2nd XI lose to Heaton Mersey

On losing the toss Timperley were invited to bat first on what looked like a decent track.

Five balls into the innings Fletch was back in the hutch having tickled a wide one outside off stick to the wicket keeper. Not the best of starts. Porthouse & Desai looked to repair the damage and seemed secure enough until Porthouse (13) flicked a ball to square leg to be comfortably held. 23/2.

This Brought Rob Matthews to the crease from where he wound back the years to score a run a ball 118. Looking assured, he punished the bad ball when offered to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Desai was out at 52 and will have been disappointed not to have pushed on from 18 when looking well set. 52/3. Tom Matthews joined Dad at the crease but did little to trouble the scorers before being bowled for a single. 60/4.

It was the Ben Clark's go. He played positively in partnership with Matthews in steadying the ship in a 68 run partnership in which he scored 14, including some nice drives through cover before being caught. 128/5.

A trail of rust followed Fisher to the crease as the veteran joined Matthews. Looking decidedly flakey at first, he got better as the innings wore on, being reminded on how to do it by Matthews at the other end. Matthews perhaps not appreciative of some sharp singles. Both tried to break free of the Mersey bowlers but could not make many big overs happen. Matthews was then disappointingly out mistiming a shot over cover that should have landed in the tennis courts. The end of a great knock. 194/6.

Fisher (24) was out Lbw soon thereafter. 196/7. This allowed Rick Page (9 n.o) to bat out the innings for a red inker with Phadake (7 n.o). Final score 213 for 7 which looked 30 runs light but perhaps defendable.

In reply the whole Heaton Mersey innings seemed well in control of their run chase. An opening partnership of 73 sent them on their way before Clark intervened, bowling both openers within 15 runs to make it 88 for 2. Following batsmen hit the bad ones when offered and Timperley just could not stop the runs accumulating. Arun took a couple of wickets in two nice spells and Matthews induced a nibble onto one of his pies but Maqsood (29 n.o) & Shah (21 n.o) saw Mersey home with 11 balls to spare and 5 wickets in hand.

Not the best of days but one lit up by Rob Matthews 11th club hundred. Just one more needed to top the centurion listing...