Cheadle 1st team went down to back-to-back defeats last Saturday as they lost to Whitmore by 5 wickets. After winning the toss they got themselves into terrible trouble at 10 for 4 and then 52 for 7. They were in the end able to set the opposition 134 to win mostly thanks to Austin Crump’s excellent 69 not out. Sam Rushton and James Jackson added the support and ensured that there was at least something to bowl at after tea. Lee Johnson with 3 for 12 was the pick of the bowlers.
Early inroads proved elusive for the Bassets though, despite throwing everything they could at the opposition, and it was only after Will Dobbie’s introduction that Cheadle started to make the task harder for Whitmore. He finished with 4 for 28 but was unable to stop a win for the Cheshire side who got home with plenty of overs in hand. Emilio Gray who has recently scored his maiden first-class hundred for Northants top-scored with a classy 44.
Better news for the 2nd and 3rd teams at the weekend as they both recorded victories. The 2nds won quite comfortably at Eccleshall in the end, in what for most of the afternoon looked to be quite a tight contest. Cheadle made 145 in their innings mostly thanks to Will Riley (29) and skipper Ryan Harvey who top-scored with 34. In reply, the opposition reached 47 without loss but then proceeded to lose all 10 wickets for another 50 runs. Jack Winfield was the star of the show with a seasons’ best 5 for 23 which got them a vital 18 points and keep them in the division 3 promotion chase.
The 3rd teams amazing winning sequence continued but they were made to work hard by Hem Heath at The Pavilion on Saturday. Cheadle made 185 in their innings, Joe Degg crashing 66 of only 46 balls was the top scorer. At one point Hem Heath were 135 for 3 but subsided to 162 all out and was Degg again that did the damage completing a fine all-round performance with 4 for 28.