Hyde pick up first win of season

Hyde picked up their first victory of the season at Toft on Saturday, thanks in no small part to a devastating bowling spell from Jason Whittaker.

ECB Cheshire Premier Division: Toft 112ao Hyde 116-6

Jason Whittaker produced a devastating spell of bowling as Hyde claimed their first win of the season at Toft on Saturday. 

Veteran Whittaker took 7-35 from 17 wonderful overs to give the Werneth Low side maximum points following back-to-back defeats in their opening games.

After winning the toss, Hyde skipper Tom Partridge chose to field first in the hope that his bowlers could exert some pressure on the home side. 

The early exchanges justified that decision as Whittaker struck twice in just his third over to leave the hosts seven for two, with James Drummond and Scott Craig the men out. On a pitch that was offering the seamers real help Whittaker struck again in his next over and Toft were floundering on 7-3. 

Ben Staniforth and James Scott began to rebuild the inning before Staniforth (5) became Whittaker's fourth victim of the afternoon.

Scott and Andrew Jackson advanced the total to 79-4 before the former was bowled by Whittaker for 42.

From that moment on Hyde's bowlers took full control and when James Hodgson was run out by Partridge, without scoring, the home side had amassed just 112. 

Under normal circumstances that would have been seen as a simple enough target to chase down, but the Hyde batting has struggled in the opening two matches, so a good start was needed to calm any nerves. 

Despite losing Partridge for nine, with just 13 on the board, Hyde looked well placed as they moved the score on to 32 but the loss of James Duffy (6) started an all to regular collapse. 

Thirty-two for one became 56-5 and Hyde were relying on a lower middle order to see them home. 

Cole Turner was the man who stood up and took the attack to Toft hitting a vital 40 as Hyde closed on their victory target. When he was the sixth man out Hyde only required a further 11 runs, which they did without any further alarms. 

Next Saturday the Werneth Low men entertain Timperley, who currently sit second bottom following three consecutive defeats.