Double joy for Checkley sees them stretch clear in NSSCL Division Two

Checkley seconds opened up a 21-point lead at the top of NSSCL Division Two after double delight at the weekend.

Checkley defeated Longton on Saturday and followed that up with a thrilling success at Moddershall & Oulton thirds the following day to make it four wins on the trot.

In their first assignment of the weekend, Checkley skittled visiting Longton for 116 at Four Trees.

Charlie Lewis and Peter Appleboam picked up 3-14 and 3-28 respectively, with Ben Haslegrave striking twice.

Ben Green (27) and Alen Alex (19) made the most progress with the bat.

Checkley were soon celebrating an eight-wicket win as Lorcan Potts (41) and Matthew Woodford (35no) starred with the bat.

Matters were much closer on Sunday, though, as they inched past Moddershall & Oulton by just two runs.

Blake Haddrell (48) and James Bennett (45) were the main instigators as Checkley reached 166-9 from their 40 overs.

Dinesh Cooray, Madeesha Eliyadura, Alfie Womble and Ishara Weerasinghe all took two wickets.

Ravi Lindamulage fronted the Modd men’s reply with 69, which contained three fours and six sixes.

Eliyadura (36no) and Cooray (22) were also in fine fettle, but with more than nine overs to go, they were bowled out for 164.

Jack Farrington was Checkley’s bowling hero, picking up 5-35, backed up by two wickets apiece for Lewis and Dan Amos.

There was better news for Moddershall & Oulton thirds the previous day, however, after they won by six wickets at Little Stoke.

Shameera Weerasinghe (4-30) was in excellent form with the ball to restrict Little Stoke to 144-9.

That target was well within range for the visitors who needed little more than 20 overs to knock off the runs.

Tharaka Jayawardane (41), Eliyadura (33no) and Lindamulage (32) starred with the bat. Todd Talbot took two wickets.

Second-placed Stafford - who have a game in hand on the leaders - chalked up a third straight win at Wedgwood.

Robert James’ 46 was supported by Hamish Jeffreson’s 31 and 21 from Guy Seaton as they amassed 178-6 from their 40 overs. Aaron Tymczuk claimed two wickets.

Haroon Khan top-scored with 27 in reply, but Wedgwood couldn’t find their batting rhythm and fell to 96 all out. Ramiz Patel (4-11) led the Stafford attack, while there were two victims apiece for Sean Connolly and James.

Sandyford secured their first win of the season at Audley seconds, who have lost all three matches.

Rory Smith’s 43 was integral to Sandyford making progress to 174-9 at Kent Hills.

Harvey Ault and John Shenton shared four of the wickets to fall.

Andrew Joynson (23) top-scored after tea but Smith’s 4-8 ensured Audley were all out for 113.

Crewe’s Lewis Bacon hit a century, but his side lost at Elworth.

Bacon hit 13 fours and two sixes in his 107 not out to form the backbone of his side’s 184-8.

Richard Jarvis chipped in with 24, while Devansh Trivedi (3-30) provided the bowling highlight.

Elworth were in decent nick themselves after the interval and wrapped up a five-wicket triumph with 11 balls to spare.

James Holt’s 71, containing seven fours and three sixes, Matthew Yardley’s 44 and an unbeaten 22 from Leo Chatzigeorgiou led the past them post. Faisal Mahmood took two wickets.

Meakins seconds won by 21 runs at Moddershall & Oulton seconds.

Tariq Mughal plundered three fours and six sixes in his 74 not out, with Tas Hussain adding 48, as Meakins stuck 177-8 on the board. Oliver Palmer scooped 3-24.

Tom Phillips replied with 52 and Josh Renshaw weighed in with 29, but the Modd men were dismissed for 156.

Oscar Sockett and Abdullar Hashi finished with 4-33 and 3-29 respectively.