Match Report:
Church Eaton CC 2nds vs Congleton CC 3rds

A Solid Start, a Mid-Innings Grind, and a Late-Over Surge
Buoyed by the confidence of the previous week’s victory over Kidsgrove 3rd XI, Church Eaton 2nds entered this fixture against newly-introduced league side Congleton 3rds with optimism—but little knowledge of their opponents. Would this be another closely contested match, or a comfortable day in the sun?
The pitch was in excellent condition, thanks to the efforts of the club’s star groundman, and under a blazing sky with barely a breath of wind, conditions looked ideal for batting. Winning the toss, the Church Eaton skipper had no hesitation in electing to bat first. On a quick outfield, the usual Division 8 benchmark of 130–140 was in mind. With the temperature rising, the aim was also to keep Congleton in the field for as long as possible.

Openers Lay Foundations
Opening the batting were young Aran ‘Elvis’ Peasley and the ever-youthful Lawrence ‘Lozenges’ Sidwell. The pair were tasked with setting a steady foundation, and Sidwell wasted no time asserting himself with a series of positive strokes. One of the highlights of his short stay was a perfectly timed flick to the boundary through deep backward square leg. However, his stay was brief—after a promising 9 runs from 10 balls (strike rate 90.00), he was undone by a sharp delivery from Tony Brown that swung late, taking the edge through to the keeper. Church Eaton were 25/1 after 4.1 overs.

Peasley Anchors With Composed Knock
At the other end, Peasley showed calm maturity well beyond his years. Unflustered by the early wicket, he rotated the strike effectively, punished loose deliveries with fluent strokes, and remained a constant throughout the innings. His innings of 69 from 91 balls, including 12 boundaries at a strike rate of 75.82, was a masterclass in composure and placement. His judgment outside off stump was precise, and his strokeplay—especially through cover and midwicket—was elegant and controlled.
Peasley’s role became more vital as wickets continued to fall. Stephen ‘Dennis’ Taylor, coming in at No. 3, battled through a tough spell of around-the-wicket bowling before being bowled for 6 from 16 balls. That left Church Eaton at 35/2 in the ninth over.

Middle-Order Stutters, But Key Stand Builds Momentum
Despite the setbacks, the run rate remained respectable. Peasley found a reliable partner in Richard ‘Dickie’ Smith, whose granite patience helped steady the innings. The pair added 44 runs over 15 overs, accumulating with care before Smith was adjudged LBW for 7, leaving the scoreboard at 79/3 in the 24th over.
Next in was George ‘Gorgeous’ Tilley, who brought a more aggressive—but still controlled—style. He looked in good touch, striking 31 from 32 balls (SR 96.88) with three boundaries. His ability to punish anything short or wide added fresh energy to the innings, and his 29-run stand with Peasley provided much-needed momentum.
Peasley’s excellent innings came to an end from the final ball of the 28th over, caught attempting to loft another boundary. He left the field to warm applause, having been the spine of the innings.
Ollie ‘Ollie Ollie’ Rowlands, whose quick-scoring cameo last week had impressed, couldn’t replicate that form this time and was caught for 2 off 6 balls.

A Lively Finish: Tilley and Hendrix Take Charge
With ten overs remaining, it was time to accelerate. James ‘Hendrix’ Peasley joined Tilley, and together they provided a much-needed injection of pace. Over 45 deliveries, the duo added 44 runs, mixing power hitting with smart running. Tilley eventually fell for a well-made 31 (32 balls) via a stumping in the 38th over with the total at 157/6.

Cooper’s Cameo Closes With a Flourish
Enter Rab Cooper, bringing firepower to the closing overs. With limited time and wickets in hand, subtlety was set aside in favour of aggression. Cooper smashed 15 not out off just 8 balls, including three well-struck boundaries, helping to push the total towards a more commanding figure and securing a crucial final batting point.
James Peasley was dismissed for 19 from 30 balls in the penultimate over, paving the way for Fred ‘The Superior’ Melbourne to close the innings with a cheeky unbeaten 3 from 3 balls.
Church Eaton finished on 177/7 after 40 overs. Extras contributed a helpful 16 runs (2 byes, 3 leg byes, and 11 wides).

A Marked Shift in Mindset
Perhaps most importantly, this innings marked a significant change in attitude. In seasons past, the youthful Church Eaton side would often struggle to reach the 75-run threshold needed for a batting point. Now, they are developing into gritty, determined cricketers with both the confidence and skills to build and accelerate an innings. Watching their evolution has been a genuine joy.

