Greenmount’s first eleven enjoyed a Bank Holiday boost with two victories at the weekend, results that shot the club into the quarter-finals of the Worsley Cup and to second place in the league.
Saturday, 24th May – First team v Accrington away (Worsley Cup round two). Won by 9 wickets
A superb unbeaten 100 from Tom Heaton saw the Mount to victory at Accrington in an all Division Two Worsley Cup clash.
The home side won the toss and elected to bat and at 83 for seven looked down and out, however an unbroken eight wicket partnership of 110 between Emile Haratbar and Mohammed Tayyib gave their score a more respectable look as they finished on 193 for 7 from their 50 overs.
Ishy Patel took four of the Accrington wickets and Callum Hunter three.
However, that total proved insufficient as an unbeaten partnership of 145 between Tom (100 not out) and Andy Kerr (55 not out) saw the villagers home in the 28th over.
Sunday, 25th May – First team v East Lancashire away. Won by 6 wickets. 12 points
A trip to bottom-of-the-table East Lancashire was the following day’s league fixture and despite the threat of rain clouds curtailing a finish, twelve vital points were picked up at Alexandra Meadows.
East Lancs skipper Hudson Walshaw won the toss and chose to bat but his side’s total of 136 all out in 45.5 overs was never going to be enough.
Professional Jacques Snyman took four of the East Lancs wickets with Ishy Patel and Callum Hunter taking two apiece and Travis Townsend one.
The Mount knocked off what was required for the loss of four wickets with Evan Dobson (16 not out) and Gav Nicholl (11 not out) seeing them home. Travis Townsend top scored with 42.
Saturday, 24th May – Second team v Ramsbottom at home (Junior Cup round two). Lost by 6 wickets
The second team’s involvement in the Junior Cup was ended when local rivals Ramsbottom visited the Log Cabin.
Oli Dixon won the toss, decided to bat and saw his side put on 198 for 8 from their 50 overs.
The lion’s share of the runs came from Sam Greenhalgh (38); Max Birtwistle (35); Ryan Senior (26) and Toby Leach (24).
Unfortunately, the Mount found Ramsbottom’s Isaac Turner in great form and his unbeaten 101 and former Greenmount man Jack Thomond’s 64 not out, saw them home for the loss of four wickets in the 48th over.
Sunday, 25th May – Second team v East Lancashire at home. Won by 10 wickets. 12 points
It was a different matter for the seconds on Sunday when their East Lancashire counterparts were the visitors.
Greenmount dismissed the Blackburn side for 100 with Ed Wackrill and Rion Dalugoda both taking three wickets, Adam Clarke two and Max Birtwistle one.
Max (53 not out) then played his part in an unbeaten first wicket partnership with Harry Nuttall (26 not out) as the Mount cruised home in the 21st over.
Bank Holiday Monday 26th May – Third team v Rochdale at home. Won by 9 wickets. 12 points
On Monday the focus was on the third team who faced Rochdale III at the Log Cabin.
To round off the holiday weekend, Mark Crowther’s lads beat the weather and their opponents by 9 wickets to go joint top of the Third XI Division Two table.
Father-and-son duo Liam and Jake Riley took three wickets each with Ben Clarke helping himself to two and Dexter Crowther one as Rochdale were dismissed for only 69.
An unbeaten 72 run partnership between Nigel Franklin (34) and Tom Clarke (29) saw the Mount home in only 11 overs for the loss of only one wicket.