With the red ball fixtures concluding last weekend, I’ve decided to do a deep dive into the league standings. I’ll give a breakdown of teams’ red-ball records, leading run scorers, wicket-takers, and their final pink-ball fixtures.
- Moddershall – Won 12, Lost 3, Drawn 2 – 297 points.
Moddershall had 7 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws in the red-ball segment, extending their lead over Checkley to 16 points with 5 fixtures remaining.
Muaaz Ahmed leads the way for them with 475 runs at 29.69. Sam Kelsall is up to 402 runs at 30.92, and Callum Hawkins has 389 runs at 27.79.
Danushka Sandaruwan is the league’s joint-leading wicket-taker with 49 at 8.55 with his canny left-arm spin. Sam Atkinson has 31 wickets at 15.39 and is having a fine season with the new ball.
It’s been a fine all-round team effort from Moddershall so far this season, with only Sandaruwan being the stand-out player. They’ve all done their bits at different times this season, and they’re now only 5 games away from winning the league. The return of Jake Garlick will give them a massive boost as they prepare for what’s to come. Joe Walley and Joe Hawkins will also have big roles to play in the outcome of their season.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Audley (A) 29/8 Newcastle & Hartshill (H) 5/9 Porthill (A) 12/9 Checkley (H) 19/9 Hem Heath (A).
Moddershall have a tough run-in; they play 3 of the top 4 sides and an in-form Porthill. If they’re going to win the league, they’ll surely have to do it the hard way, with their final two fixtures potentially being title deciders. They have a narrow 16-point lead, which could quickly disappear if results don’t go their way. Moddershall won 5 of their 6 pink-ball fixtures at the start of the summer, so they’ll feel confident going into the final stretch.
- Checkley – Won 9, Lost 5, Drawn 3 – 281 points.
Checkley had 5 wins, 3 losses and 3 draws in the red-ball segment as they lost a couple of games they really should have won. A draw against Audley at the weekend cost them ground on leaders Moddershall, and they have work to do if they want to secure the title now this season.
James Kettleborough is the league’s leading run scorer with 850 at 56.67. His fine form has continued throughout the summer, and he’ll play a massive part if they’re to win the title. James Abbotts sits 2nd on the run-scoring list with 646 at 49.69 and has offered fine support to his captain this summer.
EJ Laverty has claimed 38 wickets at 14.26 to sit 3rd in the list of highest wicket takers. He’s been excellent with the new ball and is a real threat. Nils Priestley’s left-arm spin has claimed 26 wickets at 14.96, and Richard Cooper has added 24 wickets at 14.5 as he continues to impress.
Checkley have relied heavily on their strong batting line-up to bat sides out of the game and give themselves plenty of time to bowl them out. They’ve scored quickly and put pressure on opposing sides with their long batting order.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Newcastle & Hartshill (A) 29/8 Porthill (H) 5/9 Hem Heath (H) 12/9 Moddershall (A) 19/9 Whitmore (H).
Checkley have a tough run-in too, but they do play 3 of their final 4 games at home, which is always an advantage in my opinion. The Hem Heath and Moddershall fixtures promise to be fantastic with the title potentially on the line. A final day fixture against struggling Whitmore could offer some much-needed relief after 4 tough games on the bounce. Checkley won 4 and lost 2 of their pink ball games at the start of the summer, and I believe the win/lose format is their stronger suit.
- Hem Heath – Won 11, Lost 4, Drawn 2 – 278 points.
Hem Heath had 7 wins, 3 losses and a draw in the red-ball segment as they held onto 3rd position in the standings. They’re only 19 points behind leaders Moddershall and can mount a serious challenge after seeing off Meakins last weekend, keeping themselves in the hunt for the title.
Liam Banks has scored 467 runs at 29.19 and is capable of reeling off big scores at will when he’s in the mood. His numbers are down on what they’ve been in previous seasons, but never write him off. Callum Leese has amassed 352 at 23.47, and Matt Hodson has added 309 runs at 20.6 to form a good opening partnership with Banks.
