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Poynton denied win

30/ 5/2007

Poynton 224-8
Heaton Mersey 170-8
Match drawn

POYNTON continued their recent good form in Division One of the Cheshire County League, but were unable to dislodge a stubborn Heaton Mersey side.

It would always have been a tall order to bowl out a good batting side on this wicket.

Batting first, Poynton had no problems with their scoring rate early on, reaching 79 in the 20th over. However, after Antonio Mayers departed for 29, Poynton were four down, with former Poynton junior Jonathan Simpson taking three wickets.

Brian Kingham did an excellent job of steadying the ship and, in partnership with David Watkins, rebuilt the innings superbly.

The pair put on 119 in 24 overs and, by the end of their stand, were dominating the Mersey bowling.

Watkins hit 68 with nine fours and a six and Kingham 55 with five fours and two sixes as Poynton reached 224-8.

Mayers' pace and Simon Turner's accuracy ensured that three of Mersey's best batsmen were back in the pavilion with the score on 29.

Mark Bennett then took the score to 80 before becoming the first of Jamie Maltman's two victims.

Mersey were still in with a shout of victory while former Lancashire wicketkeeper Jamie Haynes remained at the wicket.

After he made 54, 11 overs remained for the lower order to survive, which they did, despite the resistance of the Rashid brothers being broken by Mayers with more than two overs remaining.

• POYNTON progressed in the Fred Graham Trophy, the league's Twenty 20 cup, by beating Bollington at the Rec last week.

Mayers hit a swashbuckling 53 in Poynton's 138-5, supported by cameo knocks in the twenties from Paul Gould and Watkins. Watkins (four for 14) and Turner (three for 16) then produced superb spells as Bollington could only manage 85-9. Rick Hough (22) and Adam Jones (13) were Bolly's only double figure scorers.

Poynton now play Bramhall in round two on an evening date to be arranged in June.

Bollington will play Macclesfield in the Plate competition for first round losers.

• POYNTON also won their Lovelane Cheshire Cup game with Birkenhead Park on the toss of a coin after rain prevented any play on Sunday.