Greenmount’s first eleven slumped to their first defeat in ten games on Sunday and, in doing so, missed out on securing promotion to Lancashire League Division One – if only for a week!
Taking on a good Littleborough side at a packed Log Cabin, skipper Ryan Senior won the toss and in blazing late summer sunshine, sensibly elected to bat.
It looked the correct decision as the Mount found professional Chesney Hughes in superb form as he hit sixteen fours and three sixes in a superb innings of 133.
As they made steady progress – with Jack Harrison hitting 33 and Tom Heaton 34 – it looked a strong possibility that they would reach a total of more than 300, and even though they fell short at 283 for 9 it was still going to take an exceptional reply to surpass that total.
Frustratingly, that’s just what they received from the Hare Hill side with Aussie Clinton Perren – who had played 84 first class games for Queensland – in terrific form blasting an unbeaten 124 (ten fours and three sixes) and who put on a superb second-wicket partnership of 160 with his son Zac who scored 79.
Not even the early dismissal of pro and former Greenmount paid man Travis Townsend for a duck was allowed to stem the visitors march to victory.
Useful contributions from Ryan Miskella (34) and Matt Hernon (27 not out) complemented Perren’s match-winning knock and in a superbly-paced innings they passed the villagers’ total in the final over to secure a six-wicket victory and a complete a double over the Mount.
Hughes added three wickets to his ton and there was a wicket apiece for Evan Williams and Callum Hunter.
So, for Greenmount, the final outcome of the promotion chase will be concluded at Enfield next Sunday (September 12), when, once again, a victory will see them over the line. However, their opponents have an outside chance of promotion themselves and will provide another stern challenge.
While the firsts were going down to a six-wicket defeat the second eleven won by the same margin against their Littleborough counterparts.
Chosing to bat first, the home side ran up a total of 168 for 8 from their 45 overs with Matt Senior (3 for 36) taking the bowling plaudits while there was a wicket apiece for Tom Nuttall, Sam Woolley, Ryan Edge and Henry Dickinson.
Greenmount’s winning reply owed a lot to Edge who continued his late summer runfest and last weekend’s ton by hitting 71. There were also good contributions from Jake Chadwick (29) and an unbeaten 25 from Chris Sherrington as Boro’s total was reached inside the 43rd over for the loss of four wickets.
On Saturday it was the turn of the third team to hold centre stage at the Log Cabin when they enjoyed a 156-run triumph over Norden thirds.
The Mount scored 247 for 7 from their 40 overs thanks to a fine knock of 64 (retired not out) from the evergreen Dave Mason with other notable contributions from Leigh Dickinson (46), Sam Woolley (35), Dave Senior (29 not out) and Richard Birtwistle (23).
Despite batting into the 39th over, Norden were never seriously going to threaten the home total and they eventually succumbed to 91 all out.
Matt Senior led the way with the ball taking 4 for 13 while there were two wickets apiece for Edward Dickinson and Sam Woolley and one each for Leigh Dickinson and Matthew Gilmore.