Banks has also claimed 35 wickets at 12.54 to sit 5th on the wicket-taking list. His bustling medium pace with the keeper standing up and his unerring accuracy is a real danger. Dan Richardson has 22 wickets at 12.91 and has plenty of skills with the older ball. Bilawal Bhatti (21) and Greg Prime (20) have also been useful throughout the summer.
It’s been a team performance from Hem Heath with Banks as their leader. A fine record of 7 wins in the red-ball format has kept them in with a chance of a third title. Bhatti, Callum Leese, Prime and Dan Richardson will have big roles to play if they are to push for glory.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Porthill (A) 29/8 Eccleshall (H) 5/9 Checkley (A) 12/9 Longton (A) 19/9 Moddershall (H).
Hem Heath have not got the worst run-in. There are the two massive fixtures against Checkley and Moddershall, but a home game against the inconsistent Eccleshall and a short trip to struggling Longton should yield positive results for them. Porthill are a side in form, and a trip to the Old County ground will be a tough examination of their title credentials. They won 4, lost 1 and had 1 abandonment in their pink-ball fixtures in the early part of the season, so they have a good record in the win/lose format.
- Audley – Won 10, Lost 6, Drawn 1 – 267 points.
Audley had 7 wins, 3 losses and a draw in the win/lose/draw segment, moving up from 8th position to 4th with some fine cricket. A defeat against Porthill and a losing draw against Checkley in their last 2 fixtures have left them 30 points behind the leaders, but they had a very impressive run with the red ball.
Ali Hamza Waseem leads the way with the bat for Audley. He’s amassed 538 runs at 35.87 to instigate their rise up the league. Ash Rogers has added 365 runs at 24.33. Jack Redman has made 329 runs in 13 innings at 29.91, offering good support to Waseem.
Ed Jones has claimed 29 wickets at 13.48 to lead the way with the new ball. Rob Hemmings has also played a good hand with 26 wickets at 12.31 with his accurate medium pace. Alex Coates and Waseem both have 25 wickets apiece too.
Audley are another team who’ve had no stand-out performers; they’ve worked together well as a side, and everybody contributes a performance when they need to. They have plenty of strong all-rounders in their ranks, allowing them to bat deep and giving them plenty of bowling options.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Moddershall (H) 29/8 Whitmore (A) 5/9 Leek (H) 12/9 Meakins (A) 19/9 Eccleshall (H).
A tough home fixture against Moddershall is followed by 4 winnable games for Audley. Defeat against Moddershall could end their title hopes next weekend, but they certainly have a chance to finish inside the top three if they continue their good form. They won 3 and lost 3 in the win/lose format earlier on in the summer in a bit of a mixed bag, but they’ve shown much more consistent form since then.
- Meakins – Won 9, Lost 7, Drawn 1 – 266 points.
Meakins had 6 wins, 4 losses and a draw during the middle part of the season as they stayed in 5th position. A defeat against Hem Heath last weekend left them 31 points behind the leaders, and they’ll probably have to win all of their remaining fixtures if they’re to mount a title-winning bid, which is not beyond them by any means.
Jalat Khan is 3rd on the run-scoring list with 639 at 39.94. He’s been solid with the bat all season and is extremely reliable. Captain Jack Hammond has added 391 runs at 35.55 in the middle order, offering good support. Sam Moores (381) and Pete Wilshaw (375) have played their parts too.
Khan has added 36 wickets at 13.36 with his wily left-arm spin, sitting 5th on the wicket-taking list. Karl High sits in 10th place with 32 wickets at 17.91, showing good skills with the new ball.
Khan has led the way for Meakins, and others have chipped in around him. Amaan Tariq looks a fine prospect with the new ball; he bowls quickly and finds movement off the wicket. Ash Shaw, Oliver Tucker and Callum Wilshaw are all capable of big performances if the situation arises.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Eccleshall (A) 29/8 Longton (H) 5/9 Stone (A) 12/9 Audley (H) Newcastle & Hartshill (A).
