We’re at the business end of the season now, with what would turn out to be five play-off matches over the course of a fortnight.
Tuesday 9th July 2024: Heaton Mersey Magic 289 (97/2 off 16) beat Cheadle Hulme TWO 234 (82/12 off 16) by 55 runs – High Peak league pairs: quarter-final play-off (Scorecard)
The home side progressed to the High Peak semi-finals after a comfortable win in this quarter-final.
Captain Harrison lost the toss and, in keeping with recent games, the away side put Mersey in to bat first. From the onset, Mersey batted assuredly on the artificial surface at Harwood Road. Each partnership batted well, pushing singles, and running hard for twos as the ball slowed up on the damp lush outfield; the boundaries were also set back on three sides.
Isaac top scored with 20 runs (off 13 balls), including some trademark fours through mid-wicket followed by Sam with 19 (off 14). Only two wickets were lost in the innings and the away side were set a stiff target of 290. As the threat of rain was imminent, speed was necessary to ensure that the game was played in full.
Mersey started off well, with tidy bowling from Will and a (run out) wicket in Cameron’s first over. Cheadle Hulme struggled to keep up with the run rate, with further wickets for Will, Charlie, Zayaan, Isaac, and Gregory who bowled with real pace and venom. The ground fielding was much improved from previous games, with four run outs from direct throws and several close calls as the Mersey fielders’ throwing was pinpoint in their accuracy; and excellent keeping from Harrison.
Sam then took three wickets as the last pair tried to force the scoring but could not cope with the Mersey attack, who only conceded three wides, zero no-balls and five byes. Cheadle Hulme finished on 234 (82/12) after a flurry of runs from the last pair.
An excellent all-round victory for the hosts, with few errors and a much-improved display in the field. So, Mersey progress to the semi-final with the other quarter-finals to be played. Everyone contributed and the game was played in a great spirit; the mix of four U11s and four U10s worked superbly.
Sunday 14th July 2024: Heaton Mersey Phoenix 283 (95/3 off 16) beat Macclesfield Silks 245 (73/7 off 16) by 38 runs – High Peak league pairs: quarter-final play-off (Scorecard)
"It’s coming home…" The best news possible arrived on Saturday lunchtime, with the announcement that today's game would actually be played at Green Lane after all. It meant this umpire (address: Green Lane) enjoyed a much deserved extra 15 minutes in bed.
As it’s summer 2024, the light drizzle ensured that none of the players overheated, and meant we got off to a prompt start. With both of the umpires wearing glasses, it meant that the risk of iffy decisions was only likely to increase as their spectacles got wetter.
Mersey won the toss and batted first. It was a nip and tuck start… some runs, a couple of wickets, as both sides got the measure of each other. However, Mersey soon starts to accumulate runs and the wickets dried up (I think there were about 50 balls between wickets 2 and 3). Some lovely shots from Thomas were a particular highlight from where I stood at square leg.
We also benefitted from some slightly panicked fielding, especially towards the end of the innings, and we were always alert to being able to pinch a bye in the event of a misfield behind the stumps (there were 18 extras). So, 95 for 3 after 16 overs gave us a net score of 283 to defend.
And what a slick performance in the field it was. Superbly led by Felix, who was always alive to the state of the game, the bowlers and fielders kept runs to a premium, with only one boundary in the first half of the innings. And yes, as Anna hinted, there was almost more than rain in this umpire’s eye when Sam so very nearly took a hat trick. Every bowler did well (Leo outspun the Silks), the spirit in the field was great (we were noticeably more encouraging of each other than our opponents) and only conceding 6 extras shows how sharp we were.
So, on we go to a semi-final where it seems both teams will have home advantage.
Sunday 14th July 2024: Bowdon Vale 90 all-out (17.2) lost to Heaton Mersey Phoenix 110/4 (20) by 20 runs – South Manchester league T20 (Scorecard)
Excellent performance to guarantee the South Manchester division 2 title today. A surprising decision to bat first from Matty nearly cost us as 4 early wickets fell. Thankfully Sam 25no and Stan 28no batted beautifully in tough conditions to get us to a solid score with some lovely shots from Tommy at the end to help us to 110/4 off 20. Bowdon Vale flew out of the blocks but great bowling from Gregory and Albert helped us crank up the pressure which led to Billy throwing down the stumps a couple of times with sharp wicketkeeping. A superb 2 for 2 from Will, an excellent 1 for 3 from Stan and 2 tight overs from Karam saw us to a 20 run win with Bowdon 90 all out. Not a classic but a good win.
Monday 15th July 2024: Stockport Trinity 255 (71/4 off 16) lost to Heaton Mersey Magic 275 (83/2 off 16) by 20 runs – High Peak summer competition pairs (Scorecard)
Well we did it tonight. It’s really hard to write up tonight’s match so Ian has said he will add to my waffle! It was wet, so wet, but the Trinity Coach and I agreed early on that we would keep the match on as long as we possibly could!
There was a point in the match when we even put the covers back on before the first innings had finished, but it dared to stop raining for at least five minutes and the covers were back off quicker than a chocolate wrapper! The rain kept coming but we kept the batting steady and ended the innings with a decent score. We had already sized up that, with our bowling side, we should be able to take them so we were even more determined to play for the win and not accept a match abandoned 2 points each!
