Sandon hold their nerve to win thrilling contest in NSSCL Division Four

Sandon managed to creep over the line in their NSSCL Division Four encounter with Alsager seconds.

Hosts Sandon were set a testing 176 for victory - and it turned out to be a thrilling run chase.

Richard Whitehead’s 61, which featured five fours and one six, 32 from Sajith Fernando and Andy Wootton’s 21 kept Sandon in the hunt. But Alsager were also in the frame to take the points home thanks to Dave Kelly’s 4-31.

However, it turned out to be Sandon who were left celebrating as they sealed a one-wicket success.

Earlier in the day, Alsager’s 175 all out had been centred around Billy Strong’s half-century.

Strong struck 11 boundaries in his 58, with Lewis Pickford adding 37.

Sandon legend Steve Greatholder grabbed 4-15 with the ball and Sajith Jayaweera weighed in with 3-43. There were also a couple of scalps for David Nash.

Moddershall & Oulton fourths cruised to a 10-wicket win at Woore.

Woore were limited to 130-5 from their 40 overs, in which B Hardy top-scored with 36 not out and C Gater added an unbeaten 28. A Womble picked up two wickets.

The Modd men then eased to their target inside 20 overs.

R Housley hit 10 fours and two sixes in his 71 not out, while E Harris lent support with an unbeaten 48.

Little Stoke seconds had an easy afternoon on their visit to Knypersley 2nd XI.

Three wickets for Zak Mosam (3-7) and Harvey Mountford (3-11) - plus two for Evan Bradford - ensured Knype fell to 58 all out.

Mitchell Edwards provided the primary resistance with 29.

Karl Harvey then compiled 33 as Little Stoke wrapped up an eight-wicket triumph.

Oakamoor’s bowlers were also on top of their game to set up their home victory over Church Eaton.

Jack Day’s 4-25 was backed up by two victims for Mike Worthington as Church Eaton were skittled for 67.

Oakamoor seconds lost five wickets in their reply, but the result was never really in doubt.

Adrian Melbourn (3-13) led the Church Eaton bowling effort, but Dan James’ 23 not out and Eddie Hare’s 20 led Oakamoor over the line.

Eccleshall seconds maintained their impressive form to win at their Ashcombe Park counterparts.

Hosts Ashcombe Park stuck 167-8 from their 40 overs. Steve Proffitt was the star man with the bat, hitting 12 fours and two sixes in his 89.

Ben Thomas captured 3-32 for Eccleshall and Jonathan Bramall chipped in with a couple of scalps.

It seemed that 41 was a popular number for Eccleshall’s batsmen in their response.

Karl Mason, Connor Beasley and Bramall all made that score, and with Tom Hibbert adding 31, Eccleshall won by seven wickets.

Silverdale seconds won by 14 runs at Kidsgrove in their weekend clash.

Zoltan Toth anchored Silverdale’s 163-5 from their allocation with 66. He hit eight fours.

Mick Moore (39), Matt Smith (19) and Gareth Metcalfe (17) also made what turned out to be valuable contributions.

Callum McIlveen pocketed 3-44 for Grove - and was almost their batting hero after tea.

Kidsgrove slipped to 56-7, but McIlveen revived their hopes with a fine half-century.

He made 63 not out, hitting five fours and one six in the process.

But with the winning line moving ever closer, Kidsgrove’s brave recovery came to an end with the score on 149.

Ben Stokes and William Shenton helped themselves to 3-15 and 3-25 respectively, with Smith adding two wickets to his earlier batting exploits.