Week 9: Sat 14th & Sun 15th June
Match Reports
1st XI (69-2) vs Ashton (65)
Stretford 1st XI stormed to their third consecutive maximum-point victory with a ruthless 8-wicket demolition of Ashton, in a performance that oozed confidence and class from ball one.
Ashton won the toss and opted to bat, but their innings never got off the ground. After crashing his second delivery off Rob Renforth to the boundary, Ashton’s Sri Lankan pro attempted to repeat the feat—only to fall into a well-set trap. A swift tweak in the field saw Stretford’s plan pay off instantly, as Ashton’s leading run scorer tried to emulate his previous ball and drilled the ball straight to Tim Boyd at the newly occupied position at extra cover.
From that point on, Ashton were firmly on the back foot. The Stretford attack was relentless—Renforth and Evans shared two wickets apiece, each delivering with pace and accuracy to keep the pressure sky-high. But the star of the show, fresh from the Italian mountains, was Niall Heyes. Stretford’s leading wicket-taker tore through Ashton’s middle and lower order with precision, finishing with figures of 5-12 and taking his season tally to 25 wickets. Ashton were skittled for just 65.
The chase was a formality. Openers Ollie Barrett (33*) and Ramesh Perera (19) looked composed from the outset, rotating the strike smartly and punishing anything loose. Perera was run out attempting a sharp single with just 21 needed, but Barrett remained unflustered, guiding Stretford home with an unbeaten knock as the hosts cruised to 66-2.
With three emphatic wins on the trot and momentum firmly in their corner, Stretford 1st XI are hitting their stride—and sending a strong message to the rest of the league.
Swinton Moorside (109) vs 2nd XI (113-5)
Stretford 2nd XI go back to back with a composed and clinical 5-wicket triumph over Swinton Moorside. Moving them within touching distance of the top three.
Skipper Connor Bliss sent Swinton in to bat — and his bowling unit repaid that faith in full.
Youngster Alfie Carson set the tone with a superb opening burst, his tight lines and subtle movement finding edges twice en route to an excellent 3-10 from six overs. Captain Bliss chipped in with a couple himself (2-28), leading from the front, before Atif Azhar’s crafty left-arm spin wrapped up the innings in style, bagging 3-7 as Swinton were bowled out for a modest 109.
The reply got off to a strong and steady start, with openers Blake Crawshaw and Atif Azhar laying the foundation with a composed 41-run stand. Crawshaw led the way with a fluent 36, striking cleanly. While Azhar added a valuable 21 before falling with the target in sight.
There were a few speed bumps along the way, but Kevin Ninan’s quickfire 22 and a composed 17 from Lucas Dickman steadied the ship and guided Stretford safely home.
The victory lifts Stretford 2nd XI to fourth in the table — just two points behind Swinton — as momentum begins to build in what’s shaping up to be a thrilling campaign.
Sunday
Westleigh (239-8) vs 1st XI (222)
Coloured kits, pink ball, small boundaries—everything was set for a high-octane second-round cup tie between Stretford 1st XI and Division 1 outfit Westleigh, and the match more than delivered on its promise. In a tense, seesawing contest, Stretford fell just 18 runs short of pulling off a memorable chase, bowing out of the cup with heads held high.
Batting first on a true surface, Westleigh made full use of the short boundaries and fast outfield to post a formidable 239-8 from their 45 overs. The star for the home side was D Sanjika, who anchored the innings with a superb century. Despite the run flow, Stretford’s bowlers stuck to their task, with wickets shared evenly—Benjy Evans, Freddie March, and Ramesh Perera each claiming two apiece.
Stretford’s reply, however, couldn’t have started on a worse note. Saturday’s unbeaten hero Ollie Barrett fell LBW to the very first ball of the innings, silencing the visitors’ dugout. But a composed 50-run stand between Ramesh Perera (32) and Tim Boyd calmed early nerves.
Then, as if channeling the closing act of the Cape Town Jazz Festival, Boyd took centre stage and lit up the Westleigh ground with a stunning 76 from 53 balls. Mixing power with precision, he cleared the ropes six times and crashed seven fours, turning the momentum firmly Stretford’s way. His departure—caught on the boundary—left the score at 121, and the game delicately poised.
Contributions from the middle order kept Stretford in the hunt. Benjy Evans added a pulsating 30 off just 15 balls in a vital 42-run stand with James Hepple (19*), before being stumped after straying from his crease with 39 still required and only two wickets in hand.
The tail dug deep. A 10-run partnership between Hepple and Niall Heyes edged Stretford closer, followed by a gritty 11-run stand between Hepple and Freddie March. The tension was palpable as the target narrowed—but heartbreak followed. A defensive prod from March rolled cruelly back onto his stumps, ending the chase at 222 all out.
A valiant effort, a brilliant contest, but ultimately a narrow defeat as Stretford exit the cup—having gone toe-to-toe with a strong Division 1 side in one of the season’s most enthralling encounters.
Heywood (64-2) vs 2nd XI (62)
It was a tough afternoon for Stretford 2nd XI as they came up against a strong Heywood side from the division above in their cup fixture, ultimately falling to a heavy defeat.
Batting first, Stretford never found their rhythm. The home side’s bowling attack offered little margin for error, and wickets fell at regular intervals. Extras top-scored for the visitors with 21 as they were bowled out for just 62.
Despite a flicker of early hope as Stretford snatched two quick wickets, Heywood soon took control. The hosts shifted gears and chased down the target inside 13 overs, sealing a dominant win.
A disappointing result, but Stretford 2nd XI won’t dwell on it long. With their league form on the rise and momentum building, attention now turns back to what’s shaping up to be a promising campaign.
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