The ball was slipping all over the place and the soggy pitch was stopping boundaries, whilst catches were hard to come by. We had them in negative figures for much of the match but their final pair of great batters came in and massively closed the gap. That and the fact that some of our bowlers and fielders were sliding all over the place didn’t help.
But we did it - we got wet and I mean soaked! We got muddy and honestly some of those white trousers are horrendous! We got the win!
The Highlight of the evening though wasn’t how well we did in the rain but Ian sliding on his bottom and into the stumps knocking off the bails! Luckily that wicket was not given against us!! Well done everyone and thank you to the parents who let us keep their kids on the pitch in that sometimes torrential rain!!
Tuesday 16th July 2024: Heaton Mersey Phoenix 186 (121/5 off 20) beat Alvanley Tigers 127 (102/13 off 20) by 59 runs – Cheshire league pairs: quarter-final play-off (Scorecard)
The atmosphere crackled at this quarter-final clash in the Cheshire League play-off pairs match. Mersey won the toss and decided to bat first in overcast conditions at the Mersey Village ground.
The first pair of Harrison and Younus batted confidently and skilfully as they put on 34 runs in the first pair; Harrison continuing his fine form this season. Stan and Isaac then continued this excellent batting, putting on 27 more runs with the loss of only one wicket.
Alvanley then hit back with two wickets in the 9th over, but James and Joseph dug in and batted sensibly for the remaining overs. Sam and Arjo then accelerated the scoring, putting on 34 runs with the loss of only one wicket. Zayaan and Shazil then saw out the remaining overs against some excellent bowling from the away side; Mersey finishing on 301 runs after 20 overs for the loss of only 5 wickets. Sam top scored with 31 (net 27) including 2 sixes and 3 fours (off 20 balls) and Isaac scored a stylish 20 including 4 fours in succession (off 14 balls).
Alvanley started their innings strongly as they put on 31 runs after four overs. The 2nd pair had a good first over, but Mersey hit back during overs 6 and 7 taking three wickets with a superb first over from Zayaan. Three more wickets then fell during overs 9 and 10, as Isaac and James bowled magnificently and the scoring went backwards for the visitors. Sam then took a couple of wickets with accurate left arm off-spin.
The last pair then started batting with Alvanley needing 51 runs to win, a tall order for any team. Mersey did not let up, with Shazil, Joseph and Stan taking a wicket each with some of the best bowling of the season. James was the top bowler with three wickets falling during his two over spell.
This was a superb all-round performance by Mersey against a side that were the reigning Cheshire League U9 and U11 champions. A special mention to Joseph who, after a nasty smack to his eye after failing to take a steepling catch, came back onto the field, and bowled a couple of fantastic overs.
Thursday 18th July 2024: Heaton Mersey Magic 314 (138/6 off 16) beat Heaton Mersey Phoenix 279 (91/3 off 16) by 35 runs – High Peak league pairs: semi-final play-off (Scorecard)
In a game that Heaton Mersey couldn’t ultimately lose, U10s were predominant on both sides. Phoenix won the toss and elected to field, but Magic got off to a solid start, with Will and Emmet putting on 34 for the loss of no wickets, scoring five fours between them. Dylan and Karam added some interesting running to the mix, but were only run out once. Whilst they lost two further wickets, Dylan bludgeoning four fours kept progress solid, as did third paid Huzaifah and Arno (scoring a four each). Billy then turned on the afterburners, in an intriguing battle against Leo’s spin. Two fours and three sixes, plus a four from Gregory, got Magic to an impressive total of 314.
Phoenix’s response was solid, keeping wickets intact, but they started to fall behind the rate. Magic’s fielding was sharper, perhaps reflecting their greater match experience, and three wickets taking during the second pair stalled progress, although Harvey hit out with a four and a six. Phoenix impressively lost no further wickets but the required run rate and the result became inevitable, but they put up a valiant fight. It meant that Magic would advance to the final to play Lindow Blues.
Sunday 21st July 2024: Lindow Blue 270 (90/5 off 16) lost to Heaton Mersey Magic 320 (128/2 off 16) by 50 runs – High Peak league pairs: final play-off (Scorecard)
A well-earned victory for Mersey to retain the U11 shield. The “home” side won the toss and decided to the visitors into bat on a dry, cloudy morning at Lindow’s Upcast Lane ground. Mersey started brightly with first pair, Stan and Will dealing confidently with Lindow’s attack. Excellent running and calling led to 25 run partnership with no loss of wickets. Adam and Gregory then batted intelligently and despite one lost wicket put on a partnership of 36 runs, which included an exquisite cover drive for four by Adam.
Billy and Zayaan then batted with great maturity, adding 28 runs in quick time. Finally, late replacement, Charlie (in for Shazil), and captain, Sam, then added 31 runs, with Sam adding a flourish of 6/4/4 off the final three balls (one a no-ball), propelling Mersey to a superb 320 (net) runs.
Lindow batted well at the start, but their progress was halted by two quick wickets by Sam. Although
Lindow dealt with Mersey’s attack well, they never kept up with the required rate. Wickets for Adam, Zayaan and Sam ensured that the home side finished on a net score of 270. The ground fielding was excellent restricting the home side.
So, a fantastic and well-deserved win for Mersey Magic who dominated their knockout games to win the U11 shield playing an intelligent brand of cricket. The game was a pleasure to watch and played in a great spirit by both teams and Lindow were a gracious host.
