Pickford hits ton as Alsager start their summer with NSSCL Division Four victory

Daniel Hughes was in the runs as Church Eaton defeated Little Stoke seconds in North Staffs and South Cheshire League Division Four.
Daniel Hughes was in the runs as Church Eaton defeated Little Stoke seconds in North Staffs and South Cheshire League Division Four. -Credit:STOKE SENTINEL


Paul Pickford scored an opening-day century to inspire Alsager seconds to victory at home against Woore in NSSCL Division Four.

Pickford made an unbeaten 102 as Alsager piled up 215-3 from their 40 overs.

His innings contained nine fours and three sixes and he shared a superb

155-run stand for the first wicket with Andrew Watkins.

Watkins was dismissed for 65, having hit four boundaries and three maximums.

In reply, Woore were dismissed for 105, despite Daniel Manning (24), Michael Burton (20) and Martin Harper (15) making starts.

Lewis Pickford and Dave Kelly finished with 3-9 and 3-29 respectively, with Stephen Groom chipping in with a couple of wickets.

Sandon recovered from a poor start to eventually prevail on their visit to Ashcombe Park seconds.

David Nash made 22, but Sandon were in a spot of bother on 53-6 at one stage.

But Sajeev Kahakachchi and Nishad Shamsudeen forged a key alliance to push Sandon to a defendable total.

Kahakachchi made 51, featuring 10 fours, while Shamsudeen weighed in with 42 as the pair put on 81 for the seventh wicket.

That enabled Sandon to close on 142-9 as Dan Sutton picked up 3-16 and Grant Roberts and Tom Wilshaw shared four wickets.

Chris Jenkins replied with 27, but Ashcombe Park’s challenge ended with the score on 110.

That was down to Nash’s fine spell of 4-21, plus two wickets apiece for Steve Greatholder and Sajith Fernando.

Church Eaton ran out four-wicket winners at home against Little Stoke seconds.

It was Little Stoke who ventured to the middle first and posted 108-7 from their allocation.

James Murphy (41) and Todd Talbot (30) were the mainstays of Little Stoke’s innings.

Sam Whitehouse fronted the Church Eaton bowling bid with 3-28, allied to a double strike from Adrian Melbourn.

Sohail Hussain and Murphy claimed two wickets apiece after tea, but Church Eaton overhauled their target with more than six overs to spare.

Daniel Hughes and Dan Smith compiled 33 and 29 respectively to chase down their rivals’ score.

Eccleshall seconds produced a solid team performance to win at home against Kidsgrove.

Deklan Binnington (47), Dan Lakin (30) and Jonathon Bramall (24) were in fine form to help Eccleshall to 139 all out.

Joe Clay took 4-23 for the visitors, with James Green and Adam Shaw scooping two wickets apiece.

Kidsgrove’s reply saw them bowled out for 76 as Ben Thomas, Jack Armstrong, Cameron Hunt and Bramall shared eight wickets.

Opener Ryan Davis made 34, but it wasn’t enough for Grove to kick off the summer with a win.

Moddershall & Oulton fourths won by five wickets at home against Oakamoor seconds.

Oakamoor posted 113 in the first half of the contest, with Ben Harvey top-scoring with 21.

Luke Evans and Arjun Annamalai took a couple of wickets apiece.

Mike Worthington secured his own double on the resumption, but Josh Palmer’s unbeaten 39, 20 from Charlie Price and Rory Housley’s 19 enabled the Modd men to knock off the runs.

Silverdale seconds won by the same margin on home turf in their clash with Knypersley.

Jacob McIntyre’s 4-12 was integral to Knypersley seconds being bundled out for 103. Darren Clarke impressed with 30.

That tally didn’t trouble Silverdale unduly as Zoltan Toth anchored proceedings.

Toth made 57 not out, hitting seven fours, to see Dale home, despite Lee Fallows’ two wickets.