THERE was a string of impressive performances by players from mid Cheshire clubs during Week 14 of the 2018 season.
Batsmen for Kingsley’s seconds continue to make hay, with Steve Forster the latest to score a century, while there will have been fewer more treasure displays than that of Zulqarnain Aslam for Weaverham.
His six-wicket haul helped them to a crucial victory against Mobberley in the Cheshire County League’s third division.
Here’s a round-up of the best displays:
Tom Hyslop (Oulton Park) (took 5-30 against Grappenhall in Cheshire County League Premier Division)
A brilliant half-century from Matt Jamieson (59) gave Oulton Park’s bowlers a bigger total to defend on their visit to Broad Lane to play Grappenhall.
They took advantage, and Hyslop (5-30) led the way in tandem with Muhammad Kashif (4-26) as they knocked over their hosts for 108.
It ended a sequence of five defeats in the county league’s top-flight for the Little Budworth side.
Tharusha Fernando (Northwich) (scored 106 not out against Runcorn in Cheshire County League Division Two)
The Sri Lankan’s maiden century since arriving in England helped his side to complete a double over back-markers Runcorn.
Their path to victory appeared a smooth one when they reached 160-5, chasing 174, before they lost four wickets while only adding two more runs.
Tharusha, who scored 15 fours and a maximum off 112 balls, stayed calm to steer them to a narrow one-wicket win.
Zulqarnain Aslam (Weaverham) (took 6-33 against Mobberley in Cheshire County League Division Two)
The Russets knew a meeting with Mobberley was a must-win to avoid being cut adrift in the relegation zone.
That their batsmen were able to deliver a victory was in large part thanks to a fine bowling display by Zulqarnain, who claimed six wickets after Kevin Douglas had made a breakthrough earlier in the innings.
Weaverham now have more than a fighting chance of preserving their Cheshire County League status.
Ben Stoddart (Kingsley) (took 5-66 against Bredbury St Mark’s in Cheshire League Division One)
A first five-fer of the campaign takes Stoddart’s wicket haul past 30 for the campaign.
He took the scalps of Richard Keyworth (74) and Chris Wood (89), disrupting a partnership that added 135 runs for the hosts’ fourth wicket.
It slowed down Bredbury, who closed on 206-7 – a target Kingsley passed in the 38th over with five wickets still standing.
Simon Hancock (Barnton) (took 5-14 Lymm in Cheshire League Division One)
The captain could be forgiven he had given his side a fighting chance of victory after helping to restrict Lymm to 137 all out.
With support from James Hodgkinson, who took 2-38, he was responsible for applying the brakes to the home team’s run-rate.
It is also his first five-fer since taking 6-37 against Bredbury St Mark’s in May 2016.
Kieran Boyle (Middlewich) (took 5-48 against Chelford in Cheshire League Division Two)
On an afternoon to forget for Middlewich, who lost by 81 runs, Boyle can be satisfied with his work after taking five wickets for the second time this season.
It proved important in restricting a side with designs on being promoted to 145 all out, although that proved beyond the visitors’ batsmen who managed only a season-low 64 in reply.
Jonny Litler (Weaverham seconds) (scored 99 against Mobberley seconds in Cheshire County League Division Two)
He may have missed out on a ton, but the youngster can still celebrate after continuing to show his promise after stepping up to senior cricket.
Litler, who has made a handful of appearances for the first-team at Wallerscote Road during the current campaign, contributed 99 to the Russets’ 193-8 declared – a total they defended successfully in a 12-run win.
Steve Forster (Kingsley seconds) (scored 120 against Glazebury seconds in Cheshire League Division C North)
Kingsley’s batsmen have enjoyed themselves in the past fortnight, and Forster became the latest to score a century as they demolished poor Glazebury at the Croft.
He found the boundary 18 times, and scored two sixes, to contribute 120 to their 287-2 declared.
That included a partnership worth 127 with Andrew Ainsworth (72) for the first wicket before adding a further 126 for the second together with Harry Waring (70no).
Paul Betteridge (Kingsley seconds) (took 6-34 against Glazebury seconds in Cheshire League Division C North)
He single-handedly set Kingsley’s seconds on a course for victory by taking the first five wickets to fall during Glazebury’s reply.
It left the visitors 58-5, and they never recovered.
Isaac Radcliffe (4-5 off three overs) got in on the act after a second five-fer of the campaign for Betteridge – who had taken 7-26 against Bowdon Vale seconds back in April – had left them reeling.
Daniel Barnes (Winnington Park seconds) (took 6-47 against Frodsham seconds in Cheshire League Division C North)
It was an afternoon to remember for Barnes as he returned career-best figures since stepping up to senior cricket.
Winnington had set their guests a target of 209 to win, and they fell 102-runs short thanks to his six-wicket haul.
Among his victims was Frodsham captain Tom Burgess (29), who was the visitors’ leading-scorer.
Kerry Hartnett (Oakmere Ladies) (scored 135 not out and took 5-0 against Wistaston in Cheshire Women’s League Division One)
Perhaps the outstanding individual performance of the week for all mid Cheshire teams followed on Sunday.
Hartnett carried her bat, scoring 135 for Cheshire Women’s League champions Oakmere as they condemned Wistaston Village to relegation after racking up 260-2 off 40 overs.
She was not done there and took five wickets without conceding a run, including a hat-trick, to help skittle the visitors for 61.
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