Senior Cricket Round-Up | May 2024
After a Week One washout, the 1st XI find themselves nestled in 5th place in the GMCL Championship following 2 wins and 1 narrow loss. The first completed game saw them dismantle Heywood, scoring 241 and bowling out our hosts for 98. The Mottram innings was impeccably anchored by Tafadzwa Tsiga, who played gloriously to reach 107 from 115 balls and lift his bat as an MCC centurion for the 1st time. With Stefan Fielding also contributing 66, the imposing 241 proved far too much for Heywood who collapsed to 98 AO courtesy of 3 wickets apiece for Danny Brightmore and Taz.
A narrow home defeat to Astley & Tyldesley followed, but the 1s bounced back in strong fashion in Week 3 with a victorious trip to high-flying Uppermill. After winning a crucial toss, the MCC bowling attacked fired beautifully. Captain Oliver, Danny and Charlie all bowled excellently to secure a trio of 3fers. In response, 170 was chased down for the cost of 6 wickets. Our innings glued together by Danny’s crucial 52.
The 2nd XI ended May on a high, securing a maiden victory for the season in the Dyson Derby v Glossop. Tidy spells from PGM (3 for 47) and Alice Dyson (1 for 28) restricted Glossop to 147. 40* from Ryan Fitton and 35 from Adam Fitton seeing us over the line. This was a welcome 1st win of the season after a close home defeat to Woodley and a tough old trip to Friends United’s Alexandra Park home.
The 3rd XI sit 4th in Sunday Division 2E. The league campaign started with a comprehensive victory at Flowery Field, with our hosts skittled for 76 All Out, courtesy of Skipper Sam Smith’s 4 for 4, Will Davis taking 3 for 8 and Mathew Harrop claiming 2fer. Since then, the 3s have been beaten at home by Friarmere and watched it rain for 4 hours instead of playing Thornham.
The 4th XI had a tough start to life in Division 1 of the Derbyshire and Cheshire Sunday League. Despite a Stephen Scott 4fer and Nigel Corless 30, we fell to a home defeat versus Hawk Green. There’s plenty of cricket to come for the 4s though with league games and friendlies ensuring it’s a busy June ahead.
The Women’s Team currently occupy 2nd in the High Peak Mam Tor Division. After a positive winter under the tutelage of Nigel Corless and Julie Brown, the side hit the ground running with a friendly v Stalybridge and then a run to the semi-finals of our annual Bank Holiday Women’s Festival. This year there was pizza, cappuccinos and gin and then sadly a biblical storm which stopped play before the Hayfield v Mottram semi-final could be completed.
Since the tournament, it’s been 2 wins out of 2 in the league with an impressive win over Charlesworth & Chisworth completed on 21st May. Annie and Imogen set the tone with the ball, both taking economical 2fers before Rachel Bradburn’s 22* saw us over the line. Next to come is a cup bowl-off and league fixture versus Old Glossop.
The Over 40s have played two games so far. First-up were local neighbours Broadbottom. Asked to set a total by Broady, MCC ran-up a total of 96, spearheaded by 25* from both Nigel Corless and Chris Green-Buckley. Alas, Broady went past that with 3 overs to spare.
Against Bredbury, we were required to set a total again and improved noticeably setting 148 to win courtesy of 25* from Nigel, Rob W and Dave Burns. Things got interesting when no less than 4 catches were snaffled by Adie Davis lurking in the deep, but Bredbury ground out the win with 8 balls to spare.
As ever, the Over 40s evenings end with a tea that is the envy of cricket clubs up and down the land. Thank you as always to Janis and Justine for their efforts.
