Davenham 1st XI (131 all out) Vs Oakmere 1st XI (131 all out)
The 1st team travelled away on Saturday for week 4 and winning the toss decided to field. The decision looked a good one early as Matt Worsdale (3/34) took 3 wickets in his first 3 overs and the hosting side were left 14/3 after 5 overs. The brilliant powerplay continued as Benedict Verma (1/18) claimed a wicket in the 8th over. After the powerplay, Matt Hollands introduction saw the wickets continue, claiming the 5th to put the score at 37/5 off 12 overs. A resistance came as the batting side took on the bowling, but a short period of runs was ended by Matt Giles (1/18) with his first ball claiming his 1st, 1st XI wicket. At 56/6 a partnership began to steady proceedings with the batsmen watchfully managing the middle overs and moving past drinks. Soon after the break Seve Cupido (2/17) joined the action and took 2 wickets in 3 balls to move the score to 96/8. A resilient 9th wicket partnership saw the score move forward past 100 as Oakmere searched for their final 2 wickets. For 10 overs the pair batted until Holland (3/19) returned and got the final two wickets in quick succession finishing the innings at 131 all out off 38 overs.
A strong bowling performance saw a score set well within reach however on a tricky pitch a good batting performance was still called for. The opening pair went about slowly setting the platform and saw their way through the first 10 overs ending the powerplay on 24/0. The bowling changes saw wickets begin to fall with one in the 11th and Worsdale (20) fell for the 2nd in the 12th. Cupido (21) joined Zach Howdle at the crease, and both got into their work quickly with boundaries starting to up the rate. Cupido was the next to fall in the 17th over after propelling the score to 58/3. A few overs of stability saw another partnership threaten to grow but was stunted by a 4th wicket to put the score at 85/4 off 22 overs. Needing less than 50, Howdle continued to guide the innings, but wickets kept falling. One more before drinks saw the score to 96/5 at the halfway point. Shortly after moving the team past 100 Howdle (38) fell and another came soon after. After 30 overs the visitors were 103/7. The wickets continued as the 33rd and 34th overs saw another one a piece. At 110/9 Matt Howard joined Verma at the crease. The pair hung on, fighting for every run. They survived to the 40th over with some fantastic application and grit. the nerves on the sideline grew and grew as the score reached 125/9 after 40 overs. Picking up 6 runs over the next 4 overs the pair put in a spectacular effort to bring the scores level. With 6 over left time was no issue but unfortunately at the end of the 45th over Howard was dismissed after his resilient 37 ball innings. Verma finished on an excellent 14 not out off 40 balls and a brilliant 10th wicket partnership saw the innings finish 131 all out off 44.5 overs and the game tied.
With conflicting emotions post-match, the team have many positives to take into next week as they sit 4th in the league after 4 games. Next week they host Romiley 1st XI and look to continue this strong start in Division 2.

Oakmere 2nd XI (168/9) Vs Heaton Mersey 2nd XI (84 all out)
After picking up their first win last week at Ashley, the 2nd team came into their game against unbeaten Heaton Mersey with some confidence. Losing the toss (again) and being invited to baton a very green pitch with some softness, against a solid bowling attack meant it would be a tough innings. Purcell (17) and Jones worked hard against the new ball but 26/0 quickly became 31/3 and Oakmere were in trouble. Oakmere were up for the fight with jones working hard for an impressive 23, supported by Faulkner (10) but wickets again fell leaving Oakmere at 75/5. Jack Pickering (25) and Dodd (43) then built a total capable of being defended putting on 49. The score was boosted by some power hitting by Tom Court (17) to take Oakmere up to 168/9.
Heaton Mersey had comfortably chased higher totals earlier this season, but they had not faced Shovelton (1/16) and Lewis (2/23) up front. Both openers were gone inside 2 overs, and it quickly became 24/3. Heaton Mersey then put on a 50-run partnership and at 75/3 were getting on top, although somewhat riding their luck against an attacking yet unlucky spell from Brandon Jones. A change in the attack, with Purcell (2/11) drying up the runs, started to pull Oakemere back into the game before Tom ‘Jofra’ Court decided he’d had enough of seeing the stumps standing upright. A frightening spell of 3.5-1-5-5 terrified the Heaton Mersey lower order, with the final 4 wickets coming in 5 balls, including a hat-trick, all 5 dismissals clean bowled. Oakmere bowing the opposition out for 84 to win by 84 runs.
A great gutsy effort with the bat followed by a stunning performance in the field leaves Oakmere in mid table, moving on to face Urmston 2nd XI away next week.

Oakmere 3rd XI (124/6) Vs Rostherne 1st XI (120/9)
Oakmere 3rd XI played their first home game of the season at Winsford and winning the toss asked Rostherne to bat.
Harry Peters and Percy Bratherton again opened the bowling with the pair taking 3 early wickets, leaving the visitors 22/3. It was a game for two new debutants with Sam Singh and Matthew Drake coming on to bowl. Bowling superbly Singh took 5 wickets over his ten overs (5/12) and Matthew took his debut wicket (1/36). Some defiant rear-guard batting took Rostherne to a score of 120/9 off 40 overs.
Oakmere started well with the bat before Adrian Watts was given LBW and Hartley Edwards was bowled shortly after. Paddy and Percy Bratherton (father and son combination) then put on a match winning partnership of 55 before both were bowled with Paddy on 48 and Percy 16. Hamish Warburton ensured victory with another aggressive knock and ended the innings 30 not out off 26 balls.
The 3s remain undefeated this season and are second in the league. A fantastic start to the season that they hope to continue next week away to Winnington Park 3rd XI.

