1. May 2026

1st XI dig deep on a sticky wicket to stay perfect

OPCC Mens 1st XI vs Cheadle Hulme CC | 25th April 2026

Oulton Park made it two wins from two, but this was no stroll in the sun. On a tacky, unpredictable surface at Grove Lane, it was a proper grind — the kind of game where you earn every single run and celebrate every wicket like gold dust.

Skipper Andy Dufty lost the toss, and Cheadle Hulme’s captain Adam Wilde didn’t hesitate — Oulton Park were sent in on a pitch that had “early trouble” written all over it.

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Early blows and a captain’s response

And trouble came quickly.

Scott Howarth (5-for) was right on the money from the off, ripping through the top order with two wickets in the third over. At 69 for 4, Oulton Park were wobbling, the ball nibbling around and the outfield offering little reward.

But if you want someone in a scrap, you look to your skipper.

Dufty (46) dug in, played late, absorbed pressure — proper old-school batting. Alongside Jonny Litler (16), he steadied things with a crucial 55-run stand that dragged Oulton Park back into the contest.

When Dufty finally fell, bowled by Tom Balderson, the platform had been set… just about.

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Middle order muscle and a flurry of extras

With the innings in the balance, Avinash Shastri (30) and Owen Williamson (36) took charge. Their 66-run partnership for the seventh wicket was the difference between a below-par score and something competitive.

And let’s not forget the extras — 47 of them. Painful for the hosts, priceless for Oulton Park.

Howarth returned late to mop things up, finishing with a five-wicket haul as Oulton Park were bowled out for 207 in the 48th over.

Game on.

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Disciplined bowling turns the screw

If 207 was going to be enough, it needed a sharp start — and that’s exactly what Oulton Park delivered.

Jamie Sandlands (3 wickets) and Litler kept things tight early doors, with Sandlands striking first to remove Jordan Potts. The pressure built, dot balls stacked up, and the hosts never really got away.

Then came a moment to remember.

Kevin Douglas — first-team debut, nerves jangling — steps in… and strikes with just his sixth ball. Dream start.

From there, Oulton Park tightened the grip.

Douglas (4 wickets) was outstanding, hitting the right areas again and again, while Dufty and Shastri chipped in to keep the squeeze on. Cheadle Hulme stumbled to 110 for 6, and although Hayden Forner (79) battled hard, he was fighting a losing cause.

When he finally fell, caught on the boundary, it felt like the final blow.

Sandlands returned to wrap things up, and the hosts were all out for 160.

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Grit, graft… and a few bruises

This wasn’t pretty cricket — it was tough, attritional, and full of character.

There were knocks taken, bodies tested (a few injury scares along the way), and a pitch that never made life easy. But Oulton Park stuck to their task, backed each other, and showed exactly what good sides do in tricky conditions.

Two games. Two wins.

Perfect start.

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Eyes on next week

No room for complacency, though. The league’s already throwing up surprises, and standards need to stay sky high.

Next up, North-East Cheshire Cricket Club visit Pinfold Lane.

The message is simple:

Keep the foot down. Make it three from three.