Henrik has returned and written about the 1s travails over the weekend. All I would add is that the 1s seem to be in a tough spot at the moment and the fact they are still top of the Prem is no mean feat. Three of the last four weeks they have been involved (through no fault of their own) in extremely long matches, had two lengthy away trips to undertake, and had two sides ‘stitch’ having chosen to bat second, which I think ought to be more effectively recognised in the points awarded. On Saturday they can’t have been back in Manchester much before 10pm and with a buoyant Nantwich side to take on, I was disappointed but not overly surprised that they never got going on Sunday.

The 1s have a big T20 game tonight at Cheadle, with the winner qualifying for the K/O stages, and I know the guys would love to progress. They should have more than enough but Kingsway will be a very different challenge to Urmston – it’s not a big scoring ground and the scores there this year indicate that batting requires a lot of patience, and energy to make the most of the big square boundaries. Cheadle are top of Div 1, full of confidence and have tasted success in this competition in the recent past. Should be a fascinating contest.

The 1s also have Heaton Mersey in the final T20 game on Weds at Dids but that game will be academic to the outcome of the group.

A footballing analogy - is it worse for your team to lose 4-0 and never get going, or to play brilliantly, compete really well with a strong side, have them on the ropes for a spell, and then lose 1-0 to an injury-time goal? It’s the same ultimate outcome whatever. And just as the mens 1s lost heavily on Sunday, the womens 1s also lost but by the narrowest margin, Leigh beating them by 1 run. A Dids side welcoming Hannah Jones and led by Emily Wilkins, but without Rosh and Hannah Marshall, restricted Leigh to 135-9, three wkts apiece for Hannah J and Jodie Filer.

It clearly wasn’t a batting paradise and Dids knew they would have to work for the runs. The only score in the 20s was the extras but seven batters got into double figures, the winning line coming into view but wkts going down regularly. Over 37 saw Dids lose two in three balls to be 119-9 and seemingly finished. But Jessye Sadler and Louise Hevican kept their heads, ran hard and needed six off the last. Four scrambled singles bought the 1s within touching distance but off ball 5 Louise was run out, the 1s devastated to have got so close.
The women are fourth in Div 1 but only 17 pts off top spot, so there is still plenty to play for and positives to be taken from a great effort.

And there was good news for the womens 2s who stayed top of Div 2 after thumping Upton by 7 wkts, keeper Lucy Mansfield making 45 as the side knocked off the 81 needed. Marianne Lea had earlier taken 6-1-8-3 in the standout bowling performance. The 2s play Blyth on Thurs evening in their T20 Plate match.

Back to Saturday and great news for both the 2s and 2As, who won their games with some great cricket played. The 2As became the latest side to enjoy themselves against the Division’s whipping boys Grappenhall, who are stuck in a simply ghastly rut of form and results. Their three senior mens sides have won two games between them all season (their 3s a league game and their 2s a T20) so when Rehmani’s bandwagon rolled into Broad Lane they had good reason to be confident.

This was backed up by some excellent batting too, building on the T20 win on Tuesday. Archie Elder, a T20 centurion, carried on his great form with 75*, Tom B made 55, Shabih 45 and Sunil had a marvellous time, 46* off 39 as the board showed 257-3. As they have been doing most of the season, Grappers came quietly, three wkts apiece for the Eminence Grise and for Haris.

The 2s won again, this time over second place Toft, meaning the 2s ended the day 28 pts clear at the top of the Prem. Ryan takes up the tale of the game:

"Won the toss and batted on a used wicket that we anticipated would only get harder to bat on! However the heavens opened up and we scrambled to get the covers/sheets on. After some heavy groundwork to dry things out we eventually got on for 40 overs a side game. The moisture in the wicket provided assistance for Toft’s impressive opening pair and at 13-3 we were in deep trouble again, however the Didsbury engine room kicked into gear and useful contributions from Hastings, Bidwell and Seb pushed us towards a competitive score and after some timely lower order hitting from Walliker the last pair put on a key 24 runs which seemed to deflate Tofts spirits. At the interval they felt it was at least 30 more than we should have got.

Walliker and Byrne started off well but Stubbs, after being dropped, looked likely to be the match winner. However a poor shot to gift Raza his wicket put Dids in the hunt and the control Catty and Mian gave us in the middle overs proved pivotal. Clorley batted well for his 65 but used a lot of balls up and Toft soon required 8/9 an over to get home. Walliker and Byrne bowled brilliant second spells executing their plans with yorkers and slower balls to leave Toft short 8 down."

"A good game of cricket which ebbed and flowed but Toft will rue their dropped catches and Didsbury, when in the pressure situations, were able to manage them better."

The 2s are at Heaton Mersey tonight in their first T20 action of the season – it’s a straight knockout format.

On Sunday the 3s were gifted 12 pts after Nantwich became the second side to concede to them this season. With leaders Brooklands and perennial rivals Sale losing, and Toft winning, it’s a congested and competitive table, and the Dids/Sale clash next Sun will be as big a game as ever.

Jack was delighted with his 4s winning by 54 runs at Ashton OM, Nikash and Krishav making 50s and Kush clattering 48* off 38. “Yes, the young lads led the way and put in match winning performances in senior cricket. That’s what it’s all about for me. It’s so great to watch! A special shout out to Isaac Hindmarsh – combined figures for the last two matches 20-10-35-7.”

The 5s lost out in a great game to one of the sides above them Runcorn, who held off a great effort from the 5s to win by 8 runs, the 5s finishing on 198-5 but there were heartening wins for both the Wanderers (by 6 wkts over Sale 4s) and the Knights, who looked done for when Stockport were 150-4 needing 179 but a fantastic effort by Andrew Harty’s side saw them win by three runs, Stockport collapsing to end up 175 all out. Connor James (4-24) and Mohammed Sohail (3-27) did the damage after the Doc & Niks Sonawane both made 50s and put on 114 for the first!

Finally a word about the over 40s who had a game to forget at Davenham and went down by 8 wkts but are still second in Div 2. They face Hale Barns on Weds.