Hindle hits a century in Stacky chase

DAVID DAWSON IT was a fantastic individual effort from John Hindle, playing his first game of the season, as Stacksteads 1st XI chased down a target of 250 with 4 overs to spare as they visited Barnoldswick on Saturday.

Barnoldswick won the toss and elected to bat on a good looking track and despite some excellent bowling from the Stacksteads opening bowlers, Andy Jones and Matt Hussey.

The home team managed to make a brisk start and added 87 for the first wicket.

The Barnoldswick openers took advantage of plenty of luck and poor fielding as Stacksteads put down a succession of chances in the slip cordon.

It was the introduction of Tom Thompson that brought the breakthrough, having Green caught at mid- off by a diving Jonathan Butterworth.

However that brought Latif to the crease who added 90 for the second wicket in partnership with Adil Khan before the returning Andy Jones bowled Latif for 38.

Khan took the Barnoldswick score past 200 and brought up his own century before Matt Hussey forced him to chop on for 107.

Stacky got a measure of control in the last few overs as Matt Hussey picked up a second wicket and Ellis Hussey’s off breaks saw him claim a brace of wickets (2 for 15 off 3) as the home side posted 249 for 7 from their 45 overs, with a run out on the last ball.

Skipper Jonny Butterworth opened up with Hindle and Stacky made an excellent start, despite some playing and missing against some good bowling as they added 67 for the first wicket.

The skipper was the first to fall as he was caught in the covers for 16 as he looked to ●● John Hindle accelerate the scoring.

Andy Holt joined Hindle in the middle and they looked to make inroads into a run rate north of run a ball. Some good running and regular boundaries saw the pair add 80 before Holt top edged and was caught at deep square leg for 35.

Ellis Hussey could only add 7 before he was bowled by Saffii, the pick of the Barlick bowlers. Matt Croney was next in with 100 required from 18 overs.

Hindle continued an impressive mix of clever placement and brutal cover driving and passed his century scoring at better than a run per ball.

Croney provided excellent support and regularly peppered the legside boundary whenever the bowlers offered the opportunity. In the end the two saw Stacky home for an impressive seven wicket win – Hindle finishing on a magnificent unbeaten 141 and Croney an invaluable 35 not out.

Stacky 2nd XI won their second match on the bounce as they chased down 101 to win by 2 wickets at New Hall Hey against Burnley Belvedere.

The pick of the Stacky bowlers were Geoff Allen with 4 for 16 and Julien Fisher with 2 for 10.

For the second time in two weeks Gary ‘The Finisher’ Harden saw Stacky over the line with a patient 25 from 100 balls and finished unbeaten. There were also useful contributions from Craig Caldwell (14) and Julien Fisher (19).