Stocksbridge cruise to victory against Uni Staff

Sheffield University Staff 1st XI 88 all out (Joe Hibbert 5-36, Jake Vickers 2-9, Les Harris 2-10) Stocksbridge 1st XI 91-1 (Jack Newton 60*, Ant Siddall 21*)

IN Stocksbridge Cricket Club’s first XI’s penultimate game of the season, Stocksbridge travelled to Sheffield University Staff. After a rain delayed start at a wet and windy Warminster Road, Captain Andy Hibbert won the toss and elected bowl first.

Joe Hibbert 5-36

In truth the Uni Staff innings never got going. The fatherson opening partnership of Andy and Joe Hibbert both picked up a wicket each to put Stocksbridge in the ascendancy. Once both Uni Staff openers fell with the score on 27, the runs seemed of dry up. Jake Vickers replaced Joe Hibbert and Vickers and Andy Hibbert applied real pressure and runs seemed hard to come by. Les Harris then replaced Hibbert and there was no let up for the batsmen.

Vickers and Harris both picked up two wickets each and the pair went for just 20 runs in 20 overs. This now left the Uni Staff innings meandering to a very slow conclusion. Joe Hibbert returned to the attack to great effect as he took the final four wickets of the innings to take his third five-wicket haul for the season. Uni Staff were bowled out for a well below par 88 runs from 44.4 overs.

This now meant that Stocksbridge would require just 89 runs from 46 overs to complete a 25 point victory. As usual, Matt Price and Jack Newton opened the batting for Stocksbridge. The pair put on an opening stand of 43 to set Stocksbridge well on there way to victory before Price fell for seven.

Newton was destructive as ever, and looked in no mood to surpass the total in any period of time. Newton struck 10 fours and a six on his way to an excellent unbeaten 60 from 46 balls. Newton was well supported from number three Ant Siddall who struck a classy 21 not out as Stocksbridge cruised to a 9 wicket victory with just under 30 overs remaining.

Stocksbridge 2nd XI 79 all out (Bob Newton 32, Matt Hague 23) Sheffield University Staff 81-2 (Rowan Brearley 2-14)

Next week sees the conclusion of both senior sides’ league campaigns. The first XI are at home to Hathersage first XI and the second XI make the trip to Derbyshire for the reverse fixture against Hathersage second XI.