Captain Jack’s field day one to cherish

Marple 226 for 8 (50 overs) 20 points beat Davenham 66 all out (18.2 overs) by 160 runs.

- MARK BROOK

MARPLE secured their first win of the 2025 season last Saturday, due in the most part to a remarkable all round performance from new skipper Jack Grundy.

Grundy came to the wicket with his side in some peril at 102 for 6, but added 71 for the seventh wicket with keeper Mike Schofield, 42, and then a further 34 for the eighth wicket with Lewis Braddock who made a useful 15. Marple’s captain ended on 55 not out, including 6 fours.

Grundy’s main forte is his bowling however, and ignoring any suggestions he should take a breather after his batting exertions, he led from the front taking the new ball.

Davenham reached 16, but both Grundy and his new ball partner Owen Reilly had been on the mark.

There then followed the next chapter in Grundy's amazing afternoon, as he took a hat-trick to leave the visitors on 16 for 3.

Gough was bowled for 4, Johnson lbw for 0, and Hunt fell to an absolute beauty for 0.

A trademark, Stuart Broad like run around led to Marple’s hero being mobbed by his delighted teammates.

The start of the game gave no indication of the drubbing Davenham were going to receive. Experienced and accurate seamer Ben Gough removed James Crisall for a duck and Reilly for just a single, both to loose wafts outside the off stump.

At 2 for 2, Marple were up against it again, and when Max Fitgerald got a leading edge to be caught by Johnson off Pink at 18 for 3, a collapse threatened.

Step forward Marple’s two batting heroes from the previous week at Bramhall. Keagan Lynch and Eliot Young once more showed excellent application and judgement to take Marple out of relative danger.