1st XI (198-9) vs United Stars (297-9)
Stretford Cricket Club 1st XI fell to a 99-run defeat against a strong United Stars side in Saturday’s league fixture.
United Stars set the tone early, piling on an imposing 297-9 from their 50 overs. Despite the onslaught, Stretford found some success with the ball, with ever reliable Benjy Evans and debutant Ramesh Perera both picking up three wickets apiece to help limit further damage at each ends of the innings.
In reply, Stretford battled away against some tight bowling. Another newcomer, Syed Haider provided the highlight of the innings with an entertaining 52, including a remarkable 30 runs in a single over. Captain Adam Saynor chipped in with 28, while Tim Boyd introduced himself to the Stretford faithful with a gritty 27. However, the side ultimately finished on 198-9, well short of the target.
Plenty of positives to take for the 1st XI, but with a long season ahead they’ll be looking ahead to next week and build the foundations for a strong challenge in the league.
Failsworth Macedonia (143-6) vs 2nd XI (139)
Stretford 2nd XI came up short in their away fixture against Failsworth Macedonia, losing by 4 wickets in a competitive encounter.
Batting first, Stretford were bowled out for 139. New Zealand overseas player Connor Bliss top-scored with a composed 32, while opener Mo Rehan provided a steady start with 27. However, regular wickets throughout the innings prevented the visitors from posting a more formidable total.
In response, the hosts chased down the target with six wickets down. Mo Rehan impressed with the ball as well, claiming 2-12 in a tidy spell, but it wasn’t enough to halt Failsworth Macedonia’s progress.
A spirited effort from Stretford, who will look to regroup ahead of next weekend’s fixture.
3rd XI (96) vs Droylsden (99-1)
Stretford 3rd XI suffered a heavy defeat at home to Droylsden, going down by 9 wickets.
Batting first, the home side slumped to 18-5 before Sanmay Santhosh produced a blistering counter-attack. His explosive 52 from just 19 balls, featuring five 4’s and four towering 6’s, briefly swung momentum back Stretford’s way. However, once he departed with the score at 91-6, the innings quickly folded to 96 all out.
Droylsden made light work of the chase, knocking off the runs for the loss of just one wicket. Max Skuse claimed the solitary breakthrough for Stretford in an otherwise dominant performance from the visitors.
Plenty to reflect on for the 3rd XI, with captain Paddy Lambton positive for a quick turnaround and plenty of cricket to play.
Flowery Field (260-6) vs 4th XI (99)
Stretford Cricket Club’s 4th XI kicked off their inaugural fixture in the GMCL Development League with an away clash against Flowery Field. The Development League, designed to give juniors a platform to experience senior cricket, provided an excellent opportunity for Stretford’s young talents to step up — albeit in challenging circumstances, as the team was forced to field just 10 players due to availability issues.
Flowery Field took to the crease first, compiling a total of 260 for 6. Despite the pressure, Stretford’s youngsters showed resilience, with promising spells from Bilal Siddique and Rayyan Imtiaz, both of whom claimed 2 wickets apiece.
In response, Stretford found it tough going against a strong Flowery attack and were bowled out for 99. The batting highlight came from Aarij Naveed, who played with maturity beyond his years to top-score with 21. Though the result didn’t go their way, the match served its purpose in providing valuable experience to Stretford’s emerging talent. With continued exposure at this level, the signs are positive for the club’s junior development
Front row (L-R) Ramesh Perera, Ryan Mofett, Jack Blackwell (v/c), Adam Saynor (C), Ali Raza, Blake Crawshaw. Back Row (L-R) Syed Haider, Tim Boyd, Robert Renforth Benjy Evans, Niall Heyes, Greg Spencer (scorer)
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