Weekend Round-Up: 13-14 June 2026

Cody Grindley with Dad Craig.

A week of contrasts across the club. The 1st XI faced a stern examination at Toft, but the 2nd XI delivered a commanding victory against Ashley CC, and the 5th XI produced what their captain described as an above-par performance to beat the league leaders. The Under 11s continued their fine form with a big win against Bowden Vale, and Sunday also brought a moment to mark: Cody Grindley's final game in an Urmston shirt before he heads to Australia to be with his family. More on that below.

1st XI v Toft CC | Cheshire County Cricket League, Division 1 | Saturday 13 June

A tough afternoon at Toft, where the hosts won the toss, batted, and made the most of the conditions. Connor Hastings led their innings with 115, and Toft posted 314-5 from their 50 overs.

Urmston were bowled out for 63 in 21.1 overs, with Irfan Naseri top-scoring on 26. The gap in scorecards reflects a day on which very little went right with the bat.

2nd XI v Ashley CC | Cheshire County Cricket League, Division 2 | Saturday 13 June

A thoroughly professional performance from the 2nd XI. Ashley CC were put in and bowled out for 85 in 35.5 overs, with Craig Wilson picking up 3 wickets and Ritesh Shetty taking 2. When Urmston came to bat, Steve Espley produced an unbeaten 29 to guide the side home with ease, and they reached 86-2 in 24.1 overs to win by 8 wickets.

3rd XI v Over Peover CC | Cheshire County Cricket League, Division B East | Saturday 13 June

A frustrating day for the 3rd XI. Over Peover were dismissed for 118. George Holmes shone with 4 wickets with Karthik Nadimpalli taking 3 wickets and Jake McGinlay chipping in with 2, and Sol Hussain with 1 wicket. But Urmston could not build a competitive reply and were bowled out for 70 in 26.5 overs, with Ab Hayat making 31 and Pyush Anand 22. Over Peover won by 48 runs.

5th XI v Ashton-on-Mersey CC | Cheshire County Cricket League, Division 4 | Sunday 14 June

Bottom beats top. Urmston 5th XI, proud occupants of the foot of the table and entirely comfortable with it, hosted the league leaders and won comfortably. As captain David Stubbs put it afterwards:

"As UCC 5s are about development and opportunity, we are quite happy to sit bottom of the league. Winning isn't our priority. But today we played top of the league. Scoring 190 against a very strong bowling attack was an above par score. We then bowled well to win comfortably in the end. Winning isn't a priority, but it does feel good. 'Winners are grinners,' an old UCC player told me once."

Gavin Dean led the batting with 48, with George Stead contributing 26 and David Stubbs himself chipping in with 25. Urmston posted 191-6 from 40 overs.

Then Jack Fields tore through the Ashton batting. Six wickets in an outstanding spell helped dismiss the visitors for 156 in 35.2 overs. Finn Stubbs took 2. Urmston won by 35 runs.

6th XI v Cheadle CC | Friendly | Sunday 14 June

A closely fought friendly against Cheadle CC, and one that mattered for a very particular reason. But first, the cricket.

Urmston batted and posted 102-11 from 36.5 overs, with Rian Mandal top-scoring on 25. Cheadle reached 119-9 from 31.1 overs to take the win. As Rian put it in his summary of the day:

"This was a very close and exciting game of cricket. We struggled at times but kept fighting right to the end, with some good batting keeping us in the contest. Near to the end we were sure we had lost, but Joe and Rahim came together needing 50 off 12 overs and batted exceptionally well. We needed 18 runs in the last 5 overs and unfortunately came up just short, but we are very proud of the team."

Cody Grindley bowled 6 overs on a day that was about far more than the result.

Under 11s v Bowden Vale CC | South Manchester Junior Cricket League, Division 1 | Sunday 14 June

A fine win for the Under 11s. Urmston batted first and posted 129, with Zayn Omar Alam, Casper Barton, and Veyahn Poluri all retiring not out on 28 apiece to share the workload around the batting group. When Bowden Vale came to bat, Urmston bowled and fielded tightly to restrict them to 73-6 from their 20 overs. A 56-run victory and another solid Sunday morning's cricket.

Goodbye, Cody

Sunday's friendly against Cheadle was more than just a game. It was the last time Cody Grindley will walk out to bat for Urmston Cricket Club, and that deserves a moment of its own.

Cody has been a friendly face at Urmston since he was a small child, growing up in and around the ground, becoming part of the furniture in the way that only cricket clubs can produce. He turns 16 this year, and while that would ordinarily mark the start of some of the best years of his playing career, Cody is heading to Australia to be with his mum, dad, and brother, who have already made the move.

He leaves with his cricket knowledge, his good nature, a solid scoring record, and everything that Urmston has given him packed alongside his kit bag. We have no doubt he will find a club, make his mark, and carry something of this place with him to the other side of the world.

From everyone at Urmston Cricket Club: thank you, Cody. You have been an absolute delight to have around the ground. Good luck, look after yourself, and come and see us when you are next back.

Once UCC, always UCC.