Seconds claim the spoils from Moddershall & Oulton club derby

Moddershall & Oulton seconds took the club plaudits as they beat their thirds in Division Two.

An inter-club encounter was the ideal way to start the season for Modd - and the seconds took the bragging rights for the time being.

Excellent spells from Oliver Palmer (3-6) and Dan Colclough (3-25) saw the thirds slip from 34-0 to 77 all out. Elliot Massey weighed in with two wickets.

Ravi Lindamulage (22) and Tharaka Jayawardane (14) had provided the thirds with a decent start before they subsided.

Sadeeptha Jayathilaka (3-19) shone after the interval, but Tom Phillips (29), Rob Spruce (16no) and Mitchell Kelsall (15) led the seconds to a seven-wicket win.

Wedgwood produced an excellent performance on the opening day to win by nine wickets at home against Longton seconds.

Longton were skittled for just 74, in which Aston Mack (16) and Thomas Mack (11) made the biggest impressions.

Leon Pedley took the plaudits for Wedgwood with 3-12.

Wedgwood needed just 13 overs to wrap up the points as Saleem compiled 29 not out and Archie Moore an unbeaten 28.

Checkley seconds had a fine time on their travels as they won at Little Stoke.

Peter Appleboam set the ball rolling for the visitors as he claimed 5-33 to send Little Stoke sliding to 91 all out.

Charlie Lewis helped himself to two wickets, while Andy Leese (28) and James Ecclestone (12) made the most progress with the bat.

It was a solid effort in response by Checkley to secure a seven-wicket success.

James Bennett and Andy Carr both made 18, with Matthew Woodford (14) and Blake Haddrell (11no) also chipping away at the target. Shazad Liaqat scooped two of the wickets to fall.

Stafford’s new overseas signing Fraser Noack made an instant impact as he starred in his side’s wn at Audley seconds.

Aussie Noack blasted a rapid 57 first of all to enable Stafford to reach 179 all out.

His innings took just 39 balls and featured four fours and two sixes.

Robert James (29no) and Ramiz Patel (25) built on Noack’s fine work.

Matthew Hammersley took 4-51 for Audley, with four wickets being shared by Lucy Shenton and Andrew Johnson.

Australian all-rounder Noack wasn’t finished there, though, as he then helped himself to 4-34 on the resumption. And with Sean Connolly striking twice, Audley were dismissed for 125.

In truth their challenge never got off the ground as they were reduced to 49-6, but Billy Jones (23) and Johnson (22) pushed the hosts past the three-figure mark.

Crewe won a low-scoring encounter at home against Meakins seconds.

An inspired spell from Tom Fox (5-18) sent Crewe sliding to 97 all out.

Oliver Tucker and Tas Hussain both picked up a couple of wickets, while Ben Jarvis (25) and Lewis Bacon (21) were the mainstays with the bat.

However, the Cheshire hosts roared back with the ball to skittle Meakins for 78.

Shafique Hussain (16) and Andy Reed (12) made starts, but Meakins couldn’t get on top of the Crewe attack. Faisal Mahmood and Ollie Jarvis claimed 3-11 and 3-12 respectively, while Bacon weighed in with two victims.

Elworth seconds made home advantage count to beat Sandyford.

Visitors Sandyford posted 156-9 from their 40 overs early in the afternoon.

Gareth Rigby top-scored with 31, with Arran Browe and Gareth Kinsey both adding 22.

Maulik Bhalodiya (3-25) starred with the ball for Elworth, backed up by doubles from James Yates and James Holt.

Rory Smith claimed 3-26 after tea, but Elworth secured a five-wicket triumph with 13 balls to spare.

Kieran Allsop fronted the successful chase with 42 and there were other fine contributions from Joe Stephenson (40no) and Matthew Yardley (35).