Woore's fightback in vain as Ashcombe Park get off mark in NSSCL Division Four

Ashcombe Park seconds inched their way to a first win of the NSSCL Division Four season with victory over Woore.

It was a low-scoring affair, but Ashcombe Park managed to prevail by one wicket to inflict a third straight loss on their rivals.

Woore were dismissed for just 66 in the first half of the contest, in which Lauren Kenvyn top-scored with 16.

Chris Jenkins was the architect of their downfall as he finished with 6-22.

But Woore fought back valiantly on the resumption as Kenvyn picked up 4-11 and there were double strikes from Amy Griffiths and Chris Gater.

Ashcombe Park fell to 45-8 at one point, but did get across the line thanks to Dan Sutton’s unbeaten 17. Jenkins (16) and Charlie Knott (10) had earlier made starts for the home side.

Church Eaton made it three wins on the bounce with a comfortable success at home against Moddershall & Oulton fourths.

The destination of the points was never in doubt once the Modd men had been skittled for a mere 46.

Chris Marshall and Abdullah Mohamed Haseem scooped 4-2 and 3-15 respectively, while there were a couple of wickets for Adrian Melbourn.

Arjun Annamalai (13) and Alfie Womble (12no) were the only two batsmen to reach double figures.

Church Eaton lost three wickets in chasing down the score, but cruised across the line thanks to Dan Smith’s 20 not out.

Eccleshall seconds also have an unblemished record following their home victory over their Knypersley counterparts.

A first-wicket stand of 136 between Dave Ecclestone and Tom Hibbert set Eccleshall in the way to 188-7 from their 40 overs.

Ecclestone hit nine fours in his 74, with Hibbert’s 58 containing three boundaries.

Dan Lakin (20) and Deklan Binnington (13) built on their fine work, while Lee Fallows (4-22) and Jack Baker (3-39) did the damage with the ball.

Baker (33) and Rob James (29) guided Knype to 66-0 in their run chase.

But their hopes of knocking off that target evaporated once Eccleshall made the initial breakthrough.

Knypersley were eventually bowled out for 122 as Bradley Wakefield took 4-25 and Jordan Beasley claimed 3-1. There were also two victims for Dan Lakin.

Silverdale seconds are the other side with a hat-trick of triumphs after seeing off the challenge of Little Stoke.

Visitors Little Stoke seconds posted 88 all out in the formative stages of the contest.

Finley Simms top-scored with 31, with Mohammed Saleem (19) and Stuart Jones (17no) also making starts.

Silverdale shared the wickets around with Brandon Sherriff, Ben Stokes, Glynn Moore and Matt Smith all taking two wickets.

Harvey Mountford and Justin Mountford secured doubles after the interval.

But Silverdale managed to bank a four-wicket win in the 37th over thanks to a composed 43 not out from Chris Brookes.

Oakamoor seconds were in fine fettle with the bat to win at Alsager 2nd XI.

They were set an imposing 186 for victory, but managed to complete a three-wicket win with four balls remaining.

Gary Wright set up that successful chase as he made 53, which included three fours and two sixes.

There was support from Will Leeson (40), and Edward Hare (23) before 25 apiece from Alex Ford and Edward Brookes settled matters.

Lewis Pickford took 3-43 for Alsager and there were a couple of scalps for Pierce Pickford.

Earlier on, Alsager amassed 185-3 from their allocation.

Paul Pickford batted through for an unbeaten 81, hitting nine fours along the way.

Kev Leigh (44) and Hassan Haleem (33) also shone with the bat.

Sandon beat Kidsgrove in their meeting.

Hosts Sandon slipped to 44-6 early on, but a seventh-wicket stand of 77 between Steve Greatholder and Yasir Siraj revived their fortunes.

Greatholder struck 56 not out, including seven fours and Siraj contributed 45, as Sandon eventually closed on 150-7.

Callum McIlveen picked up 3-22 for Grove and James Green struck twice.

Ian Bailey (32) top-scored in reply, supported by Ryan Davis (19). But Grove slid to 87 all out as Mark Attwood helped himself to 3-14 and there were two wickets apiece for Greatholder, Siraj and Sajith Fernando.