End of May 2026 | Senior Cricket Round-Up
1st
XI
For the 1st XI, a frustrating start to life in GMCL Prem 2 with nearly moments and poor weather the story of April and May.
The opening weekend saw MCC reduce Bradshaw to 160 for 6 thanks to fine work from Charlie Stafford (2/38) and Ryan Fitton (4/55) but the host’s tail wagged and with their #9 adding 41 to their score, they reached 260 from 50 overs.
In response, a gritty 62 from Skipper Fielding and a 50 partnership with Deshan kept MCC in the hunt before two run outs meant their demise and halted our momentum. Ismail’s 35 off 25 kept things interesting but ultimately we were 52 runs short from our 50 overs.
After a tough afternoon at DSL, it became all about the weather. Heywood were 27/4 courtesy of sterling work from Mo Saqib (3/6) when the rain rescued them and then a week later, only 15 overs were possible against Walshaw before the heavens opened.
Not until 23rd May did the 1s play again, taking on Astley and Tyldesley at The MCG. Mo Saqib and Ismail were relentless early doors with both picking up 3fers as A&T limped to 72/6. Deshan bagged a 1st MCC wicket and Ryan bagged 3/45 but the visitors recovered a touch, finding a second wind in the latter overs of their 50, going from 86/7 through to 177 AO. The 1s chase was spearheaded by a cool, calm 58 from Andrew Metcalfe at the top of the order. Support came in fits and burst with MCC never fully taking control of the match, Alex Birch (27) and Ismail Iqbal (30) both looked like they were going to take us all the way home but were prised out at key moments. With just 5 needed to win, Matt Fazackerley was run out and the 1s were left just short of a first GMCL Prem 2 win.
The final run out of May saw Ryan Fitter take 4fer at Westhoughton and Liam Tongue score a considered, well fought 57 but the hosts took the points.
2nd XI
The 2nd XI end May in 4th in GMCL Div 6E after a positive start to the season that included three back-to-back wins to get things underway.
Way back on 18th April, the 2s fixture v Ashton was one of only a handful of games that survived the poor weather in the run-up. Asked to bat first, James C (30) and Phill Rowston (57) provided the backbone of a score of 142 which looked like a more than decent effort in tricky conditions.
And so it proved! There was stubborn resistance from Ashton’s opener but Mottram’s packed bowling line-up chipped away regularly with Alice Dyson (3/18) and James C (3/7) running through the middle order decisively and leaving Ashton AO for 89.
A week later and the 2s pulled off a phenomenal home chase to haul in Failsworth after they had set us 241 to win.
A 72 partnership between James C (57) and Charlie Green (16) set the tone before Farrukh Habib’s majestic 58 and Michael Scott’s 38* allowed us to stay up with the rate. When Habib finally fell, Alice Dyson’s breezy 17 off 12 helped MRS take us over the line with 4 overs to spare.
The trio of wins was secured at Micklehurst where Bailey’s brutal spell of 5/31 took the stuffing out of our host’s attempt to set a total. James Starr’s 3/30 was the perfect supporting spell as Micklehurst were rolled out for 120. Farrukh’s 45 off 32 making lightwork of the chase, done and dusted in 15 overs.
Rain then ruined Michael Scott’s Denton homecoming and cancelled the SW Manchester match-up before a ball was bowled.
The final two outings saw Whalley Range inflict a first defeat of the campaign on the 2s, before the visit of Woodhouses saw the 2nd XI secure victory in a hard-fought game.
Batting first, Mottram lost both openers early but Sam Smith (70), Patrick Hannon (40*) and Ayrton Fielding (39) led the recovery that took us to 169.
Woodhouses put together a fine effort at the chase but Harry Moore (4fer) and Patrick (3fer) took wickets at several key junctures of the game to ensure we kept our noses in front. The day’s skipper Bailey taking the final wicket to seal the points.
3rd XI
The 3rd XI have had 3 games so far in Sunday Div 3A, experiencing frustration, heartbreak and the sweet taste of victory along the way.
First up, an away loss to Failsworth Macedonia. The 3s were in the mix for large parts of the game with Lucas Fletcher (3/39), George Bernard (2/17) and Patrick Hannon (2/14) all doing fine work to make scoring runs tough. They did for most of the Macedonia line-up, but their opener (51) and their #7 (68) made up 80% of Macedonia’s eventual 182.
In response, MCC 3s fell 44 short with George (27) and Thomas Norris (39) giving us hope before we were all out after 30 overs.
Next up, a real tough one to take as Blackley snuck past us by a mere 4 runs.
Thomas Norris was bordering on unplayable as he took 4/32 to
turn an imposing looking 70/2 into 111/6. Blackley eventually setting us 171 to win.
An innings of fits and starts followed with only Charlie Green (24) and Patrick Hannon (29) offering anything of note in the top 7. Enter Hannon Senior (23) and George (13) who for 8 glorious overs took us ever closer to an unlikely chase. With just 11 needed, Hannon fell. Lucas did well to survive and get George on strike but in looking to guide one to the legside, he was trapped LBW. A real sickener.
The elusive win did eventually arrive though in the blazing heat at Glossop.