Meakins do have a good run-in, and they are well capable of winning all their remaining fixtures to give themselves a chance of glory. They’ll be disappointed they’re not at the thick end of the action as the season draws to close, but 4 or 5 wins may push them into the top 3 at the very least. Meakins won 3 and lost 3 of their win/lose fixtures at the beginning of the summer, and they’ll be hoping to improve on that record before the season ends.
- Eccleshall – Won 8, Lost 7, Drawn 1 – 246 points.
Eccleshall had 4 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws in the red-ball segment of the summer, falling from 4th to 6th position in the standings. They’ve been a very inconsistent side all summer. They’ve yoyoed up and down the table depending on what sort of run they’ve been on. They were top of the standings for a short while early on and have been as low as 8th during times this summer.
Eranga Dissanagge has amassed 326 runs at 20.38 to be their leading run-getter this summer. Ben Rogerson has added 295 runs in 12 innings at 24.58 at the top of the order. Professional Murvin Abinash has contributed with 275 in the middle order.
Dissanagge has also claimed 36 wickets at 15.28 to sit 4th on the list of leading wicket takers. Matthew Wright has been good with the new ball for them, bagging 35 wickets at 17.23 to sit 8th on the list. Abinash (21) and Muhammad Khan (20) are having useful summers too
Eccleshall have mainly relied on their strong bowling attack to push for victories. They’ve been good at home, but have struggled on the road, leading to inconsistent form which has kept them in mid-table. Chris Plant, Myles Coughlan and Greg Clark have been useful with the bat but not spectacular.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Meakins (H) 29/8 Hem Heath (A) 5/9 Longton (A) 12/9 Stone (H) 19/9 Audley (A).
Eccleshall do have winnable games in their run-in as they look to hold onto their mid-table place. They’ll be happy they’ve kept relegation at bay whilst putting in some strong performances, showing that they’re capable of competing at this level. They’ll want to finish as high up as they can to give themselves a boost going into next season. Eccleshall won 4 and lost 2 of their pink ball fixtures early on, and they’ll be confident of a similar return during the back end of the summer.
- Porthill – Won 8, Lost 8, Drawn 1 – 246 points.
Porthill had 6 wins, 4 losses and a draw during the win/lose/draw segment as they climbed from 9th position to 7th. Porthill have put in a remarkable run of form in recent weeks. They’ve had 6 victories and a winning draw in their last 8 games to be the form side in the league at the moment. A poor start to the season left them languishing near the bottom of the table, but they’ve roared back up to mid-table with some fine performances in recent weeks.
Matt Coxon has amassed 513 runs at 34.2 to sit 8th on the run-scoring list. Tom Steele has made 372 runs at 23.25. Oliver Shirley closely follows him with 367 runs at 28.23, as he’s been very useful for them in the middle order. Jon Hancock (311) and Louis Allison (305) have contributed well in recent weeks.
Coxon sits at the top of the wicket-taking charts too with 49 victims at 11.61 as his fine season goes on. Ben Holt sits in 7th position with 35 wickets at 19.66, forming a good opening partnership with Coxon. Craig Barker has added 27 more wickets at 18.93, offering great support.
Porthill’s recent upturn in form has coincided with their batters kicking into gear. They’ve put big scores on the board, and their bowlers have come to the party too. Early on, they struggled for runs and left their bowlers with too much to do. Shirley looks a very good prospect in the middle order, with the talented O’Shay Reddy amongst their ranks too; more victories could be forthcoming.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Hem Heath (H) 29/8 Checkley (A) 5/9 Moddershall (H) 12/9 Whitmore (A) 19/9 Leek (H).
Porthill begin their run-in with three extremely tough fixtures that could have a bearing on the title race. Two winnable games then follow as they look to secure a mid-table finish. They are in good form, and I don’t believe they’ll be intimidated by the big games in front of them. They’ll be looking for a strong finish, but the pink-ball format isn’t their strongest, and they won only 2 of their 6 games earlier in the summer. Something they’ll be hoping to change this time around.
- Newcastle & Hartshill – Won 8, Lost 8, Drawn 1 – 240 points.
Castle had 5 wins, 5 losses and a draw during the middle section of the season as they fell from 6th to 8th in the standings. Inconsistency has been a problem for them. They’ve won, then lost, then won again as they’ve searched for momentum as the season has gone on. They were as high as 3rd during this period, but have settled in the mid-table pack as the weeks have gone on.
