Macclesfield couldn’t make it three wins in a row as they lost a high-scoring game at Toft.

On a rock hard surface, Toft skipper Drummond won the toss and elected to bowl.

It was clear from the outset that Toft’s aim was to restrict the flow of runs rather than looking for early inroads, with boundary riders deployed from as early as the second over. 

Ben Morrison and Nick Ross opened the batting with the latter quickly into his stride, dispatching several boundaries off the opening spin bowlers. 

Aussie Ross was looking to be positive against the spin and refused to let them settle into a rhythm, while Morrison was the first to go, edging the ball through to the keeper for 11. 

Khalid Sawas came to the crease and maintained the good run rate.  Both batsmen were looking in good touch before Sawas was caught by a brilliant catch at extra cover off the leg spin of Jones for 24. 

This left Macc on 112-2 with Ross having made 74 of them.  Rob Porter was next man in and took some time to settle before joining Ross in his aggressive stroke play.  Ross went on to complete a terrific run-a-ball hundred including 15 fours at all parts of the ground. 

The pair took Macc to 197-2 before Ross fell for exactly 100 slapping a full toss straight to the cover fieldsman. Porter followed soon after for a well-made 58. 

This triggered a collapse and from 216-4, Macc found themselves at 264-9. 

Only Andrew Hodgson made a score of note in the lower order, producing a quickfire 38 from 30 balls.  Last pair Barney Cutbill and Ian Tait added valuable runs to push the total up to 282-9 from 54 overs. Toft’s Jimmy Lomas finished with 5-99 and Rob Jones 4-77.

Macc made an encouraging start in the field removing Toft’s leading run scorer, Hancock, caught behind off Tait for nine. 

The second wicket pair of Drummond and Jones then dug in and batted with great maturity for their tender age. 

The pair carefully paced themselves and went on to add 136, ensuring they stayed in reach of the required run rate. 

Drummond went on to make 89, being particularly punishing through the leg side until he was trapped LBW by Porter. 

The score stood at 157-2 and the game was in the balance.  Macc needed a few quick wickets to settle the bowlers and that is what they got. 

Morrison introduced himself into the attack and cleaned up Green for five and soon after Cutbill removed Hughes to a good plan, safely pouched at point by Keen. 

Teetering at 189-4 Toft needed 100 from 15 overs for the win, although  Jones went on to bring up a well paced ton at the other end to give them a chance. 

Skipper Drummond came to the crease and played aggressively to fire 57 from just 48 balls to put Toft on the brink of victory.  He fell late on to Tait but Mudalige dispatched his first delivery over point to the boundary to reach the total with four balls remaining, with Jones finishing unbeaten on 105. 

Despite the defeat it was great game of cricket with plenty of positives for Macc to take away with them.