Mixed weekend for Castle in NSSCL Division Eight with victory and defeat

It was a case of win one, lose one for Newcastle & Hartshill fourths in their weekend double header in NSSCL Division Eight.

Castle were beaten by Checkley thirds on Saturday, but recovered to clinch a nail-biting one-wicket victory over Hanford seconds on Sunday.

Newcastle & Hartshill were bowled out for 90 on Saturday, in which Thenuka Angoda Liyanage made 28 and Tommy Pinnell struck 24.

Jamie Richardson claimed 4-6 for Checkley, with double strikes coming from Toby Clark and James Bennett.

Bennett was then the star attraction in the run chase, making 51 not out, which contained nine fours, as his side won by eight wickets.

But Castle bounced back the following day by seeing off Hanford.

Hanford made 141 all out thanks to Kasim Ahmed’s 56, while David Abel scooped 4-29 and Raghav Matsa weighed in with 4-27.

Matsa top-scored with 43 after tea and with Mark Brown chipping in with 37, Castle inched over the line in the 38th over.

Usama Idrees (3-24) led the Hanford bowling effort, supported by double strikes from Jordan Stanway and Simon Hackworthy.

That defeat rounded off a disappointing weekend for Hanford after they had been beaten by Betley on Saturday.

Jordan Allman’s 90, which featured 16 boundaries, 23 from Colin Murray and Hector Murray’s 20 not out, helped Betley to 190-7 from their 40 overs.

Shayan Hussain captured 3-35 before compiling 53 in Hanford’s run chase.

But Paul Allman’s 5-25 and 3-23 from Josh Allman ensured that Hanford were skittled for 123.

Leaders Oakamoor thirds saw their run of six successive wins come to an end when they were beaten at home by Kidsgrove.

Eddie Homer and Joe Jones put on 119 for the first wicket to set the platform for Kidsgrove seconds to reach 189-6.

Homer hit 13 fours in his run-a-ball 66, while Jones lent support with 41. Jonathan Wood took 3-36.

Oakamoor slipped to 31-5 in reply, before Wood struck 63 and Jack Day made 34.

However, Olly Wootton and Tejinder Singh snared 4-18 and 4-24 respectively to dismiss Oakamoor for 155.

Second-placed Whitmore thirds are now just four points off the summit following a two-wicket win at Wedgwood seconds.

Muhammad Yasoob Zafar (44) and Archie Moore (37) were the main contributors to Wedgwood’s 144-7.

Sameera Dassanayake Mudiyanselage and Dinesh Weerasinghe Mudalige both took two wickets.

Gary Timmis helped himself to 3-24 post-tea, but Jason Don’s 34 and 23 not out from Mudiyanselage ensured Whitmore crossed the line.

Stafford fourths made home advantage count to beat Crewe seconds.

Joe Glayshier (23), Anthony Prinold (20) and Michael Doran (19) guided Stafford to 129 all out. Conor Howard claimed 3-17.

Naveen Mudunuri (21) and Sam Carney (18) led the Crewe reply, but they fell to 83 all out as Manu Das captured 3-19.

There were also double strikes from Eddie Singh, Harry Pierpoint and Glayshier.

Porthill Park fifths won by six wickets at home against Cheadle fourths.

Harry Bonehill and Rob Ginders both made 58 in Cheadle’s 205-9. Owais Iqbal took 3-40.

Isaac Willis then fronted the Porthill Park reply with 58no and with Isaac Steventon (40no) and Malik Levack (38) also impressing, the hosts reached their target.

Church Eaton seconds won on home turf against Oakamoor fourths.

Michael Holdcroft’s 46 was backed up by Brian Cantrill’s 39 not out as Church Eaton struck 193-6 on the board. Richard Gower claimed 3-37.

Joe Woolley struck 51 in reply, but two wickets apiece from Elliot Robinson, Andy Richards, Holdcroft and Oliver Rowlands saw Oakamoor bowled out for 134.

Hem Heath fourths had a fine away day at Market Drayton.

Fahar Ul Islam hit 22 fours in his 129 not out as Hem Heath piled up 207-6. Ethan Allman and Kyle Morgan shared four wickets.

Mickey Allman (38) top-scored after tea, but Market Drayton were dismissed for 124 as Dean Hodson helped himself to a fine 4-10 and Matt Lucas weighed in with 3-21.

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