Rohan Vallabhaneni leads the way with the bat; he’s scored 361 runs at 21.24. Kasun Ekayanaka closely follows him with 348 at 24.86. Ryan Hassett (315), Jon Gidman (288) and Joe Thorne (276) have also made good contributions this season.
Mo Rameez’s leg spin has claimed 33 wickets at 16.24 as he sits 9th on the wicket-taking list. Thorne has 27 wickets at 21 as he continues to impress with the new ball. Ekayanaka (24) and Harry Bailey (21) have also made telling contributions this summer.
Castle have needed more runs with the bat; they’ve been in early trouble too many times this summer, and it’s difficult to win games when you’re 3 down for not very many most weeks. Their batsmen have the ability; it’s just a case of them showing it. They’ve got plenty of bowling, but you don’t want to rely on bowling sides out for small scores.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Checkley (H) 29/8 Moddershall (A) 5/9 Whitmore (H) 12/9 Leek (A) 19/9 Meakins (H).
Two very tough fixtures begin their run-in before three winnable games follow as they look to secure a mid-table finish. They won 3 and lost 3 of their pink-ball fixtures earlier in the season, but they’ll want to finish on a strong note.
- Stone – Won 7, Lost 8, Drawn 2 – 234 points.
Stone had 4 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws during the red-ball format as they fell from 7th to 9th in the standings. It’s been a battle for the defending champions, and they’ve not been able to mount a charge to defend their crown this summer. Patchy form and injuries have played their part in this. They’ve not been able to put both sides of their game together at the same time. They’ll get a good score, then the bowling will let them down, or they’ll bowl well, and the batting will struggle.
Warrick Fynn sits 4th on the run-scoring list with 616 at 47.38. George Hawbrook has amassed 390 at 30 with his aggressive stroke play. Jack Harvey (348) and Sam Graham (345) have made useful contributions too.
Fynn has added 31 wickets at 18.23 with his left-arm spin. Harvey has 22 wickets at 17.09 to go with Reid Taylor’s 22 at 23.14.
Wickets with the new ball and a heavy reliance on spin have caused Stone issues this summer. With Hawbrook’s all-or-nothing strategy at the top of the order, it can sometimes lead to them losing wickets early in the piece. Graham has only played 11 matches too this season, and they’ve missed his runs at the top of the order. A serious knee injury to Jack Batchelor hasn’t helped proceedings either. James Green hasn’t taken the wickets his bowling has probably deserved, with the new ball also contributing.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Whitmore (H) 29/8 Leek (A) 5/9 Meakins (H) 12/9 Eccleshall (A) 19/9 Longton (H).
Stone have a very favourable run-in with all of their fixtures potentially winnable if they apply themselves. This should lead them to climb up the table from their current position. They are another side with 3 wins and 3 defeats from their pink-ball fixtures earlier in the summer.
- Leek – Won 7, Lost 8, Drawn 2 – 213 points.
Leek had 5 wins, 5 losses and a draw in the win/lose/draw format, remaining in 10th position. Leek have never really got going this season, and they’ve languished near the foot of the table all summer. They’ve been similar to Stone in some respects, where they just haven’t been able to put complete performances together.
Matt Morris has accrued 558 runs at 42.92 to sit 5th on the run-scoring list. Alex Mellor sits one place behind him with 545 runs at 49.55. Tom Moulton is 9th with 493 runs at 32.87.
Moulton leads the way with the ball, having claimed 27 wickets at 18.7. Morris has 24 wickets at 19.83 with his off-spin. Anis Raza also has 22 wickets at 20.59.
Leek have relied too much on their big players, and there’s been very little from anybody else. When their powerful top order has failed, they’ve often been blown away. The loss of Rory Haydon to Derbyshire has also left a huge hole in their bowling department. They’ve also played the majority of the season without a professional, but they’ve done enough to stave off relegation.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Longton (A) 29/8 Stone (H) 5/9 Audley (A) 12/9 Newcastle & Hartshill (H) 19/9 Porthill (A).
