Tom Heaton plundered an unbeaten 103 off just 62 balls to lead Greenmount’s first eleven to an excellent eight-wicket victory in their final T20 match of the season at Todmorden writes SAM CHADWICK.
After losing the toss and being asked to field, the Mount toiled as their hosts reached 175 for 5. Edward Moore top-scored with 62 from 43 balls, along with Bilal Abbas’s 48 from 32 and Freddie Priestley’s 33 from 28, setting an imposing total at the halfway point.
There was, however, a notable performance from junior left-arm spinner Noah Birtwistle, who took 2 for 25 in his four overs to continue his fine season in senior cricket. Impressively, his two wickets came in consecutive balls during the 13th over, conceding just three runs. Elsewhere, Jack Thomond took commendable figures of 2 for 34, with Callum Hunter claiming the other wicket to fall.
The reply got off to a bang, with the familiar opening partnership of Heaton and professional Jacques Snyman hitting 16 in the first over. However, any fears that Greenmount would crumble under the pressure of a large chase were intensified when Snyman was run out for just 12 in the third over.
The dismissal seemed to prove a catalyst for Heaton, who went wild from then on, hitting 16 fours and two sixes in a fine innings. His effort ended as the highest individual score in the JWL MPA T20 Group, beating his own record of 76. It also secured him the position of top scorer, finishing with 236 runs.
All this, backed up by a useful cameo of 31 from 23 balls by Gav Nicholl, meant that the away side chased down their target in just 17 overs, ending their T20 campaign in fine fashion. The final standings see them finish third, three points off a quarter-final berth.