Marple dominate Georgians clash

Marple 124 for 1 (25.5 overs) 20 points beat Stockport Georgians 122 all out (42.3 overs) 1 point by nine wickets

- MARK BROOK

MARPLE travelled to Stockport Georgians’ tree surrounded venue last Saturday, as the two-month dry spell came to an end.

Fortunately, the weather remained dry during the actual game, which Marple dominated from the start.

Jack Grundy’s reputation as a potent new ball bowler is growing, and the home side were content not to take risks against him.

He bowled his ten overs straight off for just 21 runs. Tom Reeve has settled into first eleven cricket extremely well. He is strong, accurate and has a good repeatable action.

Once more, he picked up a couple of scalps in his opening spell, Gill, caught by Reilly for 4, and Duckworth bowled for 0.

The third wicket stand of 56 between the battling Bright and the aggressive Yates was the highlight of the afternoon for Georgians.

Yates hit seven fours and a huge six in his belligerent knock of 38, but the skiddy medium pace of occasional bowler Lynch induced an edge to Schofield.

After he fell, the introduction of spin twins, the legger Charlie Hodgson and slow left armer Eliot Young, completely stalled the innings. Hodgson spun the ball away from the right-handers, and both bowlers flighted the ball well.

Young was also very deceptive in varying his pace. A collapse from 81 for 3 to 122 all out showed Marple not prepared to allow the lower order to rally.