Greenmount’s first eleven moved up to joint fourth place in the JWL Lancashire League Division Two table after a three wicket victory at Accrington on Sunday. However, it was a three wicket defeat for the seconds at the Log Cabin against Accrington’s second string with the thirds picking up a fine ten point victory at Todmorden on Saturday.
Sunday, 11th May – First team v Accrington away. Won by 3 wickets. 10 points.
The home side won the toss and decided to bat but were soon in trouble as Oli Dixon accounted for their openers Jon Hayhurst and Nathaniel Young with just 16 on the board.
Accrington’s middle order steadied the ship somewhat with Jacob Clarke (53), Ali Hasham (46) and professional Jurie Snyman (43) the backbone of their innings which totalled 221 for 9.
Leading the way with the ball was Mount’s stand-in professional Mohammed Junaid who finished with figures of 5 for 50 from 15 overs.
The Greenmount reply got off to the worst possible start with young openers Ed Dickinson and Evan Dobson both back in the shed with the score on five.
Andy Kerr put on a steady 45 to move things along before Travis Townsend put in a real skipper’s innings of 83 (11 fours and 2 sixes).
Travis departed with the score on 174 for 6 but when Ishy Patel became the seventh wicket with 42 runs needed for victory the game hung in the balance.
It took a splendid eighth wicket partnership of 45 between Cameron Mapstone (47 not out) and Jacob Norris (12 not out) to see the villagers home in the 46th over for a deserved and hard-fought victory.
Sunday, 11th May – Second team v Accrington at home. Lost by 3 wickets. 3 points.
Stand-in skipper Kieran Edwards won the toss, elected to bat and his decision looked to be the correct one as his youthful side put on a challenging 244 for 8 from their 45 overs.
The evergreen Nigel Franklin top scored with 53 while there were useful contributions from Max Birtwistle (41), Ed Wackrill (34), Jake Riley (26) and Jake’s dad Liam (20).
Nevertheless, the visitors found that target relatively easy thanks to a fine innings of 86 from Husan Ashraf and 51 from Waleed Majeed which proved to be the backbone of their 245 for 7.
Max Birtwistle took three wickets for the Mount; Ed Wackrill two and there was one each for Rion Dalugoda and Jake Riley.
Saturday, 10th May – Third team v Todmorden away. Won by 27 runs. 10 points.
The thirds got the weekend off to a flyer on Saturday when their trip to Centre Vale, Todmorden yielded them ten well-earned points.
Skipper Mark Crowther won the toss and chose to bat. Wes Young (50) and Noah Birtwistle (47) gave Greenmount a good start before four wickets in the space of 13 runs looked like undoing all their good work with the score on 132 for 6.
Thankfully, a good partnership of 43 for the eighth wicket between Jake Riley (28) and Oli Dixon (23) took the total to 204 for 7 from their 40 overs.
Tom Clarke (16) and Rion Dalugoda (14) also chipped in with double-figure knocks.
That total always looked to be too much of a tall order for the home side and they finished on 177 for 9 at the end of their overs.
Noah Birtwistle finished with a superb bowling figures of 4 for 8 from 8 overs while there were a couple of victims for Jake Riley and Oli Dixon with Adam Clarke taking the other.