Macclesfield’s home win over Marple saw them continue their push towards Premier League safety.

Macclesfield were asked to bowl first in batter-friendly conditions and would have to be disciplined if they were to keep Marple to an achievable target.

Accurate bowling from openers Ian Tait and Craig Melrose was backed up by spirited fielding and Marple struggled to score early on.

This pressure told with a wicket apiece to the openers leaving the away team 66-2 off 20 overs, Melrose in particular bowled with unrelenting consistency and nagging movement.

The flat wicket made it difficult to contain runs during the middle overs but Macclesfield remained upbeat and were able to make regular inroads into the middle order.

Only former Cheshire captain Andrew Hall (49) and Mark Bennett (36) made significant contributions as Ben Morrison, Chris Moores and Rob Porter all picked up wickets.

The return of Tait in the final 10 overs ensured that Marple’s lower order couldn’t take the game away from the hosts  and he ended up the pick of the bowlers with 3-50 off 13 overs.

Marple’s 216-8 was a total Macclesfield’s batsmen were confident of knocking off. However, the reply started badly with Porter falling in the face of  James Ormond and Wylie’s accurate opening spells.

This brought the in-form Khalid Sawas to join Morrison at the crease and they gradually wrestled the initiative from the bowlers with excellent shot selection and punishing strokes around the wicket. As the pair settled, Sawas in particular, played with more freedom and began to tuck into Marple’s change bowlers.

When Morrison fell for a battling 47, the score was 113-2 and the required run rate was well within reach.

Nick Ross joined Sawas and the Australian confidently took chunks out of the remaining runs required with some powerful shots through the off side.

With things under control, a trio of wickets fell for 15 runs as Sawas (67), Ross (31) and Tom Parfett all fell, leaving the score 158-5 and nerves heightened.

Any thoughts of a tense finish were quashed however and strokemaker Andrew Hodgeson batted with confidence and positivity from ball one.

Expertly mixing elegance with brute power, Hodgeson blasted his way to 53 not out off just 39 balls to win the game for a jubilant Macclesfield team.

Jamie Winrow continued his impressive run in the team with a measured 10 not out.

Macclesfield now go into another huge game at Toft with a winning mentality and believing that a relegation escape – which seemed unlikely art times – is achievable for this talented side.

The second XI also continued their winning form with a commanding victory over Urmston.

Star performances from Whittingham (five wickets), James Cross (75) and Adnan (81) ensured Macc continue to climb up the table.

The third XI again fell to narrow defeat but there’s plenty of talent within the young side and they’ll bounce back.