Leyland Womens 1st XI (153/5) Vs Oakmere Women’s 1st XI (152/7)
On Sunday the Women’s 1st XI travelled to Leyland for their third game of the season and losing the toss were asked to bat first. A strong, steady start from the openers saw the side through the powerplay without loss of a wicket reaching 8 overs at 28/0. After a continued battle, Pheobe Cottam (16) was eventually dismissed in the 12th over. 2 more fell before the 20th over with the scoring slowing through the middle over. The visitors reached drinks at 66/3. Kerry Hartnett remained resilient at the crease and alongside Sarah Worsdale the pair grew a 50-run partnership. The partnership as eventually broken in the 31st over after Worsdale (19) was dismissed by an unfortunate run out. Regular wickets continued to fall as Hartnett remained at the crease and moved past 50 in the 35th over. Some contributions from partners saw the score continue to grow until the 40th over, with Hartnett carrying he bat for a well-fought 58 and the team finishing on 152/7 off 40 overs.
Looking to get their second win of the season the Women’s 1st team needed a brilliant bowling performance in the second innings. A wicket in the second over from Worsdale (1/20) saw a great start to the innings. The second wicket partnership stood fast until the introduction for Carys Salomon brought instant rewards and the score moved to 44/2 off 14 overs. Again, the breakthrough became difficult to find as another 50-run partnership formed taking the home side past the drinks break. Imogen Wood (2/13) took her first Oakmere wicket to break the partnership and got her second a ball later. 94/4 off 22 overs saw the batting side still in control despite the quick wickets and as another wait came for the 5th wicket the total drew ever closer to the target. Periods of tight bowling kept the scoring at bay however the search for the breakthrough continued. It finally came as Salomons (2/32) reintroduction saw immediate success again with the score moved to 140/5 off 35 overs. The 6th wicket partnership proceeded to knock the final 13 runs off to push their side over the line.
A hard-fought game saw many positives with both bat and ball, but looking to move forward and claim their second victory of the season, the Women’s 1st XI next play Northop Hall Women’s 1st XI at home on Sunday.

Oakmere 1st XI (212/9) Vs Northop 1st XI (213 all out)
Following a nail-biting match on Saturday the 1st XI played back-to-back games and with a young team containing a few debutants looked to advance in the national village cup. Losing the toss Oakmere were asked to field first, a decision that looked a good one when the visitors reached a 50 run opening partnership. The first wicket was claimed by Matt Giles in the 9th over and he soon after claimed a second to move the score to 60/2 off 11 overs. Giles struck one more time in the 15th over before a partnership began to form for the batting side. Through drinks they batted without another dismissal and a second 50-run partnership was ended by Aaron Court (1/36) in the 25th over with the score at 126/4. Soon after, Sean McDonnell (1/19) and Matt Howard (1/43) took one each in quick succession to pin the opposition back. The following 10 overs saw no more wickets until Matt Holland (4/22) was reintroduced into the attack, taking 3 wickets in 4 balls and ending the inning in his next over claiming the 10th. The visitors finished 213 all out off 40 overs.
The chase was a tall order for a young side but not out of reach. Nathan Gee (13) go the side off to a quick start before falling in the 4th over and a Court (11) fell just before the end of the first powerplay with the side at 43/2 off 8 overs. Frank Herrington stayed strong from on end joined by Giles. The pair cut down the target with some strong boundary hitting until Herrington (21) was dismissed in the 17th over. Giles continued to strike the ball well taking the team past the drinks break building his partnership with James Norton. However, soon after drinks Giles (42) fell with the team at 108/4 off 22 overs. Norton remained the anchor from one end while wickets began to fall at regular intervals from the other. Over the next 12 overs the required rate climbed and the attempts to meet the target saw the score move to 159/8 after 34 overs. Needing 55 from the final 6 overs Norton was joined by Howard who hit 17 runs off the 36th over propelling the team towards the target. Norton brought up his well-made 50 in the 38th over, while Howards wonderfully played innings of 22 off 14 balls before he was dismissed in the 39th with 17 needed off the final 10 balls. McDonell came to the crease and struck 12 runs from 4 ball to leave 5 needed form the final over. 3 dots in the final 6 balls ensured the visitors success as 3 runs were scored off the over to finish an agonising 1 run short of the 1st innings score. Finishing 212/9 off 40 overs the first were eliminated from the cup.
Another close game saw the continued grit and fight from our side that has been shown all season with contributions throughout the whole team. This closed an entertaining double game, weekend for the 1st XI as they return their sights to the league and hosting Romiley 1st XI on Saturday.