Modd men make their way to NSSCL Division Five safety with final-day victory

Dan Howe top-scored for Stafford thirds in their NSSCL Division Five game.
-Credit: (Image: STOKE SENTINEL)


Moddershall & Oulton fifths produced the performance they needed when it mattered most to preserve their NSSCL Division Five status.

The Modd men won at relegated Stafford thirds to stay up - and it was a good job they did as Caverswall, who ultimately went down, defeated Stone SP thirds.

Moddershall & Oulton were set a tough target, it seemed, by bottom-of-the-table Stafford in Saturday’s encounter.

Stafford made their way to 172-9 from their allocation, in which D Howe made 39 and A Prinold struck 24.

F Ashfaq (4-28) and S Mir (3-32) did the damage with the ball for the visitors.

Moddershall & Oulton needed to deliver with the bat - and they managed to secure their survival with a seven-wicket win.

A Veerappan hit eight fours in an unbeaten 52, with N Nair (40), W Shabbir (37no) and Mir (25) also impressing as they reached the winning line with more than eight overs to spare.

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There was disappointment for Caverswall seconds, though, who joined Stafford in dropping down despite taking the points from their final match.

Visitors Stone SP made 141-4 from their 40 overs, fronted by M Cope’s run-a-ball 79. His knock contained seven fours and four sixes.

T Flower (23no) also starred, while there were a couple of wickets for O Edwards.

G Moore then fronted Caverswall’s successful chase with 51, hitting six fours in the process.

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R King chipped in with an unbeaten 38 and there was 23 apiece from M Stokes and C Baranowski to steer Caverswall over the line. A Jones took two scalps, but Caverswall pocketed a seven-wicket triumph.

Stafford seconds took the runners-up spot after beating Cheadle thirds.

The county town side were set 156 for victory - and managed to cruise to an eight-wicket win inside 28 overs.

Ali Siddiqi top-scored with 63 not out, which featured four fours, with Mark Evans also making a half-century.

Evans struck six boundaries and one six in his 50, while Kshitiz Mahajan added 21.

Earlier in the day, Cheadle thirds posted 155-9 in the first half.

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Jon Evans impressed in making 65 not out, which contained seven fours and one six, with Joshua Jackson weighing in with 35.

Sean Connolly was the pick of the Stafford attack, scooping 5-19. Sam Haynes and Alfie Rushton shared four wickets.

Third-placed Leycett seconds therefore missed out on promotion despite beating champions Audlem.

Home side Leycett were in excellent batting form to make 206-8 from their 40 overs at Park Terrace.

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Half-centuries from I McDonald and M Bryan enabled them to reach a challenging total.

McDonald’s 80 included eight fours and four sixes, with Bryan hitting eight boundaries in a fine 59.

S Swift captured 3-48 for Audlem, with C Howard netting a couple of scalps.

I Shaik (45) and J Allman (39) led the Audlem reply, but they were dismissed for 125.

F Waterhouse, J Tomkinson and McDonald all picked up two wickets.

Sandyford seconds won by four wickets at Porthill Park fourths.

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Declan Coxon’s unbeaten 59 formed the backbone of Porthill Park’s 137-6. His innings included four fours and two sixes.

Alex Lockett lent support with 29, while Arran Browe took 3-23 with the ball.

Owais Iqbal and Coxon snared two wickets apiece in reply, but Patrick Wilkes’ 48 and 43 from Philip Robins saw Sandyford to the winning line.

Meir Heath seconds ended their campaign by emerging victorious from their trip to Whitmore 2nd XI.

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Chris Gallimore’s 42 was backed up by 23 apiece from Jason Britton and Azaan Maroof as Meir Heath reached 145 all out. Elliot Jackson (5-34) led the Whitmore bowling, allied to doubles from Emily Clamp and Seb Johnson.

Harry Tweats (33) and Sandip Sen (21) were in decent nick on the resumption.

However, Whitmore were bowled out for 108 as Maroof picked up 5-4 and wily all-rounder Britton weighed in with two victims.