Despite another Tom Heaton hundred, Greenmount’ First Team’s first eleven fell 26 runs short of
victory at home to Walsden in a high-scoring contest. Elsewhere, a youthful third team
proved a shining light with a convincing win over Church and Oswaldtwistle writes SAM CHADWICK.
Starting on Sunday, the first eleven were looking for an upturn in fortunes after a string
of disappointing results in recent weeks. However, they were made to toil by Walsden’s
batters despite winning the toss and electing to field.
The visitors’ opening partnership was a solid one, worth 96 runs, with Josh Gale and
Nick Barker hitting scores of 49 and 56, respectively. This set the platform for their
middle order to kick on later in the innings, and it was their professional, Jameel Stuart,
who capitalized, coming in at number four to blast 73 off 51 deliveries. The result was an
imposing total of 277 for 6.
Greenmount began well in the chase, with the familiar opening partnership of Tom
Heaton and Jacques Snyman proving fruitful yet again. Snyman hit 52 in typically brisk
fashion, but once he was removed, Heaton stepped up to the plate. His measured
innings of 109 off 124 balls kept the hosts well in with a shout, although the regular fall
of wickets at the other end would prove to be their downfall.
The next top scorer was Kieran Edwards with 30 off 20 balls. He was one of six victims to
fall to the off-spin of Stuart, who capped off a fine all-round display with figures of 6 for 59.
Similarly, in the reverse fixture, the second team would also fall short in their chase as
they lost by 90 runs to cap off a difficult Sunday. Walsden chose to bat on their home
ground and ensured a tiring afternoon for Mount’s bowlers. Fiaz Khan top-scored with
71 from 67 balls, while Leon Bailey hit 65 from just 53. A cameo of 46 not out from 33
deliveries by Majid Khan compounded the hosts’ dominance as his efforts took them to
255 for 4 from their 45 overs.
Ed Wackrill’s head could at least be held high in the second innings, as he hit 45 from 55
balls to continue his excellent form with the bat, but the away side was eventually
bowled out for 166 in 42.2 overs after Chris Lord took figures of 5 for 36.
In contrast, the other game to take place at The Log Cabin brought a welcome
Greenmount win, as a particularly young third team brushed aside Church on Saturday.
After being asked to field first, the hosts’ familiar pace attack soon went to work,
applying constant pressure on their visitors. It was George Kenyon who particularly took
the eye with ball in hand, picking up his first-ever five-for in senior cricket in an
impressive effort. The other five scalps were shared around the rest of the bowlers, with
the away side ending on a below-par total of 112 all out in 32.2 overs.
Wickets fell in the reply, but scoreboard pressure was never on Church’s side. Wackrill
again top-scored with an eye-catching innings of 34 from 52 balls before Adam Clarke
finished the game off in style, hitting three fours and two sixes on his way to 28 not out
from 21 deliveries. All in all, the win came by five wickets in just 28.1 overs and was a
pleasing watch for stand-in captain Wesley Young.
Results leave the first team in fourth place, 13 points behind Crompton in third. The
second team sit in eighth in their division, while the third team sit in second place in
theirs, 22 points behind leaders Nelson.