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Norden maintain push for Lancashire League title

THE Norden first team turned up at Scott Street full of confidence after victory over Crompton and with a rare toss win, Captain Malik opted to bat on what looked like a very good batting deck.

The decision proved to be a good one as Josh Tolley and his captain took it to the Walsden attack in the opening overs. The intent was signalled when Malik sent a Josh Gayle delivery into the river in just the 3rd over of the game. From that point on, there was no let up from the openers. Norden found themselves on 78-0 off the first 10 and further lusty blows from Malik saw the rate steadily increase. Both openers quickly earned half centuries as the runs were piled on and it looked like only a Josh Tolley nose bleed could stop them!

The Norden balcony erupted shortly after as they watched Captain Malik reach his first Lancashire League century off 72 balls with the score on 185. He would fall shortly after to Pro Karunaratne but the opening partnership of 191 in 23 overs had put Norden in a commanding position.

Josh Tolley continued to bat superbly and soon after reached his century at quicker than a run a ball.

After a brief stay from Butterworth, the last man

Walsden wanted to see walking out was Norden’s Pro Ash Zaidi.

He, and Tolley renewed what has been a successful partnership this year before Tolley fell for a superb 135 off 118 balls. At this point, Norden had amassed 309 runs and there were still 10 overs left in the innings.

Pro Zaidi made a solid 55 along with brief cameos from Fitton (22*) and Crabtree (9*) ensuring Norden set a huge 374-4 off their 50 overs.

Walsden had to start well, but in truth, the game was all over when Joe Gale found Dominic Humphreys after skewing a Greg Butterworth delivery skywards.

This left Waslden on 51-4 after some great early bowling saw Humhpreys remove openers Gale and Hooson and Zaidi had taken the wicket of Hanson.

A solid partnership between the Pro Karunaratne and Nick Barker saw the Walsden tute Cashman drove in field and sent a brilliant ball over the top for O’keeffe to run onto. He timed his run perfectly, bringing the ball down and sliding it past the goalkeeper.

Dale’s third substitution of the game followed on 84 minutes, when Conor Grant came on for Alex Newby.

As the game entered six minutes of stoppage time, Mal Benning scuffed a shot wide from the edge of the area from a partially cleared corner.

Aaron Martin then headed Conlon’s free-kick over for the hosts.

With the clock ticking score trickle upwards but when the magnificent Fitton had the former caught and bowled, Walsden went into survival mode. With the league table being so tight, the extra two points Norden would receive for bowling Walsden out would be crucial and all attempts were made to stop this.

Butterworth bowled Barker for 72 and Harvey Fitton set about removing the tail.

It was the last towards the full-time whistle, Mcnulty got a head on a Port Vale corner to send it clear and O’keeffe raced forward before trying his luck from distance, with the goalkeeper having come up for the corner, but he sent it wide.

The whistle went seconds later and Dale had secured the three points on the road. partnership between Wheelwright and Shackleton which looked to frustrate Norden with overs running out and light fading, but up stepped the impressive Humphreys to knock over Shackelton’s off stump in the penultimate over.

Walsden all out for 202 and a 172 run victory for the visitors, but more crucially a full 12 points ensured Norden’s title hopes remain strong going into the last few weeks of the season.