CCCL Division One
Macclesfield.....................252-6
Heaton Mersey..................170-8
Match drawn
With the threat of rain a constant throughout the day Macclesfield travelled to Heaton Mersey on Saturday.
Winning the toss and electing to bat on a surprisingly dry wicket, Macc quickly lost Rob Keen, caught behind for eight. Ben Morrison and Khalid Sawas then built a partnership of 144, taking the score to 163 before Morrison was also caught behind, 10 runs short of what would have been a well deserved maiden century for the club.
Sawas made 65 as Macc piled on the runs. There were further contributions from Pete Barron (39 not out) and Chris Moores (25) as Macc were able to declare on 252-6 off only 48 overs. For Mersey Hassan Rashid took three wickets.
With 52 overs to chase down the target Mersey started brightly but Ian Tait picked up the wickets of the openers in consecutive overs as the home side slipped to 46-3.
Captain Mark Bennett set about rebuilding the innings and he was supported by the South African Gareth Basson and Gautam Narayanan.
With 16 overs remaining and Mersey on 165-6, the game was well balanced but the rain caused a frustrating hour-long delay that cost 10 overs. With six overs to go, a Mersey victory was impossible and a Macc win improbable.
Bowling with pace, Tom Barron removed Bennett for a well made 61 and the off-spin of Rob Porter accounted for Rashid.
However, with only 10 balls remaining, the eighth-wicket pairing were able to see out the draw. Tait and Porter each claimed three wickets and there was one apiece for Barron and Craig Melrose.
Macc picked 16 points to Mersey’s nine as the visitors were left cursing the weather and other results.
Widnes and Grappenhall both won, meaning Macc slipped to third with only three games remaining to establish the two promoted sides.
Macc face Poynton at home on Saturday.
