After a very strong opening month, we started to come up against better sides (having qualified for the first division in the South Manchester Twenty20 league), which proved our undoing (not helped by having weakened sides due to the two-week Stockport half-term break).
It was also time for the arrival of questionable weather, with matches against Romiley and NEC postponed due to rain and a waterlogged pitch respectively, with games against Marple and Stockport also postponed due to half-term availability issues. We did manage a comfortable win in the High Peak league in amongst the T20 defeats and postponements.
Sunday 25th May 2025: Heaton Mersey Phoenix 57/8 (20) lost to Brooklands 59/7 (11.3) by 3 wickets – South Manchester T20 league (Scorecard)
The last match of the first South Manchester league phase was a top of the table dead rubber, with Heaton Mersey already assured of qualification. The pleasant weather had abandoned us as a strong wind blew on a cloudy day, with bouts of sunshine only serving to make it more difficult to see the scoring app screen. Mathematical advice on the advantage of batting first for net run rate fed through into a cast-iron team decision at the toss, much to the chagrin of our head of junior cricket and U11s manager.
In reality, the decision at the toss should not have made a big difference. There had been some early morning rain which had greased up the pitch and outfield, but that would only make bowling and fielding harder, and we did the same against Didsbury and won comfortably. The condition of the pitch was identical for both innings, with alarmingly uneven bounce displayed throughout. Of more concern was the fact that Brooklands were all present and correct half an hour before, going through drills, whereas we arrived later and in piecemeal, with little warm-up.
The lack of preparation showed as Leo was adjudged to be caught behind while George was stuck on nought for 10 balls before being bowled. An attempted quick single was then thwarted by a smart direct hit (there was no single on), which led to Thomas being run out. When Jake lobbed the ball skyward, no doubt affected by the uneven bounce, it was pouched by the bowler, leaving the home side on a precarious 11-4. Another suicidal run attempt led to Harley being run out, with the arrow-like throw thudding into the keeper’s gloves. That left us at 17-5 and in deep trouble.
Harvey and Charlie steadied the ship, with a partnership of 14 (not much but nearly doubling our score), before Harvey, trying to up the run rate, was caught well in the deep. Oliver smeared a ball to the square leg boundary for a much-needed four but crept out of his crease soon after to be stumped before Charlie, having top scored with 14, was also caught in the deep. That left Finn and Evan, our two U10s, to hold the fort at the end, with Evan neatly guiding a couple of high deliveries down to third man for four.
We crept up to 57-8, easily our lowest total of the season so far. It was technically defendable but not thought to be a realistic challenge. Our batting had been uncomposed and our running overly ambitious, particularly in the face of a well-drilled fielding side. The contrast was obvious when Brooklands started their innings, with their openers looking comfortable and showing smart play. It was helped by our bowling being a little full – the pitch, like the scoring app (the scorer had been locked out from the start), was playing tricks and the ball needed to hit the deck on or back of a length.
The visitors had raced to 20 inside 3 overs before Harley bowled a beauty to hit the top of off stump and give Mersey some much-needed cheer. Evan was sent in as second change and, with our scorer singing his praises, he bowled one down the legside and was hit for four. Commentator’s curse in action. However, he improved his line and bowled their number three batsman with a signature pacy delivery, leaving them 25-2. Their remaining opener remained calm, however, and continued to accumulate runs.
A dropped catch by Thomas, a tricky one on the run, didn’t cause too much damage as the next batsman lobbed Harvey up to a waiting Evan (in a similar position square of the wicket but with less running to do). Brooklands were 34-3, but only in the fifth over. Their opener retired with an excellent 25 off 20 balls, but that brought another new batsman to the crease, who Finn promptly snared for a three-ball duck, another superb delivery crashing into the stumps.
Huzaifah then came on, bowling loopy left-arm spinners, for his first over of the season. The batsman struggling with the flight, bounce and turn, succeeding only in lobbing one such delivery to an eagerly-waiting George, for a wicket-maiden. We then went in for the kill. George returned, seeking redemption, and a full ball smashed into the middle pole, halfway up.
