings finishing with an excellent 37 not out accompanied by Jamie Hardie in support (4 not out) leaving Oakmere with a solid 243 runs to defend.
With Frodsham needing to score at just over 6 runs an over, openers Sam Singh (2 for 34) and Roger (1 for 8) Pickering kept it tight restricting the visitors to 45 off the first 10 overs whilst also picking up 3 wickets. Ben Hardie took over from Sam and bowled an excellent spell (1 for 16 off 4 overs) dismissing Frodsham’s key batsman caught behind with Sam Domville taking an excellent catch. At the other end, Roger Pickering (1 for 11 off 10 overs) continued to keep the Frodsham bats pinned at the crease finishing his spell having only conceded a miserly 11 runs from his 10 overs. Having accumulated 75 for the loss of 4 wickets at the halfway point, Frodsham were well behind the required rate. Spin bowling from Zak Lewis (1 for 25 off 4 overs) and an excellent spell from Sean McDonnell (3 for 42 off 9 overs) continued to keep the pressure on the visitors. A final effort from Issac Brotherton (0 for 13 off 3 overs) and a second spell from Sam Singh (3 for 58 off 10 overs) meant Frodsham finished on 180 for 9, providing Oakmere with a 63-run victory.

Chester Boughton Hall Women’s 1st XI (161/8) Vs Oakmere Women’s 1st XI (132/9)
The women’s 1st XI visited Chester Boughton Hall for a game reduced to 30 overs and losing the toss were asked to field first. A decent start for the opposition brought a 37-run opening partnership ended by a Nat Lyons run out. Thisumi Jayawarna (1/26) removed the other opener and two quick wickets back-to-back from Kerry Hartnett (2/16) moved the opposition to 44/4. A 50-run partnership moved the oppositions score on before Sophie Connor (1/29) struck followed quickly by a wicket for Emily Renshaw (1/22). At 99/6 another final 50-run partnership propelled the home teams score forward. The final score slightly reduced by two run outs to end the innings from Lyons and Worsdale. The innings ended at 161/8 from 30 overs.
In reply regular wickets stunted the beginning of the innings. Cottam (13) and Jayawarna (10) helped move the score forward before both being dismissed to leave the score at 45/3. Worsdale joined Renshaw and added 30 more before Worsdale (13) was dismissed with the score at 76/4. A couple quick wickets fell but Renshaw continued and moved to 33 before she was dismissed. The required rate began to climb, and Connor (10) and Abi Lamidey (15) tried to meet the rate. The pair were both dismissed with the score moved to 127/9. With the target drifting out of reach through the final overs the innings ended at 132/9 off 30 overs.
The Women’s 1st XI will be looking for a good end to their season in their final 2 games with their next fixture being away to Stockport Georgians.