A DISAPPOINTING performance by Macclesfield at Hyde brought their sixth straight league defeat and they remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League table.

Heavy overnight rain left the Hyde ground very wet and only sterling work from the ground staff enabled any play at all.

The match was reduced to 90 overs and on a wet wicket skipper Barney Cutbill had no hesitation in asking the home team to bat first under grey skies.

The Macclesfield opening attack of James Hawley and Ian Tait struggled initially, bowling in the wrong areas and suffered the effects of a wet ball and very damp underfoot conditions.

After a quick start Hyde were rained back in by Tait and then Cutbill as the former picked up the first two wickets to fall, including that of Lancashire-contracted Chris Tipper, both well caught in the gully by Tom Parfett.

Then Hyde’s captain James Duffy and Danny Berry, both Cheshire players, set about an assault on the Macclesfield attack.

No bowler was spared as they cleared the boundary on numerous occasions with Duffy especially brutal to the spin bowling of Rob Porter.

As the innings came to a close, Macc were able to pick up two further wickets, Berry for 50 and Dan Cramner for nine.

Hyde declared on 224-5, leaving Macc 45 overs to chase an unlikely victory.

Tait picked up four of the wickets to fall, Cutbill the other with Duffy selflessly finishing on 96 not out.

The least said about the Macc innings the better.

With the exception of wicket keeper, Paul Hughes, none of the Macc side were able to cope with the unpredictable bounce or to show the dedication seen in Berry and Duffy.

A successful run chase was never on the cards but when Hughes was dismissed for 28 with the score on 89 for 8 and 11 overs remaining, the chances of achieving a draw had vanished.

Some late hitting by Cutbill took Macclesfield to 116 before Tait was the last man to fall with four overs remaining.

Rooted at the foot of the table Macc host Oulton Park – triple champions from 2005-7 – and will be desperate to upset the form book.

The Second XI were also beaten by Hyde but the Third XI continued their good form with a fine victory.