The absence of professional Jacques Snyman wasn’t felt by Greenmount first team this weekend, as a stellar innings from Dan Stevens helped them to a 118-run win over Rishton at the Log Cabin writes SAM CHADWICK.
Elsewhere, the third team remained in the title hunt in their division after a dominant victory in a top-of-the table clash, while the seconds succumbed to another loss.
Following a disappointing defeat last time out, the first eleven’s hopes of promotion back to the JW Lees Senior Division One were all-but over. However, their victory on home turf on Sunday was still something to shout about.
Deputising for Snyman, Stevens opened the batting with Tom Heaton after the Mount had been put into bat and put on an excellent display. All-in-all, he scored 87 from 124 balls until he was eventually removed with his side on a commanding score of 215 for 7.
Stevens was the only player to pass fifty as the hosts ended their 50 overs on 242 for 8.
Rishton’s reply was over before it started, as they fell to 3 for 3, with all of their top three being removed for ducks. Adam Hussain’s 50 from 75 deliveries was the only saving grace as they ended 124 all out.
Callum Hunter and Amal Dalugoda did much of the damage with the new ball, picking up respective figures of 3 for 30 and 4 for 26. There were also two wickets for young off-spinner Noah Birtwistle and a single scalp for sub-pro Thomas Rogers.
The Log Cabin also played host to the third team on Saturday, as they beat league-leaders Nelson by eight wickets to set up a late charge for the title.
After losing the toss, Greenmount were asked to field first by their visitors and they duly obliged, bowling them out for just 104.
Birtwistle, again, impressed with the ball as he ended with figures of 4 for 17, whilst Adam Clarke took three for the same amount. There were also two wickets for left-armer Dexter Crowther and one for Ed Dickinson.
The chase was something of a formality, although Tom Clarke continued his recent improvements with the bat on his way to 45 from just 37 balls. As a result, Greenmount polished the game off in a brisk 20.4 overs.
Contrastingly, Toby Leach’s fighting 62 from 80 deliveries couldn’t stop a disappointing eight-wicket loss for the seconds at Rishton. The Mount had initially fallen to 52 for 5 after choosing to bat first on Sunday, but a partnership between Leach and Sam Chadwick helped the away side to recover, before the latter retired hurt. The result was an underwhelming total of 134 all out.
It was one their hosts didn’t struggle with, as Sahan Senapathi top-scored with an unbeaten 43 to help his side over the line inside 26 overs.
That result means the seconds move down a place to ninth. Otherwise, the firsts move back up to third with their win, while the third team are just three points off top-spot in what promises to be an exciting end to the campaign for them.