Weather rains on Hyde CC's parade as Nantwich snatch title on dramatic last day

A devastating spell of bowling from Andrew Jackson propelled Hyde towards the Cheshire County Cricket League title before rain intervened at Grappenhall.

The right-arm medium pacer took the wicket of James Knowles with his second ball of the innings and Tom MacRury with his third. Although Joe Ashmore fended off the hat-trick ball, he didn’t get off the mark by the time Jackson struck again five balls later. 

Yuvan Sunderamoorthy and William Fell kept him at bay for a while, but they both tumbled to give Jackson a fifer from the top order. 

Ben Bodha and Tom Bramhall both reached 7 runs apiece before the heavens opened to take the home side to 44-5 from 13.4 overs. 

Regardless of the weather, Nantwich knew they needed to beat 3rd placed Didsbury to have any chance of overhauling Danny Cranmer’s side. 

After a long rain delay, Didsbury won the toss and chose to bat, but captain Nick Anderson fell after just five balls to a Ben Wright catch from Jimmy Warrington’s bowling. 

With news coming through of the other game 20 miles north being abandoned – Grappenhall's 8 points leaving them two short of survival, with Hyde’s 9 points putting them 19 points clear – Nantwich accelerated, forcing Didsbury to capitulate from 64-3 to 65-8. 

Will Street and Devonian lefty Jonty Walliker added some brief resistance, but the former became Warrington’s fifth victim for just 16 runs, and moments later Didsbury were all out for 93. 

Nantwich made short work of reaching their target. Openers Ali Chughtai and captain Ray Doyle eased into the 20s, before Luke Robinson settled in to smash the championship winning boundary – pipping Hyde to the title by one point. 

“Commiserations to Cranners and all the lads as the 1XI lost out on the league title due to rain,” read a tweet from Hyde CC. “Only one game made it through today and it was Nantwich who won to secure the title by a single point. 

“A brilliant league season and you should be very proud of your efforts.” 

Hyde still have the chance to win some silverware when they look to retain the Cheshire Cup in next Sunday’s final.