HARD work by Wilmslow Wayfarers’ players and groundsman to get the ground playable paid off with an excellent win.
They came out on top in an entertaining game against Stalybridge St Pauls in the Cheshire Alliance League at Oakwood Farm.
The hero of the day was Rob Hassard, who made a career best 100 out of a Wayfarers total of 193-6 declared.
Batting first on a damp track, Wayfarers openers Hassard and Phil Mape played well in the conditions and scored 31 for the first wicket.
At 62-2 Hassard was joined by Michael Ostick and together they grafted for a partnership of 101 and took the total to 163-3.
This enabled skipper Martin Baldwin to declare on 193-6 after 44 overs with Stalybridge’s Fish taking 2-57.
The Stalybridge innings got off to a flying start with Wilde 71 and Wright 36 keeping up with the run rate.
But James Bennett with a spell of accurate bowling soon had the wickets tumbling as he finished with figures of 3-52 and Stalybridge went to 99-5.
Martin Baldwin 2-24 had the middle order in trouble, Roger Eden had 2-22 and ever reliable Andy Bruce 2-35 finished off the tail helped by some excellent catching by Yousaf Bhamjee.
Stalybridge ended the day on 156 all out giving Wayfarers a stunning victory and making all the work put in earlier in the day very worthwhile.
This victory moves Wayfarers up the league and if they maintain progress they could soon be challenging the leaders.
Wilmslow Second XI 124 all out lost to Aston 125 for 6 by four wickets
After last week’s superb nine-wicket win, Wilmslow crashed to defeat at Aston by four wickets.
There are however shoots of recovery and if a couple of catches had been held, Wilmslow could have secured their second win this season against the league newcomers.
Posting an average total on a lively pitch, Wilmslow were always in the back seat.
Adam Dixon with a whirlwind 37 and Adrian Rowe with 35 top-scored.
In reply, Wilmslow bowled well but there was never enough runs on the board with Harding, four for 30, the pick of the bowlers.
