Whalley celebrate first Premier win

27/ 6/2008

Manchester Association Premier division Whalley Range 142-5, Stretford 141-5

WHALLEY Range were deservedly celebrating after recording their first win since returning to the top flight against a strong Stretford team.

Chris Turner 53 and Jonathan Edwards 27 were the main run-makers for Stretford in their 37 overs and for Range the pick of their attack were Niraj Vassani 2-48 in 19 overs and Neil Cusick 2-55.

Range began badly, losing their first two wickets for nine runs, but recovered well with a fine stand between Paul Griffiths 41 and Faizan Ahmed 42 to take them to 123-5 in very dark conditions, with both teams playing through steady rain to get a result.

Range then found their heroes in Paul Davies and Luke Morley, who saw them home, with Morley striking two majestic boundaries off the penultimate over to see them home in style without further loss. More disappointment for Stretford came with the news that their application to join the Lancashire County League had been rejected.

They had applied, along with Wythenshawe, but at an EGM of the LCL it was decided to keep the status quo as the applications failed to win 75 per cent of votes from the 14 member clubs.

LCL chairman Bob Hinchliffe said: "Both clubs were considered to be excellent applications but it was not to be."

The news was welcomed by the Manchester Association whose president Frances Harris said: "We feel that this is wonderful news and hope to make this a platform to make people realise that we are going places."

Cheshire ECB

Division One

Didsbury 171-9, Timperley 60-6

Didsbury batted with great purpose to set a stiff target of 171-9 in the reduced overs available.

Stuart Stoneman 32 and Marcus Fisher 53 laid the foundation, carried on by some brisk cameo innings down the order.

New boy Peter Manser made an immediate impact taking 4-30 and Stoneman added 2-20 before the rain had the last word.