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Macc fielding brings win

30/ 5/2007

Macclesfield 131
Didsbury 103
(Macclesfield win by 28 runs)

MACCLESFIELD won the toss in their game against second-placed Didsbury and elected to bat, aiming to set a tough total.

Both openers departing in the first five overs was not the start Macc had been looking for, both dismissed by Stoneman without troubling the scorers.

Perring offered some resistance before being bowled for 13, which brought Evan Gulbis to the crease. He set about scoring in his usual positive manner, while Tom Parfitt-Manning occupied the other end.

After offering early chances that Didsbury didn't capitalise upon, Gulbis set about punishing them and his remarkably consistent season saw him past the half-century mark yet again.

He eventually fell for 63, cutting a wide delivery straight to point.

Macc's score was 86-6 and more partnerships were needed to achieve a respectable total. As the middle order struggled against tight bowling, four wickets fell for just ten runs and the hosts were in serious trouble at 96-8.

Hillaby and Patterson shared a 27-run partnership and Hillaby was to finish not out on 24.

Macc had been dismissed for just 131 from 39.5 overs and at lunch Didsbury would have been much the happier side.

In reply, Macc's bowlers were determined to make Didsbury work for every run. Hillaby made good use of the wicket, bowling some unplayable deliveries.

Didsbury lost their first wicket without scoring and Macc's tight bowling contained Didsbury to 18-1 from 15 overs.

Slattery scored four boundaries before edging a Tait delivery to Hughes behind the stumps.

Cutbill brought himself into the attack from the Victoria Road end and the skipper struck in his first and second overs.

The score was 47-4 and, with Didsbury's main batsmen back in the shed, they were starting to wobble.

One good partnership would still be enough and Morgan and Warayawan added 27 runs before Cutbill dismissed Morgan for 23.

Warayawan departed in the next over, caught in the slips from the bowling of Melrose.

Patterson replaced Cutbill and further reducing the run-rate. He ended with two wickets without any runs in four late overs.

Melrose took the last wicket to complete Macc's win, which was made possible by a fine fielding display.