The weekend of 2nd to 4th June, 2023, will be long remembered at the Mount following a scintillating display of savage batting from professional Jacques Snyman.
There aren’t any superlatives or cliches that haven’t already been used but the phrase ‘remember the name’ must surely ensure Jacques a place in Greenmount CC folklore alongside many previous famous faces to have graced the Log Cabin.
The weekend started with a sunny Friday evening T20 against Walsden – chasing a modest 101 (three wickets for Tom Heaton) it was clear that Tom and Jacques had agreed a ‘no run’ approach to the reply as the total was knocked off in just five overs. Tom struck 39 from just 16 balls and Jacques bludgeoned 54 from 18 with seven sixes.
Two wins from two in this years’ T20 competition and a stiff challenge to come at Norden this Friday. Save the date in the diary for Friday, 23rd June when Ramsbottom provide the opposition!
On Sunday we saw the visit of Accrington and following the record-breaking day against Great Harwood last week there was much anticipation at the toss – which Travis duly won and surprisingly (irony) chose to bat!
Despite losing Evan Williams and Andy Kerr early on, Jacques, accompanied once again by Tom, set about the bowling in much the same fashion as last week.
Tom Heaton was eventually caught for 80 with five sixes and eight fours to end an entertaining stand of 145 but then Travis was adjudged LBW to his first ball which brought Dan Stevens to the wicket.
Jacques continued to build momentum through the middle overs and Dan chipped in with four fours and was looking set for a big score before chopping on for a good 31.
We then lost three quick wickets and were in danger of being bowled out with overs to spare until Jacques was joined by Sammy Greenhalgh who watchfully helped build a record partnership for the ninth wicket of 133 which has stood since 1937 apparently!
By this time Jacques was unfurling his full repertoire and the individual league record score was blown away along with about eight lost balls. For the record the amazing score of 269 not out included 28 fours and a staggering 15 sixes from just 139 balls.
It is hard to imagine this achievement will ever be broken and it must surely go down as an all time great knock if not the greatest ever seen at the Mount in our extensive history.
Accrington responded with a creditable 231 with the key goal for Greenmount to bowl them out and earn the full 12 points, something we did not achieve last week.
Jacques Snyman had the most fantastic day in the sun, taking 4-34 to add to his stellar batting exploits. Callum Hunter took 3-67, Travis Townsend 2-31 and Tom Heaton 1-47. Another win which sees the Mount slowly edging up the rankings to sixth in the table after eight games.
Meanwhile Saturday`s FA Cup final provided a noisy backdrop to the third team match with Colne at home which also saw another fantastic individual performance alongside a very positive all round team effort.
Greenmount batted first, compiling a steady 203-5 with Ed Dickinson once again impressing with a fine 62, Wes Young, 33, (runs not age…) continued his entertaining spree of swashbuckling innovation (use of the edge being especially inventive) and there were useful contributions from Rupert Hallows( 26) and Max Birtwistle ( 24).
Nobody quite expected a decent looking Colne side to be skittled for 80, however they were blown away by a superb spell of controlled swing bowling from 15-year-old Max Birtwistle.
Max took 6-19 from six overs, five all bowled and including a hat-trick all bowled – simply an excellent example of how to bowl at the stumps and well deserved reward for lots of hard work.
Ed Dickinson also chipped in with 3-11 and there was a wicket for Sam Woolley to wrap up an early win and round off a good team effort as the team move up to third place!
The second have had a rough season to date – availability has prevented a consistent team however there was a higher expectation with a strong-looking team with more experience this week.
And so it proved to be as we emerged victorious for only the second time this season and to complete an amazing weekend of success on the field for the Mount.
Unfortunately for unknown reasons the game has not yet been uploaded to Play Cricket (one of my pet hates) but there were once again some great individual performances within the team.
Nigel Franklin hit an unbeaten 79 and Jack Thomond scored his maiden Greenmount 50 before once again Max Birtwistle was the man of the moment, roaring in to complete a second five wicket haul for the weekend.
Younger brother Noah chipped in with three wickets too to complete a good win for Ollie Dixon’s lads.
Overall, the most memorable of weekends, four wins from four, thanks to everyone who contributed on and off the field for the best club weekend of the summer so far.
Mount Momentum! More next week…