Boro’s batting woes lead to defeat

WALSDEN brushed aside Littleborough at a sun drenched Scott Street on Sunday as Littleborough’s batting woes from the previous day continued.

It was a day to remember for Walsden’s Jake Hooson as he made his seventh century for the home side, a remarkable achievement for someone still in his early 20s.

Littleborough lost the toss and it was no surprise when they were asked to field first in soaring temperatures but Miskella and Wilman bowled very well in batter friendly conditions and when they had finished their age related stints Walsden found themselves 31-1 off 14 overs after Josh Gale was smartly caught at slip off the bowling of Miskella.

That became 54-2 when Bentley had skipper Barker caught at slip by Perren but then Bentley proceeded to bowl nine wides and four no balls in his four over stint.

Jones had replaced Miskella and was bowling tidily enough but Perren’s options were limited and were not helped by the fact that Littleborough had bizarrely employed a deputy pro that didn’t bowl.

Roche replaced Bentley and didnt’t disgrace himself in his maiden first team bowl and will learn from the experience.

At the half way stage Walsden were 90-2 and Hooson was well set.

Rawlinson fell to Hussain for 28 and this brought the home pro to the crease with the score on 140.

Littleborough then decided to play with only 10 men for the remaining 10 overs after Jones left the field due to illness and skipper Perren inexplicably refused to ask Walsden for a sub fielder and then turned down the offer from a Littleborough supporter to come on and field.

Hooson and Karunaratne took full advantage of the extra gaps in the filed and plundered 110 from the last 10 overs.

Hooson finished unbeaten on an outstanding 121no off 170 balls and the home pro 81 off just 47 balls as the innings finished on 278-3.

A word of praise especially must go to the returning Wilman who toiled away tirelessly in hot conditions and also Miskella and they both deserved a couple of wickets in the final overs but were not helped by dropped catches and being a man down for the last 10 overs.

If Littleborough were to win this one then Perren’s fine form this season had to continue but this was not to be as he played on to Barker for 15 as the home side started negatively strangely deciding to go with sweepers instead of slips.

And 24-1 soon became 40-2 when finally Walsden went for a second slip and it was that second slip that smartly ran out Pye with the batsman losing concentration in the aftermath of a massive lbw appeal and was run out.

Miskella lasted only three balls and completed a pair for the weekend when he lazily wafted his bat at a wide delivery and gave Hooson some slip catching practice off Shackleton. Matthew Hernon hit some lovely cover drives but fell in similar fashion but this time caught behind.

Nash fell in exactly the same way as he did last sunday when he again walked across his stumps, played across the line and was out lbw to the home spinner.

Watching on at the other end was deputy pro Cloete who had looked solid enough and was on 28 when Nash was out and the visitors were reeling on 68-5.

Roche clubbed a couple of fours before being bowled by Josh Gale for 11.

This brought young Wilman to the crease who complimented his earlier efforts with the ball with a fine display of batting as he and Cloete looked to repair the innings.

They put on 64 in quick time before Cloete went for one big hit too many and was caught by Barker off Karunaratne for 64 as the required run rate increased.

All that was left now for the visitors was to see if Wilman would reach his maiden first team 50 which he thoroughly deserved but Hussain and Bentley were incapable of keeping the ball out and were both bowled to leave the unlucky Wilman on 41 off 54 balls which included six fours as the Littleborough innings finished on 164.

Walsden thoroughly deserved their victory but a point of note is that Littleborough had reached 164 one over quicker than Walsden had in their innings and if the top order batsman had applied themselves more, played much straighter, played more in the V and been more patient and took a leaf out of young Wilman’s book then the result could have been a lot closer.

Littleborough now look forward a Wood Cup quarter final at home to Greenfield on Saturday.