Leek have the chance to relegate long-time rivals Longton on Saturday, and they have a chance of winning more games before the season ends as they look to catch Stone and Newcastle & Hartshill. They won 2, lost 3 and had 1 game abandoned in the win/lose format earlier in the summer.
- Whitmore – Won 3, Lost 13, Drawn 1 – 154 points.
Whitmore had 2 wins, 8 losses and a draw in the traditional format, remaining in 11th position. It’s been a tough summer for Whitmore following their promotion last season. They have beaten Longton twice and secured a fine victory on the road at Hem Heath. Apart from those wins, though, it’s been tough going for them, and they sit 62 points from safety with only 5 games left.
Caleb Mierkalns is their leading run scorer with 261 at 20.08. He is closely followed by Ryan Roberts, who has 251 at 14.76. Muhammad Imran (237) and Danyal Hussain (224) have offered contributions throughout the season.
Bilal Hussain has bagged 29 wickets at 17.59 with his left-arm spin. Imran has claimed 24 wickets at 17.92, and Dilesh Gunarathne has 23 at 25.04.
Whitmore’s batting has been the ongoing issue for them all season. They’ve lost early wickets too many times and have simply been blown away. They’ve been competitive with the ball, but haven’t had enough runs to play with. They do have some talented youngsters in Fraser James, Aaqil Mohideen and Roberts, so it’s not all been doom and gloom for them this season. The experience of playing at the top level should have a positive impact on their games as they move forward.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Stone (A) 29/8 Audley (H) 5/9 Newcastle & Hartshill (A) 12/9 Porthill (H) 19/9 Checkley (A).
Their chance of survival is extremely slim at best, but they are hanging in there. Stone is a winnable game for them next weekend, but they are relying on teams above them, such as Leek, to drop points every week if they are to survive. They will have their pride to play for, on the other hand, and a chance to chalk up a couple more wins before they return to Premier B shouldn’t be turned down. They won 1 and lost 5 of their opening win/lose fixtures, and they’ll want to improve on that record.
- Longton – Won 1, Lost 16 – 109 points.
Longton lost all 11 of their red-ball games and remained rooted to the foot of the table as their dismal campaign continues.
Tom Hope is leading the way with the bat for them with 364 runs at 24.27. Dane Tinsley has added a further 277 runs at 16.29. Andrew Coxon’s 275 runs have come at an average of 16.18.
Matheesa Perera has claimed 26 wickets at 25.19. Nalin Priyadarshan also has 26 victims at 19.81.
It has been issues with the bat that have caused Longton problems all summer. They’ve often gotten off to reasonable starts, but they’ve been unable to convert them due to their middle order collapsing. Their solitary victory came at Porthill when they chased 98 for victory in a very low-scoring game. Teams have often run up large scores against them and just batted them out of the game, or they’ve been skittled for a low score which they were unable to defend.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Leek (H) 29/8 Meakins (A) 5/9 Eccleshall (H) 12/9 Hem Heath (H) 19/9 Stone (A).
Longton really do need a win to break the terrible run of form they’re on at the moment. A bit of luck or a decision going their way might trigger something within them. It’s been an extremely tough season for them, and I wouldn’t begrudge them an end-of-season win. They won 1 and lost 5 of their early-season win/lose fixtures.
It’s a three-way race to replace the two sides dropping out of Premier A this season. I will now have a look at the top of Premier B and see who is most likely to gain promotion.
- Bagnall Norton – Won 15, Lost 2 – 340 points.
Bagnall Norton are having a fine season and have only tasted defeat twice to their rivals Cheadle. They’ve swept all before them and hold a narrow 10-point lead over Cheadle, and are 23 points in front of 3rd-placed Elworth as they enter the final 5 games of the season.
Matthew Arnold has made 513 runs at the top order with an average of 36.64, and he sits 6th in the run-scoring charts. Hafiz Suleman has added 456 at 57 in the middle order, with Matthew Kenvyn scoring 430 runs at 35.83. Euan Hurst (302) and Justin Mould (295) have given good support throughout the summer.
