Macclesfield travelled to Didsbury on Saturday looking for their first victory of the league campaign but returned home rueing what might have been. 

Didsbury skipper Nick Anderson won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Macclesfield openers Morrison and Keen made a solid start, putting on 58 for the first wicket before both were undone by the introduction of spin. 

Nick Ross fell shortly after which brought Rob Porter to the crease to join Sawas. Both looked in good touch as they progressed the score onto 112-3 when Sawas was trapped LBW for 28. 

Porter continued to find the boundary with ease and accelerated onto 88 before he was caught while Eddie Bones played a superb supporting role, making a run-a-ball 38. 

The Macclesfield innings finishing on 231-6 from 55 overs.

In reply, Didsbury were reduced to 29-3 with Ian Tait taking two of the wickets in a good opening spell. 

This soon became 46-4 as C Melrose had Anderson caught by a superb catch running backwards by Markie. 

Didsbury’s number four batsman, Normanton, was looking solid and it was clear he was the key wicket Macclesfield needed. 

He and Marfani brought the score onto 121-4 as Didsbury got back into the game.

The introduction of Morrison’s medium pacers brought about three wickets, including the run out of Marfani by Rob Keen. 

With the score at 162-7, Macclesfield sensed victory. 

Porter then claimed the vital wicket of Normanton for a well constructed 73. 

Macclesfield required just two wickets to claim a crucial victory. 

However, the Macclesfield bowlers couldn’t make the breakthroughs and Didsbury finished up on 200-8 as the match ended in a draw. 

Tait, Morrison and C Melrose all claimed two wickets a piece. 

It was a good performance from the Macclesfield team – however, overall a disappointing result in a game they were so close to winning.

On Sunday, Macclesfield hosted Bowdon in the Cheshire cup which ended in a thrilling encounter. Bowdon posted

213-7 from their 45 overs with Barney Cutbill taking 3-48 and Liam Markie 2-48. Macclesfield then chased the total down with 10 balls to spare. 

Ross made a fluent 78 and Andrew Hodgson an unbeaten 48 from just 34 balls to guide the home side to victory.