Oakmere 1st XI (123/5) Vs Haslington 1st XI (116/5)
Starting the 1st XI T20 campaign, Oakmere hosted Haslington and were asked to bat first. On a very wet evening the game saw an early reduction to 15 overs. The innings began slowly before the first wicket fell after 5 overs at 17/1. Mat Giles (10) fell for the second wicket the over after and Sevi Cupido joined Zach Howdle. Howdle (10) hit the first two boundaries of the inning in the 7th over but was also dismissed in the 8th. At 36/3 off 8 overs the innings was ticking along before Cupido hit the 9th over for 23 with 3 sixes. He continued his destructive innings while one more wicket fell at the other end. Hit more large hitting Sevi pushed past his 50 in the 13th over off 22 balls. 94/4 off 13 overs, Cupido lead the fight back and struck his 5th six before being dismissed in the final over for 59. With the help of 5 penalty runs the score was boosted int the final two overs and the side reached 123/5 off 15 overs.
Setting a defendable total but knowing a strong bowling performance was needed, the 1st XI took to the field. The innings began shaky with the opposition getting ahead of the rate early but a fantastic 1st, 1st team wicket for Henri Shovelton (1/13) helped pin the visitors to 33/1 off 4 overs. Matt Hollands introduction after the shortened powerplay brought a second wicket. The runs however, continued to come as boundaries came at regular intervals. At 82/2 off 10 overs the game as poised for a tight finish. The next two overs conceded 11 each and needing 20 off the final 3 overs, it felt as though the batting side were in control. This was until Cupido (1/18) returned to the attack for the 13th over. The oversees ended his maiden over with the 3rd wicket of the innings and his brilliant over stalled the scoring. Followed by another brilliant over from Holland (1/17) conceding only 4 the target was left at 16 off the last over. Matt Worsdale (2/26) took the ball for the final over and took back-to-back wickets at the start of the over to ensure victory for the home side (despite conceding a large 6 off the final ball). The visitors finished 116/5 off 15 overs, falling 7 runs short of the target.
A really strong fight back from a difficult position leaves the side needing to defeat Oulton Park to advance to the next stage of the competition.

Oakmere 1st (189/2) XI Vs Romiley 1st XI (249/7)
Following a string of games with tight results and exciting finishes the 1st XI hosted Romiley 1st XI on Saturday. With rain around Matt Holland won the toss and decided to bowl first. Taking to the field the innings got off to a quick start as the rain came following the runs. Benedict Verma got the home team underway with the first wicket in the 6th over at 36/1. The powerplay ended on 44/1 before Verma (2/35) picked up the second wicket in the 12th over. A partnership began to grow as the scoring rate slowed but no more wickets fell until the 21st over. When Sevi Cupido was introduced, he took a wicket a piece in his first 2 overs and got the side back on track at 94/4 off 23 overs. The visiting side then began a to grow a partnership once more. The boundaries flowed as the batting pair began to pick up the pace and the scoring increased through the innings. Matt Worsdale was reintroduced to the attack and made the breakthrough however the scoring continued. Again, a drought of wickets saw pressure applied to the bowlers and fielding side and mistakes began to occur. As the rain continued to drizzle over the field the miserable weather did not help the occasion. The score was moved swiftly past 200 and the final total was looking daunting. With the score at 207 Matt Howard (1/36) broke the partnership. Shortly after, with only 25 balls left in the innings a rain break came. Not too long later the side were back out and finished the innings. Matt Holland picked up the final wicket and with no more boundaries hit from the remaining overs the score was somewhat managed, ending at 249/7 off 50 overs. A disappointing effort in tough conditions saw a large chase in store for the second innings.
As the rain continued to come down during the break a far longer delay was at hand. Once the rain subsided the time that had passed left only 27 overs for the chase. With the DLS calculations made, the target of 187 was set. The opening pair set out and the start was slow with the first two overs only seeing 3 runs. However, the pair soon got into their work. James Norton and Worsdale began to run hard and push every run, despite not many boundaries the score moved forward. The hard running and positive batting lead to the 50-run partnership coming up soon and the platform was set. The score was 60/0 off 12 overs and with the introduction of the spinners Worsdale (39) attempted to move on the rate, hitting one six before being dismissed the next ball. The 71-run partnership was ended, and Zach Howdle came to the crease. The score continued to tick along with some energetic running, but the boundaries were not yet flowing. However, Howdle flicked the switch and launched a large strike down the ground to get his innings underway. The score moved to 90 off 16 overs. Needing 99 off 11 overs Norton (37) continued pushing from the other end before he was also dismissed going for a big shot. At 109/2 Cupido joined Howdle. Cupido quickly got to work and joined Howdle in launching the ball to all parts. The pair struck 6 boundaries a piece including a combined 6 sixes as the score catapulted forward. The rate dropped quickly and with two consecutive overs conceding 16 a piece the target quickly came within reach. With 5 required Howdle took a single to claim his 50 off 30 balls before Cupido finished the innings with a final large six. Cupido finished at 42 off 20 and the game was complete with the innings ending at 189/2 off 24.3 overs.
A fantastic effort with the bat saw a towering target achieved with 15 balls to spare. Another example of the brilliant attitude and fight of the 1st XI shown this Saturday as the side still only have one loss after 5 matches and move to 2nd in the league. The side look to follow this fantastic performance next week when they travel to play North East Cheshire 1st XI.

