Week 20: Sat 30th & Sun 31st August
Match Reports
Ashton: 139 (N Heyes 3-11, S Haider 3-24, B Evans 3-40)
1st XI: Did Not Bat
A gloomy Saturday greeted Stretford 1st XI as they travelled to Ashton, determined to cement their spot in the top three. Despite the unpromising forecast, spirits were high and the side was eager to push their promotion bid forward.
Ashton, having won the toss, elected to bat. Their big hitters made a brisk start, but once Stretford’s bowlers broke through, the innings quickly unravelled. The home side were dismissed for 139 in 37 overs, thanks to another disciplined performance with the ball. Benjy Evans battled early against the aggressive top order, claiming 3-40, before the spin duo of Niall Heyes (3-11) and Syed Haider (3-24) took control and swept through the middle and lower order.
At that stage, Stretford looked well placed to chase down a modest target and secure a valuable win – but the weather had other ideas. The forecasted rain duly arrived and never truly relented. Short interruptions gave hope, but there was never enough of a break to resume play.
Frustration peaked as the umpires set a 17:30 cut-off time. When the rain finally stopped at 17:25, the expectation was that a restart might still be possible. However, to Stretford’s dismay, the officials decided there was insufficient time to resume – a decision that contrasted with other matches across the league where play did recommence.
The abandonment left Stretford with just a share of the points, their promotion cushion now slimmer after results elsewhere went against them. With two fixtures left, every ball will count in their push to secure a return to Division 1.
Next up: a crucial trip to Wythenshawe as we reach September.
2nd XI: 115-0 (A Raza Butt 52*, L Dickman 44*)
Swinton Moorside: 136 (C Bliss 4-29)
Stretford 2nd XI took a huge step towards promotion with a commanding 10-wicket victory over Swinton Moorside, a result that all but guarantees Division 5 cricket next season.
Swinton were bundled out for 136 thanks to a disciplined and clinical bowling display. Connor Bliss was the pick of the attack with 4-29, backed up by Pares Malindi (2-27) and Hilal Sadat (2-32), as wickets fell at regular intervals and momentum was firmly with Stretford.
A lengthy rain delay between innings meant the chase was revised under DLS to 115 in 33 overs. Any nerves about the adjusted target were quickly eased by an exceptional display of batting from the opening pair. Ali Raza Butt and Lucas Dickman showed both control and aggression as they dismantled the Swinton attack, putting on an unbeaten 115-run stand. Butt led the way with a fluent 52 not out, while Dickman played superbly in support, finishing on 44* and striking the winning runs in the 22nd over.
The emphatic win leaves Stretford needing just one more victory from their final two fixtures to seal promotion – a fitting reward for a consistent and determined season.
SUNDAY
3rd XI: 182-5 (H Sadat 84*, L Dickman 39)
South West Manchester: 183-4 (A Carson 3-22)
Stretford 3rd XI fell to defeat against South West Manchester despite a superb innings from Hilal Sadat that lit up a rain-affected game.
Rain interruptions shortened Stretford’s innings to just 31 overs, but they made the most of the reduced time. Another top order contribution by Lucas Dickman, who hit a composed 39, set up the Stretford total. Sadat though was in destructive form, blasting 84 not out from only 52 balls, clearing the ropes six times and striking seven along the ground in a powerful display closing the innings on 182-5.
Chasing 183, South West Manchester paced their reply well. Despite a fine spell from Alfie Carson, who returned excellent figures of 3-22, the visitors kept wickets in hand and reached their target with 3 overs remaining, finishing on 183-4.
A frustrating result for the 3rd XI, who showed fight with both bat and ball but were undone by a well-measured chase.
Bolton Indians: 161 (E Goga 3-32, C Bliss 2-20, N Malik 2-37)
4th XI: 198-3 (C Bliss 51, A Rohra 51, E Goga 39, U Siddique 24*)
Stretford 4th XI produced a fine all-round performance to claim a 37-run victory over Bolton Indians.
Batting first, Stretford posted an impressive 198-3. The innings was built around two half-centuries, with Connor Bliss and Arohan Rohra both reaching 51 in composed yet fluent knocks. Bliss was well supported at the top by Eesa Goga, who added a valuable 39, and Uwais Siddique, who finished unbeaten on 24* to see Stretford to a commanding total.
In reply, Bolton Indians battled hard but were ultimately bowled out for 161. The wickets were shared across the attack, with Eesa Goga capping a strong all-round display by taking 3-32. Bliss followed his batting heroics with 2-20, while Nabeel Malik chipped in with 2-37 as Stretford kept control throughout the innings. The victory by 37 runs was a deserved reward for a disciplined batting and bowling effort, with several standout individual performances ensuring the 4th XI ended the day on to
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