Ten men are enough for Stacksteads
JOHN DAWSON A FINE performance by Stacksteads CC in all three elements of the game helped them to a comfortable 74-run victory away to Padiham CC 2nds, despite playing with ten men for the duration of the match.
Stacksteads were put into bat on what looked to be bowler friendly conditions, however in-form openers Jonathan Butterworth and John Hindle got their team off to another solid start.
The pair endured some impressive hostile bowling from Shirtcliffe and Mustoe, and used the extra pace on the ball to their advantage with Butterworth hitting five boundaries as they racked up a 55-run partnership. John Hindle was first to go, being caught and bowled by Shirtcliffe for 13 before Butterworth followed three runs later for 26.
Matt Croney and Ellis Hussey carried on the good work and had added 35 runs when the former miss-cued a pull straight up in the air for 17.
Hussey continued to bat positively, finding the short straight boundaries to his liking as he and Andrew Holt progressed the score to 139 for 4 when the latter was caught out for 13.
Hussey brought up a deserved half century, but he then missed a well-flighted delivery from Hussain after advancing down the wicket and was stumped out for 60 off 57 balls. Valuable contributions from the lower order saw John Dawson and Pete Hoskin score 17 and 22 respectively as Stacksteads passed 200 and finally closed their innings on 203 for 8.
The visitors made the perfect start in reply as Dawson forced a rash shot from Meehan with Mike Jones completing a steepling catch in the covers in the first over.
After a period of quiet overs Andy Jones took two quick wickets thanks to catches from Hindle and Hoskin to reduce Padiham to 17 for 3.
Big-hitting Mustoe then unleashed a ferocious assault on Dawson with 20 runs being blasted off one over to end a succession of maidens. Dawson replied soon after with Clegg being caught behind and Shirtcliffe comprehensively bowled out to restore Stacksteads’ authority at 39 for 5.
Mustoe then found an attacking partner in Hussain, who after a shaky start with numerous play and misses off Dawson got the better of the left-armer with a flurry of boundaries.
Croney and Holt were introduced into the attack in the absence of Shahid Iqbal and they had the desired effect of curtailing Mustoe and Hussain’s assault. With Padiham well positioned at 108 for 5 approaching the drinks interval, Croney struck twice, firstly trapping Mustoe LBW for 57 off just 40 balls and then Dawson caught out Allen for two.
Holt took the vital wicket of Hussain immediately after refreshments thanks to Hoskin taking a tricky catch which required a considerable amount of ground to be covered. Croney held onto a sharp catch in the slips off Holt before the reverse of the combination sealed victory in 30th over as Padiham’s last man was caught by Holt without scoring with their total on 129 as Croney finished with the impressive figures of 3 wickets for 8 runs.
This Saturday Stacksteads are away to Earby 2nds. ●● Jonathan Butterworth