Fall of Wickets:
25/1 – Lawrence Sidwell, 9 (10) - Caught, 4.1

35/2 – Stephen Taylor, 6 (16) - Caught, 8.1

79/3 – Richard Smith, 7 (45) - LBW, 23.3

108/4 – Aran Peasley, 69 (91) - Caught, 28.6

113/5 – Oliver Rowlands, 2 (6) - Caught, 30.2

157/6 – George Tilley, 31 (32) - Stumped, 37.4

165/7 – James Peasley 19 (30) - Caught, 38.5
Not out: Rab Cooper, Fred Melbourne
Did not bat: Ajithkumar Balasubramaniyan, Elliot Robinson

Second Innings - Toby Miller’s Masterclass Seals the Chase
Church Eaton 2nds entered the field in high spirits, having posted an imposing 177—one of the highest totals set by the side in recent memory. Confidence was high that they could defend it. However, Congleton’s Toby Miller had other plans. What followed was a batting display of calm authority, clinical precision, and no shortage of flair.
Miller the Maestro
Toby Miller was the undoubted star of the show, anchoring Congleton’s chase with an imperious, unbeaten century. He finished on 101 not out from 118 balls, peppering the boundary with 17 fours and one towering six, striking at 85.59. His innings was a textbook example of how to pace a run chase. He punished anything remotely loose, found the gaps with near telepathic accuracy, and rotated the strike with ease, gradually sapping the energy and optimism from the Church Eaton fielders.
Miller’s ability to manipulate the field made it feel like he had a bat in one hand and a remote control in the other. Every push into a gap, every well-timed boundary—it was batting of the highest calibre for this level. Church’s bowlers were made to toil hard, and their fielders were forced to chase leather under a hot sun, as Miller’s singles, twos and boundaries kept the scoreboard ticking relentlessly.
Early Breakthroughs Provide Hope
Though Miller held firm at one end, Church Eaton looked to make inroads at the other. Patrick Moss provided steady support early on, grinding out 13 from 57 balls before falling in the 20th over to a fine delivery from Aran Peasley. The next ball brought more joy for Church, as Peasley struck again with a golden duck—N. Gollamudi lofted one to cover and was neatly taken by George Tilley. In the space of two balls, Congleton were suddenly 72 for 2, and Church had a glimmer of hope.
That glimmer brightened slightly in the 23rd over, when James Peasley delivered a beautiful ball that nipped between bat and pad to clean bowl Zain Ul Abidin for 1 (12), reducing Congleton to 79/3. Church’s tails were briefly up.
Middle Order Keeps Cool
But with Miller growing in confidence and composure, the visitors regrouped. Ram Kaasibona provided valuable middle-order support, scoring a breezy 26 off 30 balls. He rotated the strike well, keeping Miller company during another key passage of play. The pair added a crucial 83 runs before Kaasibona was trapped LBW by Ollie Rowlands in the 34th over—Congleton now 162/4, just 16 runs shy of the target.
Toby Brown then joined his captain to see the job through. With plenty of time and wickets in hand, Brown was measured but positive, striking 13 not out from 13 balls—including three boundaries—to complete the run chase in style.

Bowling Efforts and Missed Opportunities
Church Eaton’s bowlers showed effort and discipline in patches. Aran Peasley was particularly tidy, returning excellent figures of 6-1-13-2, and was clearly the pick of the attack. His brother James also bowled a decent spell, taking 1 for 11 from his four overs. Ollie Rowlands worked hard for his 8-over return of 1 for 40, while Elliot Robinson, Ajay, and Fred Melbourne all delivered steady spells.
However, consistency proved elusive. As fatigue crept in and Miller began to dominate, the bowling became, at times, erratic. Three no balls and several subsequent free hits were duly punished, with boundaries greeted almost instinctively. Church also gave away 26 extras—13 byes, 1 leg bye, 9 wides, and 3 no balls—which ultimately made the chase easier for Congleton than it needed to be.
Fielding too was especially a mixed bag. There were standout moments—Elliot Robinson put in an energetic shift on the boundary, and George Tilley took a sharp catch at cover—but lapses were evident. Two sets of four byes slipped through fine leg needlessly, while tired minds led to wayward throws and missed chances.
Final Summary
Toby Miller’s innings was the difference. His unbeaten 101 was not only a personal milestone but the definitive factor in Congleton’s victory. He paced his innings perfectly and received just good support from his teammates to guide the visitors to 181/4 in 36.2 overs.
Despite the loss, Church Eaton can take heart from their competitive total and early breakthroughs. With continued improvements in consistency and sharper fielding, the wins will come. For now, the day belonged to Miller—and it’s not every weekend you get to watch a century like that.