End of July 2026 | Senior Cricket Round-Up
1st
XI
The 1st XI sit 11th in GMCL Prem 2 after June and July were punctuated by nearly moments.
June got underway with Woodhouses sneaking over the line by 1 wicket at The MCG. Deshan Dias’ 54 dragged us to 142, which DLS then reduced to 122 after a spot of drizzle. Ryan’s 3/46 and an Ismail 2fer had Woodhouses 9 down for less than 100, but their last wicket partnership were dogged and took the points.
After a tough week at Stand, June ended with a high-scoring, high-quality clash with Greenfield. Greenfield’s Pro scored 180* and despite the best efforts of Ismail (3/16) they carded 316 from their 50 overs. Andrew Metcalfe was at his classy, composed best with 71 opening up to leave the middle order with a platform to attack from. Ryan Fitton (32), Deshan (52 off 40) and Liam Tongue (64 from 50) kept us the game right till the death but GCC had too much for our tail and won by 38.
July saw Heyside and DSL take home the points from our two away trips, whilst the home game v Bradshaw can be firmly filed as another heartbreaker. Batting first,
Deshan (75) and Matthew Fazackerley (23*) helped us set 185. Ryan and Ismail struck early to reduce Bradshaw to 21-2. Their Pro in at #4, spearheaded their innings superbly scoring an unbeaten 92*. Marshalling the middle and lower order he regularly lost partners as
Muhammed Saqib (5/42) began wrestling the initiative back. Bailey (1/30) got in on the act too to leave him with just the #11 for company, but they held firm.
The points secured with a bold scoop shot over the keeper for four.
2nd XI
The 2nd XI end July in 2nd in GMCL Div 6E and demonstrating promotion challenging form, with 6 wins out of 8.
After a disappointing performance at Stayley, the 2s bounced back emphatically with 3 wins on the trot. Stalybridge were defeated by 7 wickets after a Michael Scott barrage saw him grab 5/52 and bowl SCC out for 140. Phill Rowston at his dismissive best, blasting his way to a 91* full of brutal cutting and straight driving.
Wythenshawe found themselves 16-3 after Bailey got stuck right in before they recovered to a defendable 147. The semi-regular clattering of wickets meant the chase always felt angsty but Sam Smith (37), Harry Moore (39) and Sam Fazackerley (27*) kept their heads to secure the points.
Hadfield chose to bat first at MCC, and then were promptly 69 All Out. Michael Scott and Alice Dyson both bagging 5fers and sharing the match ball.
July started with a complete non-performance at Failsworth but also contained impressive wins v Ashton and Micklehurst.
Mottram set Ashton 171 to win, with our innings built around a belligerent 41 from Sam Smith and a patient, serene 37 from Patrick Hannon.
Michael Scott was back in bruiser mode with the ball, bullying his way to another 4fer. Patrick and George both taking 3fer at the other end as it was 124 AO for ACC.
With Micklehurst rolled for 94 and overhauled for the loss of two wickets, the2s XI went into July’s final game in 3rd.
Having shipped 267 to Denton having chosen to bowl first, a big batting performance was required.
The man for the moment? Sam Smith.
Ayrton (29) and Andrew Willerton (53) built smartly opening up to take us to 74 before the first wicket fell. This gave Sam a platform from which to launch an all-out assault. Seventeen 4s and Five 6s seeing him unbeaten on 137 from 75 balls. Well supported by Dan (22*) he ensured the 2s took a bonus point win, chasing the target with 8 wickets in the shed. Remarkable hitting.
3rd XI
The 3rd XI find themselves sat in 3rd (the final promotion spot) after 2 wins from 3 games across June and July.
Defeat to Stayley was a case of batters getting in then getting themselves out as we lost by 5 wickets. James Collinson (44), Daniel Crudden (17) and CGB (14) all scored quickly but were prised out before Thomas Norris (15) and Farrell Kilbane (18) added some late gloss and got us to 147.
Stayley started well and were 70 for 1 before a breakthrough from Harry Moore started a mini collapse. Harry (2/32), James C (2/36) and a run-out had Stayley beginning to wobble at 95/5 but #6 and #7 had enough about them to bat time and win the game.
From there though, two dominant wins. On a baking hot day, a disciplined and controlled bowling effort saw us restrict Royton to 164 from their 40 overs despite a wonderful 83 from their young #3. Lucas (1/28) and Henry Davies (1/25) set an economical tone earlier on that was well-matched by all the bowlers but in particular George Bernard (1/20) and Thomas Norris (1/21).
James Collinson ensured the run rate was never likely to be a problem by getting us off to a blistering start. His 55 off 27 included 10 boundaries. A 44 partnership with Mitchell Wood taking any earlier tension out of the batters padded up waiting. Thomas Norris (25) and Patrick (17*) were the perfect foils for Michael Marsden who used all his experience to score 53* and guide us home by 7 wickets with minimal fuss.
A week later and a trip to Saddleworth saw us set the hosts an imposing 237 to win. Early wickets saw us 18/2 but steady work from Andrew Willerton (21) and Michael Marsden (38) put us back on an even keel. At 104/4, there was still room for disaster but Daniel Crudden (81*) grabbed back the initiative with a brilliant knock that was well supported by Thomas (30*).
