Yahoo News Hem Heath claim dramatic NSSCL Division Seven win, but debutants are defeated
Hem Heath fourths clinched a remarkable one-run success in their NSSCL Division Seven opener against Hanford seconds.
Hanford were chasing 97 to win... and made their way to 95-7 on the back of Usama Idrees’ 29 and 20 from Thomas Pitts.
But with the winning line tantalisingly close, Hem Heath’s Will Sanders made a decisive intervention.
He picked up the last three wickets without addition to the score to finish with figures of 4-21.
Ahmed Akram also played his part with the ball, taking 3-7.
Earlier in the day, Hem Heath had been grateful for a crucial last-wicket stand between Akram and Mark Sanders.
Seb Lewis (20) impressed up front, but the home side found themselves 62-9.
However, Akram (22) and Sanders (18no) put on 34 for the 10th wicket to steer Hem Heath to 96 all out.
Idrees captured 4-17 for Hanford, with Aaqib Shamim scooping 3-9 - but the visitors then couldn’t complete the job with the bat.
Betley seconds were one-wicket winners at their Sandbach counterparts.
Sandbach stuck 116-8 from their 40 overs in the first half of the afternoon, largely thanks to Jawad Ahmed’s 37 and 33 from John-Paul Flanagan.
Callum Westwick helped himself to 3-38 and there was a double strike from Kevin Kelly.
Tom Mellor top-scored with 49 in Betley’s chase, but Aidan Vickerstaff (3-20) and two wickets apiece from Ethan Jackson and Callum Chambers, left the outcome on a knife-edge.
It was Betley who prevailed, nine down, as they crossed the line with five balls remaining.
Wedgwood overcame a middle-order collapse to ultimately beat Market Drayton.
Visitors Market Drayton tumbled from 45-1 to 46-6 before Akmal Mazhar and Hasnain Mazhar steadied the ship.
Akmal hit an unbeaten 36 and Hasnain chipped in with 32 to lead Wedgwood to 114 all out.
Rizwan Tanveer snared 4-22 and there were a couple of wickets for Matthew Smith.
In reply, Market Drayton slid to 30 all out as Gary Timmis took 3-3. Ibrahim Mazhar and Dom Marsh shared four wickets.
Audley thirds swept to an eight-wicket triumph at home against Stafford fourths.
Audley were set 111 for victory - and eased over the line in just 17 overs.
Richard Beckett was in fine fettle in making 47 not out, ably supported by Charles Birkin’s 27 and 25 from Thomas Mason.
Oliver Hopkins (33) and Alastair Gorton (28) had earlier been the mainstays of Stafford’s 110 all out.
John Shenton and Antony Davis took 3-10 and 3-34 respectively. The other wickets were shared between Ole Davies-Majer and Paul Harris.
Kidsgrove seconds made an excellent start to the summer schedule as they won by six wickets against Porthill Park fifths.
Visitors Porthill Park stuck 154-6 on the board in the first half of the afternoon.
Stephen Richardson compiled 59, which included three fours and three sixes.
Mark Challinor (3-29) and Kane Lowton (3-32) did the damage with the ball.
Lowton then turned his attention to matters with the bat in Grove’s response.
He made 77 not out, hitting five boundaries and one six along the way, as Kidsgrove won in the 37th overs.
Lea Prince weighed in with 32, while there were a couple of wickets for Sam McCambridge.
· WISTASTON Village seconds’ NSSCL debut ended in disappointment as they lost their Division Eight clash at Checkley thirds.
Checkley took first use and reached 125-7 from their 40 overs.
Nick Hunt struck four fours and three sixes in his 56, with Andrew Eccles adding 21 not out. Carl Thorpe took 3-20.
In reply, Wistaston were bowled out for 30, in which skipper Andy Whitehurst top-scored with 14.
Jack Ashton claimed 4-6 and there were two wickets apiece for Harry Eccles, Jackson Carr and Archie Cooper.
Newcastle & Hartshill fourths won on their trip to Oakamoor 4th XI.
Tom Graves’ unbeaten 58 was backed up by Peter Leighton (38) and Logan Follows (32) as Castle amassed 163 all out. Guy Simmonds scooped 4-30.
Oakamoor were dismissed for 59 after tea, Geroge Dawson contributing 27. Charlotte Kirk led the Castle bowling effort with 3-12, allied too double strikes from Matt Smith and Seb Smith.
Crewe seconds won by eight wickets at Stone SP fourths.
Jonathan Minshull and Luc Parry took 4-2 and 3-5 respectively to skittle Stone SP for 55.
Crewe were soon celebrating victory as Zach Chambers weighed in with 23 not out.
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