Irby 69ao, Macclesfield 72-3 (Macclesfield won by seven wickets)

Hours of hard work by players and supporters before the scheduled start time enabled Macclesfield’s game against bottom side Irby to get off on time.

With the Victoria Road ground partially underwater the previous evening, water had seeped under the covers, leaving the wicket wet in places and, upon winning the toss Macc captain, Tom Parfett had no hesitation in electing to bowl.

Irby, who were making their first-ever trip to Macclesfield, started the game 21 points from safety at the foot of the table while Macc sat in second place.

In the previous encounter earlier in the season, Irby had lost their last nine wickets for just 70 runs as the frailty in their batting line up was exposed.

They fared no better this time, being bowled out for just 69 in only 33 overs. Ian Tait and Chris Moores opened the bowling and the tone was set as Chris McGinn was out first ball, well caught at short leg by Khalid Sawas off Tait.

In humid conditions Moores swung the ball prodigiously and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket in his six-over spell that went for just 13 runs.

Barney Cutbill replaced Moores and with the ball still swinging he and Tait picked up wickets at regular intervals.

The pair each claimed five wickets and were backed by some excellent fielding and catching as Sawas took three at short leg, the returning Jason Knight three at second slip and Paul Hughes, one behind the stumps.

For Irby, only Australian William Passas and the experienced Mike Newman were able to make double figures.

In response, as the rain clouds gathered, Macc got off to a brilliantly positive start. Openers Rob Keen and Ben Morrison set off like a train, showing skill and contrasting aggression and restraint required on a seaming wicket.

The pair put on 57 for first wicket in just 58 balls before a flurry of three wickets in 16 balls gave Irby the only two points they were to pick up. It was left to Rob Porter who, as in the earlier fixture, dismissively hit the winning runs as Macc reached their target in only the 13th over.

It was a ruthless performance from the home side, who remain in the promotion places, and Saturday’s trip to third-placed Grappenhall take on increased importance.

The second XI lost a nail biting encounter at local rivals Alderley Edge. With two balls Alderley captain Ben Heades scrambled a single off the penultimate ball to give the home side victory by one wicket.

The thirds were well beaten by Brooklands Sale Moor.