Derby win sees
NORDEN notched up two hardfought victories over the weekend to rise to second in the Lancashire League and progress to the second round of the LCF Knockout trophy.
There were times in both games, though, when it looked as if Hashum Malik’s men would be on the wrong end of the results.
Saturday’s league fixture against local rivals Rochdale looked slightly easier on paper once it was confirmed that the hosts had been unable to find a deputy professional for the fixture.
The events of the Rochdale innings did nothing to alter that view as they could muster only 130 all out on a good Redbrook surface.
James Maurice-scott and Declan Wilkinson had taken Rochdale to a solid position at 94 for 1 but a wonderful spell of slow left arm bowling from Norden professional Ashar Zaidi quickly turned the tide and the Rochdale batters had no answer.
Zaidi finished with 7 for 33, his best-ever figures in the Lancashire League, and it left Norden feeling confident of victory at the interval.
Whilst Rochdale may not have had a professional to call upon, they did have the experience and class of Steven Oddy and he had both Norden openers back in the shed in quick time.
Greg Butterworth and Zaidi were left with the repair job and they did it well until Zaidi had a rush of blood to the head and holed out to long-off off Ali Muzaffer.
Nick Brierley as run-out backing up at the nonstriker’s end and the game was in the balance at 60 for 4.
Butterworth became Oddy’s 3rd victim and
Norden’s lower-middle order could offer no resistance as the veteran seamer looked like he might match Zaidi’s seven-wicket haul from earlier.
When Scott Butterworth was the 9th man out with 34 still required, all seemed lost but the final wicket air of Sami Waheed and Usama Malik played positively and soon the runs required looked within reach.
Malik scooped and paddled and Waheed played straight and confidently in a high-pressure situation.
With four needed, Malik walked across his stumps and got enough bat on it to send the ball to the fineleg boundary and the job was done.
Oddy’s spell of 6 for 40 should have won the game for his side and despite taking the maximum 12 points, Norden know that they were fortunate to come away with the win.
Elsewhere, struggling Greenmount picked up a welcome win by eight wickets as they played host to Lowerhouse.
The visitors had won the toss and chosen to bat, but the fact wicketkeeper Joseph Martin was their top scorer with 16 told its own story, Callum Hunter claiming 4-28 for the home side as Lowerhouse were all out for 104 in the 39th over.
Greenmount made relatively light work of the chase, openers Jack Harrison (20) and Chesney Hughes (24) doing the groundwork and Tom Heaton finishing off the job with an unbeaten 41 from 51 deliveries.
Burnley won by 29 runs as they entertained Middleton.
The visitors won the toss and asked the home side to take first knock.
After opener Joe Marshall was out without scoring, Burnley found their stride with Liam Bedford (40), M Qasim Shah (43), Ockert Erasmus (37) and Chris Burton (25) all contributing to the cause.
They went on to make 185 from their 50 overs having lost seven wickets.
Best with the ball for Middleton was Dale Highton, who took 3-35.
A number of Middleton batsmen all played their way in but failed to build an innings.
Keelan Shipley (24), Rehan Udwadia (26), James Tierney (22) and Rhys Tierney (27) all threatened to chase down the home team’s tally, but in the end the visitors were dismissed for 156 in the 47th over.
Ramsbottom emerged victorious by five wickets at Clitheroe’s Chatburn Road ground.
Clitheroe skipper Peter Dibb won the toss and elected to bat, sub pro Samit Patel top-scoring with 38 while Sam Mulligan hit an unbeaten 27 as they set a target of 186 having lost seven wickets during their 50-over stint.
For Rammy, Kieren Grimshaw claimed 3-51.
Senuran Muthusamy was the star of the show in Rammy’s reply, hitting 94 off 89 balls including four fours and five maximums.
He fell LBW to Cole Hayman just four runs short of the target and six short of well deserved century.
Harry Caton’s unbeaten knock of 40 had offered sterling support to Muthusamy, the dup taking Rammy from 82-4 to the brink of victory at 183-5 when Muthusamy was dismissed.
Haslingden were edged out by Todmorden in a high-scoring contest at Centre Vale.
Tod skipper Jack Atherton won the toss and inserted Hassy, a decision he must have been questioning as openers Matthew Griffin and Mini Bhada put on 105 for the first wicket.
Bhada was first to fall having struck 42 from 70 balls with five fours and a six. Griffin was third man out at 130-3, caught and bowled by Tod pro Will Bosisto after hitting 54 from 105 deliveries, repeating Bhada’s feat of five fours and a six along the way.
Zafar Gohar (21), Sean Hunsley (23) and Joe Sipocz (25) helped the visitors set a highly competitive total of 223 from their 50 overs with nine wickets having fallen.
Todmorden looked in trouble at 9-2 but Bosisto’s brilliant unbeaten 109 off 115 balls – with 14 fours and a six – ultimatelty sealed the win.
He was ably supported by Amar Ullah (29 and
Noah Priestley (44) as Tod reached their target with two balls to spare.
League leaders Darwen won by 86 runs at Birch Hall as Walsden fell short in their run chase.
Darwen captain Scott Friend won the toss and took first knock, helping his side recover from the loss of opener John Painter without scoring by putting together an innings of 64 off 115 balls including five fours.
Siddesh Lad made 63 off 100 deliveries with seven fours and a useful last stand from Reece Davies (14no) and David Bowden (16no) frustrated Walsden as Darwen closed on 203-6 from their 50 overs.
In reply, Walsden opened well with Josh Gale (31) and Nick Barker (54) putting on 64 for the first wicket.
But when Barker followed Gale back to the pavilion at 82-2, Walsden crumbled and were all out for 117 in the 38th over.