Justice is done at Saddleworth
TWO wickets in the last possible over by captain Hashum Malik gave Norden maximum points from their visit to Saddleworth on Sunday.
The end saw Stags’ players hugging each other and dancing on the pitch after overcoming what could have been one of the biggest injustices of the season.
The home reply was built round professional Imran Aslam who survived a strong stumping appeal before surviving what was a far more clear-cut shout.
The Norden players felt Aslam had not made his ground, 95 per cent of spectators – including one watching umpire – felt Aslam had not made his ground, and Aslam appeared to be walking until he heard a not out shout from umpire Mike Dunkerley.
It was a decision which could have produced a different result, and Aslam went on to 103 before he smacked a delivery from Chris Hartley into the hands of Naveed Zamurad.
As the match reached the last 10 overs Saddleworth needed 56 to win with wickets in hand and Aslam in full flow.
Malik hit the sticks to see off Danny Hesford, then Josh Tolley took a good slips catch to dismiss Steven Howard.
The seventh wicket fell thanks to a brilliant flying catch by Greg Butterworth, then Aslam finally went.
The last over arrived with eight down and Saddleworth needing eight to win.
They never looked like getting closer, and Malik twice more hit the stumps to finish with a five for.
Norden’s innings had seen Josh Tolley hit his second century of the weekend in a total of 217 for three.
That total did seem 30 odd short of what should have been on the board, but even so, if Aslam had been given out when he should have been the Stags’ total should have been more than enough.
Steve Pimm was first out when he popped up a return catch to Jack Boyle, and Naveed Zamurad went to a boundary catch.
The brilliant Tolley and Ash Gowers then featured in a strong partnership, with both punishing anything short or lose.
Gowers was on 45, and Stags were past the 150 mark, when he gave a chance which was taken by Brian Lord.
That was it for Saddleworth as far as wickets were concerned, as Greg Butterworth joined Tolley for runs in the sun. Norden J Tolley not out ................................................ 118 S Pimm c and b Boyle .................................... 11 N Zamurad c Hesford b Howard ............... 10 A Gowers c Lord b Hesford .......................... 45 G Butterworth not out .................................. 27 Extras ........................................................................ 6 Total for 3 wickets .......................................... 217 Bowling: Boyle 10-2-33-1; Howard 15-263-2; Aslam 15-2-56-0; Poole 5-0-36-0; Sharif 5-0-28-0. Saddleworth B Lord lbw Hartley ........................................... 15 S Taylor c Butterworth b M Saeed ............ 20 S Holt c Gowers b Zamurad ........................ 36 D Pooleb Hartley ................................................. 4 I Aslam c Zamurad b Hartley .................... 103 D Hesford b Malik ............................................... 2 S Howard c Tolley b Malik ............................... 1 E Sharif c Butterworth b Malik ...................... 6 J Holt not out ........................................................ 1 A Smalley b Malik ............................................... 2 J Boyle b Malik ...................................................... 0 Extras ..................................................................... 20 Total ..................................................................... 210 Bowling: Hartley 10-3-26-3; C Humphreys 5-0-25-0; M Saeed 5-0-26-1; Malik 12.51-45-5; Butterworth 9-0-43-0; Zamurad 8-1-40-1.