Suleman has captured 38 wickets at 11.16, sitting 2nd in the wicket-taking charts. Scott Winnington has added a further 36 scalps at 12.75 as he sits in 5th position. Cain Gibson (28) and Morgan Murray Williams (27) have offered fine support during the season.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Wood Lane (H) 29/8 Stone 2nd XI (A) 5/9 Barlaston (H) 12/9 Elworth (A) 19/9 Rode Park & Lawton (H).
The Elworth game will be a crucial fixture for Bagnall Norton if they wish to be champions. I can see them sweeping aside the other 4 sides, and they may already be promoted by the time they visit Elworth. They will be wary of defeat, though having been humbled by Cheadle on two occasions so far this summer. Unless poor weather returns, I can see Bagnall Norton begin promoted as Champions.
- Cheadle – Won 14, Lost 3 – 330 points.
Cheadle kept the title race alive with a fine victory over Bagnall Norton 3 weeks ago. It cut the gap at the top now to just 10 points, but it did bring Elworth back into contention. Cheadle have won 8 consecutive matches in the league since Elworth defeated them on the 20th June, keeping the pressure up on Bagnall Norton.
Ali Khan has amassed 485 runs at 40.42 to lead the way for them with the bat. Matt Goodwin has added 430 runs at 39.09 to offer Khan fine support. Austen Crump (397), Sam Cliffe (338) and Ryan Elwell (322) have played good knocks throughout the summer.
Will Dobbie is the leading wicket-taker in the division with 40 at 9.65, and he has been superb with his off-spin. James Sellers sits in 3rd place with 37 wickets at 13.43, leading the attack in fine style. Goodwin has also lent a hand with 29 at 12.62.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Stone 2nd XI (H) 29/8 Barlaston (A) 5/9 Elworth (H) 12/9 Rode Park & Lawton (A) 19/9 Knypersley (H).
Like Bagnall Norton, the Elworth fixture will be critical. With the form they’re in, I can only see victories in the other fixtures. They have the advantage of playing Elworth at home, which will be a big boost. They’re still in with a shot of being champions, but they’ll need some help from Elworth when they host Bagnall Norton.
- Elworth – Won 14, Lost 3 – 317 points.
Elworth are playing catch-up, and although they keep winning, so do the other sides. They sit 13 points behind Cheadle, who are in 2nd place and 23 points behind leaders Bagnall Norton. It’s going to take a big effort from them to overhaul the top two and secure a return to Premier A.
Alex Banks leads the way with the bat for them. He’s scored 453 runs at 30.2 opening the batting. Edward Parish has added 373 runs at 28.69, offering good support. Russ Ballard (342) and Joe Stephenson (312) have been in good form too.
Banks is 4th on the wicket-taking list with 36 victims at 16.28. Jarrod McKay has led the attack well with 34 wickets at 15.53 to sit in 6th position on the list. Harry Newton has claimed 29 wickets at 16.34, offering good support.
Final five fixtures: 22/8 Hem Heath 2nd XI (A) 29/8 Alsager (H) 5/9 Cheadle (A) 12/9 Bagnall Norton (H) 19/9 Norton-In-Hales (A).
Elworth will have a big say in who gets promoted and who wins the league in the next 5 weeks. They face both Bagnall Norton and Cheadle in crucial fixtures over back-to-back weekends. They lost against Bagnall Norton when the teams met earlier in the season, but they beat Cheadle by 7 wickets in June. A damaging 30-run defeat by Wood Lane on the 11th July could come back to haunt them if they don’t seal promotion.
It’s going to be a hell of a scrap at the top of Premier B over the next 5 weeks, and I’m hoping for a grandstand finish. I predict Bagnall Norton will be champions and Cheadle will be promoted as runners-up, but there’s plenty of cricket to play yet. As for the Premier A, it really is anybody’s. Moddershall have the advantage at the moment, but that could all change in the blink of an eye. Hem Heath have a good run in and will fancy their chances, and Checkley won’t be shrugged off easily. They’ve all got to play each other before the season concludes and I hope to cover as many of these games as I can.
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