The opposition batters were in a bit of disarray and were clearly struggling with the pace of our bowlers, with the sharp bounce of the pitch not helping their confidence. Jake came into the attack and bowled a wonderfully accurate maiden, with the batsman only able to lob one ball up to short cover, a catch nonchalantly taken by Harley. The batting side had slipped from 53-4 to 53-7 (effectively 8 down due to the retirement) and the crowd were rapt. However, their number 10 batsman kept his nerve and flicked a ball to the square leg boundary for a tense, exciting win for Brooklands.
If only we had shown more composure with the bat and added another 10 to 20 runs, we could have won the match. Similarly, some sloppy fielding in the first few overs had gifted the opposition 5 to 10 runs – those proved to be crucial.
The defeat, which mattered little in the context of the South Manchester league – we still finished top of the division on net run rate due largely to the convincing nature of our previous victories – was nevertheless perhaps a useful warning shot across the bow. On our day, we are a match for any team, but we cannot be complacent – we still need to put the work in and prepare for matches properly.
In future, we will be requesting that players get to South Manchester matches half an hour before for some warm-up action. We are through to the top division in the next phase and we will face tough opposition every week. We want to put our best foot forward so we need to be thoroughly prepared. Anyway, congratulations to Mersey for winning the division – a great effort.
Sunday 1st June 2025: Heaton Mersey Phoenix 76 all out (18.3) lost to Bowdon 79/4 (17.2) by 6 wickets – South Manchester T20 league (Scorecard)
It was another tense morning at Green Lane! Put in to bat, we were bowled out for 76 from 18.3 overs (2 run-outs and 7 bowled tells its own story). The highlight was Leo’s 26 retired from 35 balls, including 3 fours and a six.
Unfortunately, this was 20 to 25 runs short as Bowdon batted conservatively at the start of their innings, keeping wickets in hand. (They were 28-1 after 9 overs.) Their opener retired on 25 from 48 balls and they got home with 2.3 overs to spare.
If we are able to bat more circumspectly then we can compete with teams at this level. Thanks to Jenny for scoring and everyone that helped set up and clear the pitch. Miraculously we got away without any rain!
Sunday 8th June 2025: Whalley Range Lions Heaton Mersey Phoenix 77/6 (18.0) drew with Whalley Range 34/1 (6.0) – South Manchester T20 league (Scorecard)
The final result today was match abandoned after the third stoppage for rain left the outfield too treacherous. An improved batting performance, with contributions from all of top four, saw us reach 77-6 after 18 overs. We went off for about 10 minutes early in our innings, then again after the 12th over. The match was reduced by two overs in each innings after this second stoppage, so suddenly quick runs were in order, although we perhaps lacked the firepower to make this so.
Whalley Range were 34-1 after 6 overs (compared to our 32-1 at the same point) so 2 points each seems a fair result. Apologies to those who did not get to bowl today but the weather caught up with us in the end.
Tuesday 10th June 2025: Heaton Mersey Phoenix 304 (112/2 off 16) beat Bramhall Bees 220 (56/9 off 16) by 84 runs – High Peak pair league (Scorecard)
This was a comfortable win again where we outclassed the competition.
Bramhall won the toss and put Mersey in to bat on a sunny evening but on a pitch that was still suffering the after-effects of yesterday’s rain. Greg and Olly M set the tone and put on 21 as the opening pair with Greg hitting several classy 4s. Although there were some dropped catches by Bramhall, Mersey continued to accumulate runs comfortably throughout the innings, with boundary contributions from everyone and set a sizeable target of 304. Jake, Greg and Thomas top scored with 18, 18 and 17 respectively.
In the bowling, Harley’s 3rd ball wicket followed by Will’s double wicket maiden in the second over meant Bramhall struggled to get the score back above 200. The final nail in the coffin was a spectacular hat-trick from Jake (a caught and bowled, a good catch by Emmet and a grubber hitting the stumps). Catching in the field was impressive. Job done.