Urmston 2nd XI (232/7) Vs Oakmere 2nd XI (116/2)
After 2 wins on the bounce, the 2s travelled to Urmston looking to keep up the momentum. After winning the toss and bowling, Shovelton and Lewis looked to make early inroads but Oakmere’s fielding and catching from the over 30s let them down - dropping 5 catches over the course of the innings. Having to aim at the stumps to stand a chance of taking a wicket (with the exception of one excellent catch at fine leg by Tom Court) the youngsters persevered admirably - despite a couple of meaningful partnerships by Urmston, and actually when it looked like facing a target of 280+, excelled in the last 10 overs to restrict Urmston to 232-7. Court and Jones took 3 wickets each, Shovelton 1 and, despite a fantastic threatening spell of 12 overs, Corey Lewis somehow ended up wicketless. Shovelton’s boundary fielding was exceptional and probably saved 20 runs alone.
The rain came in the interval but the match was able to re-commence with a target of 203 from 36 overs. No one knows how DLS works and it certainly felt like a stretch of a target at nearly 6 an over when Urmston had scored at 4.5 an over. Oakmere went out with a positive attitude looking to get ahead of the rate. Purcell and Jones (25) put on their third 50+ opening partnership in 4 games, adding 78 in 12 overs to put the bowlers under pressure in the damp conditions. The run rate stayed high with Purcell going on to make 72 not out off 51 balls, supported by Eaton and Pickering to leave Oakmere at 116-2 off 22 overs when the rain came again to end the match. The teams walked off not knowing who was ahead - but DLS said Oakmere were 15 ahead of the required rate and therefore won! Slightly odd way to end a match, but a fantastic effort to fight back in the field and then some power hitting to get ahead of the required rate, to record 3 wins in a row.
The 2s are at home next week to Ashton-on-Mersey who currently sit top of the table.

Winnington park 3rd XI (20/0) Vs Oakmere 3rd xi (115 all out)
Oakmere 3rd XI visited Hartford CC to play Winnington 3rd XI where they were asked to bat first. In difficult conditions the team found it difficult losing regular wickets with the exception of George Warburton who played well for his 25. At 59 for 9 Roger Pickering and Harry Peters as last wicket came together and batted really well to hit a fantastic 56 run partnership. Oakmere finished on 115 off 40 overs, which was felt to be a defendable score in testing conditions.
Winnington started their innings well but the weather became too difficult and the game had to be abandoned leaving shared points for both teams.

