The thirds picked up their first win of the season on Monday, as a rain-affected match saw them beat Littleborough 3rd XI by six wickets writes SAM CHADWICK.
The game was shortened to 25 overs after some heavy rain, with captain, Mark Crowther having been asked to field earlier on in the day.
This decision turned out to be a stroke of luck as, after the delay, the thirds’ trademark young fast-bowling attack got to work.
It was Adam Clarke and George Kenyon who opened the bowling, applying pressure on a young Littleborough outfit. This was emphatically backed up by some clever swing bowling from Matthew Gilmore, which saw him pick up figures of 3 for 6 in his allocated five overs.
The opposition were reduced to 41 for 5, but there was to be a fightback, as number three batter Sam Butterworth made his way to an unbeaten 50 (66), after a rugged partnership with James Devine.
Notable figures of 2 for 18 from Kenyon and 1 for 21 from leg-spinner Toby Leach saw the Rochdale outfit finish on 92 for 6.
The modest target was soon eaten away at by a strong opening partnership of 41 from Leach (13) and Leigh Dickinson (20). However, they fell in quick succession, with the former being bowled by a beauty from Jawaad Hussain to leave the Mount on 42 for 2.
Nerves were settled by a steady partnership from Chris Sherrington (14) and Mark Crowther (12). But both were removed to leave us 73 for 4, with Butterworth adding to a fine display by taking a screamer of a catch off his own bowling to remove Sherrington. The catch also, incidentally, saved umpire John Stevens from a trip to A&E!
It was to be Adam Clarke and Wes Young who calmly got the club over the line with 2.3 overs to spare, dealing Littleborough their first defeat of the season.
The performance bodes well for the rest of the campaign, especially with a sharp bowling attack showing they are more than capable of taking wickets.