A dour weekend for Greenmount’s first and second teams – along with the weather – failed to dampen the third eleven’s charge for the title writes SAM CHADWICK.
After beating Church by seven wickets in a 20-over encounter on Thursday, Mark Crowther’s thirds travelled to Todmorden on Bank Holiday Monday looking to stay top of their division. What ensued was a lively affair, overcoming their hosts by 22 runs.
The Mount were asked to bat first, and they made the most of their opportunity, going on to accumulate a score of 181 for 3 in their 40 overs.
Tom Clarke’s resurgence in form meant he compiled an excellent innings of 60 from 85 balls, before Toby Leach added to his recent exploits with 65 from 101. They still also allowed time for Adam Clarke to smash an unbeaten 42 from just 23 deliveries.
It was scoreboard pressure that told in the second innings, as Todmorden struggled to keep up with the required rate, despite having wickets in hand. Dexter Crowther’s effort of 3 for 26 with ball in hand, along with a scalp each for Noah Birtwistle and Liam Riley, meant that the home side ended 159 for 5.
Elsewhere, the first eleven’s loss to local rivals Ramsbottom at the Log Cabin on Saturday meant that the visitors wrapped up promotion from JW Lees Senior Division Two this weekend.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, the away side weren’t messing around in pursuit of their goal, as they posted 264 for 8. Hareen Buddila and Joe Holderness passed fifty, with sub-pro Dom Bess’s excellent figures of 4 for 56 somewhat coming in vain.
In reply, Tom Heaton’s 51 from 42 balls got Greenmount off to a decent start, but they never showed the firepower required to chase down such an imposing score.
Ramsbottom needed just a point to seal promotion after that victory, getting what they required on Sunday at home to Colne.
Everyone at Greenmount would like to congratulate the Rams on their well-deserved success.
With rain washing out all fixtures on Sunday, the only other game to be played this weekend saw the Second Team travel to Rochdale on Saturday, losing by 45 runs.
After choosing to bowl first, Greenmount limited their hosts to a chaseable score of 164 for 9 as the weather shortened proceedings to 40 overs a side.
Ed Wackrill and Liam Riley both stood out with the ball, taking three wickets each, while Rion Dalugoda also picked up two for his efforts.
However, the batting fell well short in the second innings. Despite Harry Nuttall’s defiant 26 from 77 deliveries, they ended 119 for 7 in their chase.
As a result, the seconds now sit in a disappointing tenth spot, while the firsts drop to fifth in their division.
Everyone, I’m sure, will be shouting for the thirds, though, as they enter the final stretch in their search for the title. They currently lead second-placed Nelson by eleven points.