Saddleworth went hard early on but had absolutely no answer to the persistent line, length and nip offered by Henry Davies who dismantled their top-order with 4/26. There was no relief when Henry had exited stage right neither, James Starr (3/37 on return) and Patrick (3/16) ensured there was no recovery. 123 AO for SCC.
4th XI
The 4th XI sit top of DCCL Sunday Division One (Tameside) after winning all 5 of their June and July league matches.
Daniel Marsden began his fine run of bowling form with 3/7 against Tintwistle, where working in tandem with George Bernard (5/8) we bowled the visitors out for 41. Three early wickets in our innings kept things more interesting than necessary but Stanley Tombs (12*) cover drove us to victory.
Stalybridge then visited the MCG and were bowled out for 114. The juniors did the heavy lifting with the ball as Dan M, Charlie Green, Callum Gardiner and debutant Oliver Clarke all took 2 apiece. The Greens did the lionshare of the batting with Charlie (27) and Dave (39*) ensuring a safe chase.
Newton found themselves chasing an imposing 178 as Ayrton (50*), Stanley (32), Jack Heaps (24) and Fielding Junior (12*) all offered productive innings. Daniel M (3/27) and Oliver (2/15) had done early damage to Newton before a middle-order 50* saw them go from 73/6 to 141/7. They were much back in the game but Skipper Scott turned back to Jack (2/11) and William (3/17) who turned the screw and removed the lower order.
July saw a double clash with Stayley.
In the home fixture, Mottram won the toss and had a bat. Daniel C managed the innings well, providing 53* from the top of the order to get us going. From there Sam Bennett (33), Ronnie Harris (34) and Easa Ansari (12) took us to 179. Lucas (1/5) and Daniel M (3/8) both removed openers to put us in the driving seat. Henry (1/10) did further middle order damage before William (3/8) and Ronnie (2/9) finished things off and seal a 100 run win.
A week later, excellent control with the ball saw us restrict Stayley to 114 batting first. Lucy (1/14) and Thomas Fletcher (1/12) used the Stayley slope impeccably to bowl wicket to wicket and prove hard to get away. Jack (1/15) and Callum (1/13) also playing their part.
A magical moment in the 2nd innings as Callum battled his way to a first ever senior 50*, as part of an opening stand of 81 with Stephen Scott (26).
Built on dabs to backward point and pulls behind square, Callum’s innings enabled an 8 wicket win with Dave (20) also in the runs.
Women’s 1st Team
The Women’s 1st Team sit 4th of 8 in the GMCL Prem after a patchy June but strong July saw them win 3, lose 3 of their 6 played.
After losing on the road at Moorside, a double weekend at The MCG saw a Saturday win and a Sunday loss.
Stayley were overpowered on the Saturday AM as Joanne (25*) Annie (15*) and wickets for young guns Iris and Lucy ensured a 77 run win. A day later though, and 2fers for Annie, Iris and LGB weren’t enough to stop Saddleworth hanging on for a 1 run victory. Jemima’s 15* got us off to a flier but from there the run rate slowed and we got 282 chasing 283.
A similar story v Winton where we looked in the game for long periods of time but ultimately lost by 8. Joanne and Imogen (14* each) looked to have got us in contention but runs were difficult to come by in other pairs and we fell short.
July though, brought 2 wins from 2. Roe Green had no answer to Joanne’s bowling (3/31) and a pleasing team effort saw Julie (10), Georgia Robinson (15) and Imogen (11) all chip away at the Roe Green total. 32 runs the eventual winning margin.
Rounding off July was another win v Stayley. Joanne (4fer) and Annie (3fer) struck regularly through Stayley’s 16 overs as they reached 241. That always looked a tough light and so it proved. Annie (24*) and Steph (14) put them to the sword in Pair 1, with Tilly Corless (14*), Joanne (18*) and Lucy (16*) all doing similar as we racked up 321.
Women’s 2nd Team
The Women’s 2nd Team sit proudly atop the DCCL Division 3 standings with three games left to play.
Across 6 games in June and July, they’ve lost only once. That one, a gutting 1 run loss away at High Lane who sit 6 points behind us in 2nd .
June’s other two games saw us sneak past Newton and absolutely wallop Old Glossop. Versus Newton it was Sharon Norris (16) and Natalie Woolhouse (11) who top-scored as we batted first. Chasing 308, Newton got almighty close. They got 303 and fell 5 short. Sharon (1/25), Julie Crudden (1/35) and Imogen Schofield (1/18) taking the wickets that ensured the win.
At home to Old Glossop, a fine bowling performance and sharp fielding saw us take 9 wickets of which 6 were run outs. OG’s 216 saw Jemima (1/9), Colette (1/7) and Natalie (1/4) bowling tidily with Amanda in red-hot fielding form. With the bat, Amanda’s 16* got us off to a pacy start and allowed Imogen (18*) and Natalie (19*) to stroke it round with ease in the later pairs.
