The Men’s 1st XI hit the half way mark of the season with a fixture at home against Over Peover where the visitors won the toss and elected to bowl first in a game that was reduced to 39 overs a side after early rain. After losing James Hodkinson and Ciaran McDonnell early, Nick Verma and Ethan Yeo put together a nice rebuilding partnership worth 59 runs before Verma was out LBW for 26 with the score now 74/3. Ric Lyons soon followed, but Yeo and Zach Howdle put on 46 together to take the score into three figures. Yeo (39) was another LBW victim to make it 133/5. Howdle and Nathan Gee upped the scoring rate, with Gee (14) hitting two sixes before being caught. Howdle continued his quick scoring, finishing with 58 from 43 balls before he was dismissed, while Matt Holland’s unbeaten 13 carried the score to 188/9 at the end of the innings.

Despite Matt Worsdale’s (1/48) breakthrough, Over Peover got off to a blistering start, taking the score to 80/1 after 11 overs. James Hodkinson’s introduction to the attack brought the crucial breakthrough and he went on to take three further wickets in an excellent spell of 4/17 from 8 overs, taking the score to 106/5 after 20 overs. A sixth wicket partnership began to turn the game in the visitors’ favour, but Ciaran McDonnell’s introduction to the attack saw a breakthrough with his first ball. Ethan Yeo (2/26) followed this up with two quick wickets to turn the game in Oakmere’s favour with the score now 132/8. With the run rate rising, Nick Verma managed to get a run out before McDonnell (2/6) wrapped things up with the score on 147 to give Oakmere the victory.

Upton 3rd XI (94 ao) vs Oakmere Men’s 2nd XI (152 ao) – Oakmere won by 58 runs

It was 2nd vs 3rd on the Wirral on Saturday as the Men’s 2nd XI travelled to take on Upton. As with the Men’s 1st XI game, early heavy rain delayed the start and reduced the game to a 40 over a side contest. With a damp outfield but a good looking track, Oakmere won the toss and elected to bat first. Early wickets saw Oakmere struggling at 47/4, but opener Dave Purcell remained and was joined by Dan Faulkner with the part battling back well. They took the score past the 100 mark and put on 69 together before Purcell fell for 67 trying to advance the scoring rate with overs running out. Two further quick wickets fell before Tom Court (13) provided good support for Faulkner who remained before being bowled for 40. Oakmere were all out in the final over for 152.

Benedict Verma got off to a great start with the ball, blowing away the Upton top order with 3 LBWs to make it 21/3 in the early stages. Tom Court (1/14) got in the act from the other end courtesy of a good low catch by Paul Guilford at first slip. Verma struck again soon after to make it 37/5 and finish his spell with excellent figures of 4/19 from 7 overs. Ethan Mackin took up the mantle, drawing a false shot to make it 43/6 before a solid seventh wicket partnership gave Upton home. Mackin laboured away and removed both set batters to make it 88/8 before Sean McDonnell wrapped things up with 2/15 as Upton were all out for 94.

Kingsley 1st XI (90/8) vs Oakmere Women’s 2nd XI (103/5) – Oakmere won by 13 runs

On Sunday, the Women’s 2nd XI travelled to Kingsley looking for revenge after losing to the same opposition six days prior. Oakmere won the toss and elected to bat first with Charlotte King’s unbeaten 30 getting the visitors off to a great start. Emily Faulkner also added 17 and Rachel Warrenger’s unbeaten 12 at the end of the innings gave Oakmere momentum as they posted 103/5 from their 20 overs.

Oakmere’s bowling performance saw them take wickets at crucial times. Jane Tarpey (2/9 from 4 overs) and Carys Salomon (2/8 from 3 overs) both were miserly whilst Charlotte King (1/14) and Emily Faulkner (1/19) picked up where they left off with the bat. The bowlers were backed up by the fielders, highlighted by run outs for Karen Vine and Fearne Davison as Kingsley fell 13 runs of their target.

Oakmere Men’s 3rd XI (146 ao) vs Tattenhall 3rd XI (147/4) – Tattenhall won by 5 wickets

The Men’s 3rd XI started their second half of the season hosting Tattenhall, with Oakmere winning the toss and electing to bat. At 43/4, with Harry Peters (10) the only of the top five batters to reach double figures, Oakmere were struggling. James Norton came to the crease and rebuilt well as wickets continued to fall around him. At 92/7, Mathew Giles joined him at the crease and the pair pushed the scoreboard on. With overs running out Norton and Giles tried to up the scoring rate and both perished for 54 and 21 respectively. Ian Bett’s unbeaten 12 pushed the score on further as Oakmere were all out for 146.

Mathew Giles took his form with the bat into his bowling to pick up an early wicket with the score on 7. The opening pair of Giles and Brandon Jones continued to apply pressure without reward, but Jasper Eaton’s (1/39) introduction to the attack saw the next breakthrough. The Tattenhall third wicket pair batted nicely, breaking the back of the chase and taking the score into the 120s. The return of Jones (1/45) and Giles (2/24) to the attack saw two quick wickets fall to make it 126/4 and give Oakmere hope, but Tattenhall’s fifth wicket pair saw the visitors to their target without further alarm.