Week 4: Sat 10th & Sun 11th May
Match Reports
Golborne (174-9) vs 1st XI (105)
Stretford 1st XI suffered a 69-run defeat away at Golborne in a frustrating outing on Saturday.
The hosts won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a competitive 174-9 from their allotted overs. Stretford’s performance in the field left plenty to be desired, with a series of dropped catches allowing Golborne to recover from early pressure and build their total. Despite the missed opportunities, Niall Heyes stood out with the ball, returning figures of 3-54 in a strong spell.
In reply, Stretford’s chase never truly got going. Wickets fell at regular intervals, and the visiting side struggled to build any meaningful partnerships. Tim Boyd scored a fluent 35, but he lacked support at the other end. Ultimately, Stretford were bowled out for just 105, falling well short of the target.
A tough day for Stretford, who will look to regroup and improve ahead of next week’s fixture at home to Prestwich.
2nd XI (113-3) vs Golborne (111)
Stretford 2nd XI made it back to back victories with an emphatic 7-wicket victory at home over Golborne, delivering a complete performance with both ball and bat to secure all 6 points.
Captain Pav Aqeel won the toss and made the right call by putting the visitors in to bat first. The decision paid immediate dividends as Golborne struggled against the new ball, eventually being bowled out for just 111. Opening bowlers Usman Hasan (3-15) and Blake Crawshaw (3-28) set the tone early, before Rai Faizan Ahmad cleaned up the middle order with an excellent spell of 3-23.
In reply, Stretford’s top order made light work of the chase. Mrinal Dasgupta (23) and Arohan Rohra (38) laid a solid foundation before Hamza Arif guided the team home with an assured 28 not out. The hosts reached the target in just 21 overs, rounding off a dominant performance.
A clinical win for Stretford 2nd XI, who will look to carry this momentum.
Sunday
3rd XI (130-4) vs Failsworth Macedonia (128)
Stretford 3rd XI secured a solid win at home on Sunday, overcoming an early wobble to chase down Failsworth Macedonia’s total with composure and class.
Stretford restricted an experienced Failsworth side to 128 all out. It was a true team effort with the ball, as wickets were shared across the attack. Junior players led the way—Eesa Khawaja claimed 2-20, Alfie Carson took 2-26, and Ali Sher Amir finished with 2-38, showcasing the strength and promise in the club’s youth ranks.
However, the chase began on a shaky note, with Stretford stumbling to 6/3 inside just two overs. What followed was a match-winning 107-run partnership between Chris Walker and junior Oliver Cook. Cook stole the spotlight with a hard hitting and confident knock, bringing up his maiden senior half-century before falling for a superb 63. Walker saw the job through with a steady unbeaten 43, guiding Stretford home to a well-earned victory.
A gritty and rewarding win for the 3rd XI, highlighted by a masterful Walker, Cook partnership stepping up in style.
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