Oakmere 1st XI (98 all out) Vs Ashley 1st XI (99/6)
Oakmere 1st team hosted their third game of the season and winning the toss decided to bat first. A tricky start to the innings saw the score slowly move on before the first wicket fell to end the 5th over. The team got through the powerplay continuing some watchful batting before in the 13th over 2 wickets fell in consecutive balls to bring the score to 27/3. Zach Howdle and Matt Holland began to build a partnership and get the scoring moving towards the drinks break. Howdle (21) was eventually dismissed in the 22nd over to break the partnership at 53/4. After drinks Holland (15) fell and regular wickets began to follow. In the overs after the 30th, 3 wickets fell for 1 run including Frank Herrington (17). At 79/9 the final wicket partnership put on a useful further 19 runs to push the score to a final 98 all out off 39.5 overs.
With a low score to defend a strong bowling display was required in the second innings. The visiting side got off to a quick start but as some tight bowling continued through the powerplay and energy high in the field wickets began to fall. A double wicket maiden from Holland in the 6th and Matt Worsdale (1/19) claiming the 3rd in the following over saw excitement for the fielding side. At 25/3 the 4th wicket partnership began to show resilience and grow slowly through the middle overs. In the 19th over Seve Cupidos (2/32) introduction to the attack brought a breakthrough and he struck again in the 21st. At 75/5 the pressure was on and a possible collapse felt close for the home side. The runs came slowly to drinks with some tight bowling but a few more boundaries eventually moved the score towards the target. In the first over after drinks Holland (3-18) took one more at 91/6. Despite the continued fight from Oakmere 1st team the visitors got over the line ending on 99/6 off 28 overs.
A hard match saw a good fight form the team and some good signs going forward to take into the next match away to Davenham on 9th May.

Ashely 2nd XI (131 all out) Vs Oakmere 2nd XI (273/7)
The 2nd team (a.k.a. Dad’s Army plus some promising youngsters) travelled to Ashley hoping to get their first win of the season. Purcell continued his trend of losing the toss but again was happy to be invited to bat on a flat looking track. Openers Purcell and Brandon Jones (20) made steady progress to see off the opening bowlers and, following their 96 run partnership last week, added 89 for the first wicket to set a platform for the middle order. Purcell (106) went to a first career hundred (video highlights available on PlayCricket and YouTube in case you’re wondering) at the ripe old age of 40, proving that it is eventually worth it to spend every Saturday for over 25 years playing cricket. The run rate continued to increase with Phelan (53 off 44), Newall (44 off 40) and Guilford (19 off 13 using a bat he picked up for £8 in a charity shop last week) plundering a tired attack. Oakmere finished on 269-7.
The Ashley chase never really got going - thanks to the fantastic bowling, once again, of Henri Shovelton (2-26 off 10), Corey Lewis (1-32 off 9 “plus some drops”) and Jones (2-21 off 8). Special shout out to keeper Sam Domville with 2 catches and a sharp stumping. New player Nick Guest burgled the rest of the wickets taking 5-40, Oakmere winning by 138 runs.
The 2nd XI now getting the season underway provides a good template for the rest of the season moving forward. The team will continue against Heaton Mersey 2nd XI

Mere Europa 1st XI (156/6) Vs Oakmere 3rd XI (157/5)
Oakmere 3s made the trip to Mere Europa where they were asked to field. Harry Peters and Percy Bratherton bowled superbly and kept the run rate less than one an over. Jack Pickering then came on and took two wickets as the batting team tried to up the run rate. George Warburton, Ian Bett and Sean McDonnell bowled well with the batting team pushing for runs. Percy and Sean took a well-deserved wicket each with Mere Europa finishing their 40 overs on 156 - 4.
After two early wickets Jack Pickering joined Adrian Watts at the crease and hit a quick fire 16 with two big sixes. Unfortunately, Jack and Adrian (20) were then both out quickly leaving Oakmere 54 for 4. Hamish Warburton and Ian Bett then batted strongly together with good running and some big hits leading to a partnership of 73 before Ian (21) was out, caught behind. Hamish continued to be aggressive leading Oakmere to a win with over 4 overs left and leaving Hamish with a fantastic 70 not out.
Another good win leaves the 3s undefeated at the start of the season. Looking to continue the form and winning streak the 3rd XI will host Rostherne 1st XI on Saturday 9th May

Oakmere women 1st XI (126/5) vs Chester Boughton Hall women 1st XI (125 all out)
The women’s 1st XI were looking to bounce back from a close first game, in their first home game of the season, hosting Chester Boughton Hall 1st XI. Starting well with captain Phoebe Cottam winning the toss and choosing to bowl under a gloomy sky, Chester were asked to bat first. The Chester openers got to work ticking along sensibly to reach 32-0 off the first 10 overs, before a tight period of bowling from Nat Lyons and Layla Dwyer saw Chester with only 1 run coming from 3 overs. Despite the lack of wickets the run rate remained contained up to the drinks break with Chester 71-0 from 20 overs, in large part to a very tidy eight over spell from Nat Lyons (0-19). Shortly following the drinks break Imogen Wood (0-13) in only her second game for Oakmere had to temporarily leave the field due to injury whilst bowling. Carys Solomon (3-21) stepped up to complete the over and broke the opening stand of 82 off 22 overs, with her first ball. This began a run of wickets with Kerry Hartnett (4-20) picking up the other opener during the following over with a good catch from Phoebe Cottam. Hartnett and Salomon continued to threaten the Chester batters alternating their wicket-taking over the next 8 overs reaching 110-8 after 31 overs with a couple of handy catches from Layla Dwyer and a run out from Phoebe Cottam. The ninth wicket began to rebuild before being broken by Sophie Connor (1-9) with a well-timed stumping from keeper Amy Jones reaching 125-9. Following the ninth wicket, Layla Dwyer (1-23) had the ball in hand and required only one delivery to hit the stumps bringing the innings to a tidy end, with Chester reaching a well-restricted 125 from 37.1 overs leaving Oakmere requiring 126 to win.
Oakmere began their chase steadily looking to set a platform, before the first fell during the 4th over. The next 10 overs were steadily controlled, reaching 41 from 14 overs with Warrenger (11) falling during the 14th over (41-2). Amy Jones then joined Cottam and the two attempted to rebuild before Cottam fell 3 overs later (46-3 off 17). Jones and Lyons took 28 from the following 7 overs before Lyons (7) fell in the 24th (74-4). Jones proceeded to kick the total on quickly with 16 coming from the 25th over. Another fell in the 28th over (97-5), leaving Oakmere needing 29 runs with 12 overs remaining as Maddi Lawson joined Jones at the crease. Jones continued the attack, supported by Lawson, and reached her half-century in the 33rd over from 65 balls. Lawson hit the final run required to reach the total of 126 in 33.1 overs with 5 wickets remaining. A comfortable win in the end for Oakmere with some extremely tight bowling and a chance-less knock from Amy Jones.
The ladies will look to ride the win into next week when they travel away to Leyland.