Having been asked to bowl first, MCC roared into life with Lucas snaring a wicket after just 4 balls, well caught by T Norris. Bailey bowled a succession of snorters and Lucas held onto a sharp return catch to reduce our hosts to 25/5. There was no let-up, Thomas (2/4), Patrick (2/2) and James Starr (1/2) ending Glossop’s innings on 40 AO.
That kind of chase requires someone to keep calm and ensure things don’t go awry. Patrick (10*) and Thomas (10) doing the lions’ share of the work as we chased it successfully, 3 down.
4th XI
For the 4th XI it’s 2 wins from 3 so far.
First up was a visit from Stalybridge who won the toss and had a bat. After an assured start, Adie Davis wanged down his quicker one to trap the opener LBW and then Callum’s run out had them 39/2. Debutant Oliver Clarke, Adie and Callum worked in tandem to reduce them to 87/6. Stalybridge fought back well though with #8 bludgeoning it to all parts and lifting them to 140.
Mottram’s ultimately successful chase was perfectly marshalled by Callum opening up (21 off 90) and Michael Marsden at #3 (49) as they took us to 90. Dave Green’s four 4’s lifted the run rate and allowed Sam Bennett (21*) and Adie Davis to see us home in the last over.
A week later and the 4s overcame Newton, courtesy of a fine bowling performance.
Batting first we were in a spot of trouble at 12/3 but Jack Heaps (15) and debutant Ron Harris (51*) did vital work to rebuild our innings and lift us to 90 at drinks. Oliver Bambroffe (18) nailed one into someone’s conservatory as we eventually set 134.
At 80/1, Newton looked like they were cruising to victory until Jack and Ronnie reignited their partnership from the 1st innings to bring the game back to life.
Ronnie trapped their set opener LBW for 29 and then was there to take the catch as Jack ended their #3’s afternoon early. Another Ronnie LBW well and truly evened the afternoon up as the middle order froze. Jack bagged two more and debutant U15 Isaac took a vital caught and bowled to turn the game firmly in our favour. Newton’s #8 wasn’t for lying down and whacked two imposing boundaries before Bambroffe’s fine boundary catch ended his cameo. Callum bamboozled #10 and #11 to ensure the back-to-back win.
The final May outing saw a 1st 4s defeat of the season as our batting failed to fire v Broadbottom.
Henry (13) the only real resistance as we collapsed to 55 all out.
Ronnie’s 4fer made it interesting for a moment but the visitors won by 5 wickets. The 4s look to bounceback next weekend v New Mills.
Women’s 1st Team
An impressive start to the 2026 summer for both Women’s Teams. The 1st Team have adjusted to life as a GMCL Premier League team extremely well, taking maximum points from 2 of 3 games to date.
Former Champions Roe Green were vanquished on home soil on Matchday #1 with Sharon Norris’ 1/5 setting the tone as we held the hosts to a respectable but chaseable 280. Our response was led flawlessly by Annie Bate (15*) and Joanne Smith (12*) as overhauled Roe’s score in the final over to take the victory.
A week later, Flowery were overpowered by a margin of 34. All 3 Mottram wickets taken by girls from our junior pathway with LGB (2/16) and debutant Iris (1/26) the pick of the bowlers. With the bat, Sharon (14), Imogen (10) and LGB (13) laid the platform for Joanne to go big in Pair 4, she took 37 from 16 balls to see us to 308 and a big win.
May 31st saw a first home Prem game for the Women’s 1s and unfortunately, a first taste of league defeat. Werneth’s openers got them off to a flying start that set them up well for 270. With the bat returning players Tilly and Joanne settled back in nicely but we never stayed up with the rate for long enough and fell short.
It would be remiss of course not to bring up the Women's Team's cup triumph in the much-delayed 2025 Cup Final.
Played in late April, Finals Day was held at Mellor CC with Mottram ultimately running out champions following impressive wins v Romiley and Dinting.
The semi-final versus Romiley was an edgy affair with the MCC side batting well but racked with nerves first up. Annie's 25* ensuring we set 281. An expensive first pair set the cat amongst the pigeons but eventually calmness prevailed and wickets for Imogen, tight lines from Julie and Joanne ensured we got through.
In the final the team were back on point and full of momentum from the first game's victory. A comfortable 40 run win seeing them crowned champions!
Women’s 2nd Team
The Women’s 2nd Team are flying in DCCL Division 3 and are top with 3 wins from 3.
Amanda’s 15*, Steph’s 12* and 13 from Skipper Diane saw Mottram set New Mills a challenging 287 in Game 1. New Mills battled well and didn’t lose many wickets (only Diane getting her name in the scorebook) but they were behind the rate and couldn’t quite kick on, finishing on 277.
Seven days on, they fought their way past Offerton. 253 (spearheaded by Steph’s 13*) didn’t look a huge score to defend but Julie C (4/19), Jemima (2/8) and Amanda (2/19) chipped away at Offerton regularly with wickets and kept them at arms length to win by 18.
The trio of wins was completed against Dinting as Sarah Harris bludgeoned her way to a decisive 18* as the 2s overcame their opponents by 47.