Oakmere Womens 1st XI Vs Northop Hall Womens 1st XI
On a day threatening much rain, the Womens 1st XI managed to get out and starte the match being asked to bat first. The innigns got off to a solid start as the opening pair set the platform. The pair got through the first powerplay without loss at 34/0 off 8 overs. The 43 run partnership was eventually ended when Phoebe Cottam (18) was dismissed. Kerry Hartnett continued to bat strongly as the runs ticked over through the middle overs despite a second wicket falling in the 14th over. Hartnett was joined by Amy Jones and another valuable partnership grew. Up to the halfway point the side were at 99/2 off 20 overs, the over ending with Hartnett btinging up her 50. The pair continued past their 50 run partnership and propelled the score forwards. In the 24th over the 70 run partneship was broken as Jones (34) fell and the fourth quickly followed. Harnett continued on her way now supported by Nat Lyons and the run rate did not slow. At 148/4 off 30 overs the wickets in hand allowed the batters to take on the bowling. A flurry of boundaries littered through the coming overs help accelerate the innings further and in the 35th over Hartnett brought up her century with a boundary. With rain reducing the innings to 38 overs, the pair were unfortunately stopped early but a large over of 29 runs off the 38th including 3 sixes for Hartnett gave the score an immense boost up to finish at 245/4 off 38 overs. Hartnett carried her bat for a brilliant 125* off 111 balls and Nat lyons finished at a near run a ball 35.
A fantastic batting innings left the bowling side with plenty to play with. The good day got even better as Thisumi Jayawarna took the first wicket in the second over. She then proceeded to pick up her second within the powerplay seeing the score end at 13/2 off 8 overs. The great start continued at Lyons (2/21) tight bowling brough rewards and she picked up a wicket a piece in the 11th and 13th overs. Layla Dwyer was introduced into the attack and quickly saw results as she claimed the 5th wicket. With the opposition 36/5 off 14 overs the target looked a long way away for the visiting side. With this the batting side began to mount a response with the 6th wicket partnership showing some resistance. The pair batted through the 20th over and beyond becoming a nuisance for the Oakmere side. This was until Dwyer (2/20) returned to the attack and made the breakthrough in the 29th over. The 52-run partnership ended and opened up the opposition. Hartnertt (2/8) joined in the fun continuing her excellent day claiming the 7th and 8th wickets. The flood gates were open and the final two fell in consecutive balls to a run out from Kate Renshaw and Jayawarna (3/18) retuning to clean up the final wicket. The visiting side ended at 102 all out from 34.4 overs.
A fantastic all-round performance saw a 143 run victory for the side and the side sitting 2nd in the table. They look to continue this strong start when hosting Leyland womens 1st XI on Sunday.

Oakmere womens 1st XI Vs Chester Boughton Hall Womens 1st XI
As had been the theme of the weekend rain was around and like the men’s T20 match saw the overs reduced to 15. Oakmere won the toss and chose to bat first. A 35 run opening stand from Thisumi Jayawarna and Phoebe Cottam looked strong as the team got underway however as Jayawarna (12) fell, a flow of wickets began to follow. A second fell soon after brining Maddi Lawson to join. Cottam (17) was dismissed next and Lawson remained resistant from one end while 3 wickets fell for 3 runs at the other end. A final wicket partnership of 19 between Lawson (15*) and Emily Faulkner (8*) saw the score lifted to 72/6 off 15 overs.
A tough defence was at hand but if the side brought a strong bowling performance there was something to defend. The visiting side got off to a decent start with a 21-run partnership but weren’t allowed to accelerate away during the powerplay. Sarah Worsdale broke the partnership and remained very economical conceding only 9 from her 3 overs. Another partnership threatened as but was stunted by Imogen Wood as she claimed the 2nd wicket at 43/2. Another middle order collapse saw three wickets fall for 5 runs as Emily Faulkner took 2 either side of a run out from Izzie Uren. At 68/5 the pressure was on the batting side, and the match was drawn out into the last over. The fielding side fought hard to stay in the game but unfortunately fell just short as the batting side crossed the line with 4 balls spare, finishing at 73/5 off 14.2 overs.
An unfortunate loss starts the Womens T20 campaign which they look to rectify on June 8th when they host Didsbury Womens 1st XI.