Stags climb into
NORDEN sit at the top of the Lancashire League table after a comprehensive victory over previous leaders Darwen at Stag Park.
It was undoubtedly the Stags’ best performance of the season so far, beating a very good side by 7 wickets with just 56 overs of cricket needed.
It didn’t take long for the home bowlers to make inroads after Hashum Malik had elected to bowl first on a dampish pitch.
Mark Friend, a centurion for Darwen in the cup the previous day, fell first ball as he edged Ashar Zaidi to Josh Tolley at slip.
The Norden professional, taking the new ball in the absence of Usama Malik, looked nigh-on unplayable and he also removed his counterpart, Siddhesh Lad without scoring. Either side of those wickets, Scott Butterworth also got in on the act.
Playing with a badly injured thumb, Butterworth was a threat from the start and cleaned up John Painter and had John
Cordingley plumb in front.
When Reece Davies chipped to Tolley at cover and then Dave Bowden fell to a hack at Zaidi, Darwen were floundering on 27 for 6 and an extremely early finish looked on the cards.
Some determination from Sam Painter and Chris Lowe briefly threatened to take the total up to something respectable but Greg Butterworth came into the attack and picked up the last three wickets and Darwen were all out for just 86. Zaidi ended with 4 for 15, Scott trapped 3 for 43 and Greg 3 for 9.
The home team were never likely to be challenged by such a small target and so it proved.
A few lusty blows from the skipper and Norden were at 47 before they lost their first wicket. Despite another couple falling, Zaidi and Nick Brierley finished the job.
With more big games against teams at the top end of the table coming up, Norden will be buoyed by this win and full of confidence heading into those fixtures.
It was Worsley Cup 2nd round action at Stag Park on Saturday.
After receiving a bye in round 1, Norden welcomed old rivals Littleborough who are going very well at the top of Division 2.
Norden opted to bowl and Usama Malik picked up the key early wicket of Boro professional Travis Townsend, caught superbly by Zaidi in the gully. The father and son Perren pairing of Zac and Clint were moving the score along steadily and without looking in any trouble when Zac was unfortunate to be caught down the leg-side from
Sami Waheed’s first delivery.
Ryan Miskella was runout by Dean Lord but Matty Hernon was able to give the elder Perren some support.
At 93 for 3, Littleborough looked like they might have a platform to push on to a score approaching 200 but Norden’s two slow left armers bowled their combined allocations of 20 overs for just 40 runs, adding three wickets in the process and the acceleration never really came on a slow pitch. Perren was 9th man out for a cautious 60 and