1stXI Push Bolly Close in Cheshire Cup

Inclement weather again impacted Saturday cricket with three washouts, though the 3rdXI did see some play on Jackson’s Edge before the inevitable and 7pts allround. Skies cleared on Sunday allowing two full games with the 1stXI travelling to Bollington in the Cheshire Cup and the 4thXI getting their first taste of league action in 2021.

Runcorn v 1stXI

Match abandoned

2ndXI v Mellor

Match abandoned

3rdXI v Holmes Chapel

31 overs were completed before rain finally forced the abandonment of the 3rdXI fixture. It allowed vice-captain Alex Oswell (40) to make a first meaningful score of 2021, getting the Jets off to a flying start with fellow opener Lyell Tweed. Holmes Chapel’s change bowlers offered more consistency and control but the Jets were well set at 106-3 when the rain set in.

Bollington v 1stXI

A weakened 1stXI gave a good account of themselves as they exited the Cheshire Cup on Sunday, losing by three wickets in a tight encounter with an ambitious Bollington side. Captained by Cheshire’s opening batsman Calum Rowe and engaging a former West Indies U19 international as overseas player, the hosts are gunning for Premier League cricket in 2022 and represented a good test for the Jets.

Andrew Clarke anchored the 1stXI innings with a patient 58 (6x4, 1x6, 99b) that helped see off the lively opening burst of overseas Jerome Jones. It prevented any risk of exposing a middle order missing four of the regular Saturday XI but meant posting a conservative score was always on the cards despite wickets in hand. An eventual 140-7 with useful hands from Jake Reynolds, Saul Gould and James Banner at least represented something to bowl at and the second innings got off to a great start.

New ball pair Toby Carson (2-31) and Jamie Henderson (2-18) both struck early, the former accounting for the dangerous Rowe. The champagne moment arrived when cup specialist Matt Wragg (3-36) saw Jones caught at the wicket attempting to repeat his two giant sixes down the ground and the game was in the balance at 61-5. Sadly any thoughts of an upset were removed as the experience of Jack Ward (47*) marshalled the lower order as Bolly eventually got home with thirteen balls to spare in a good contest.

Marple v 4thXI

Following consecutive promotions the 4thXI’s fixture with Marple proved a tough introduction to a step up in quality expected in Sunday Division 1. The Jets developmental mixture of youth and experience was outplayed as skipper Damien Mullany top-scored from number nine in the batting order to help the 4s post something borderline competitive, all out in the final over of the innings for 111 as only Scott Parkinson and Dan Mullany joined the skipper in double figures.

Seven Jets bowlers did well to prolong the game into the 36th over but never threatened the wickets required to force a positive result. Spinners Ed Parkinson, Adam Burgess and Matt Mullany took single wickets apiece whilst some sharp fielding also added two run outs.