Greens sink Woodley to revive form
HAWK Green got back to winning ways at the weekend with a 113 run victory against Woodley.
On winning the toss the Greens skipper Josh Unsworth chose to bat first with Craig Young and Josh Hampson opening the innings against the Woodley attack of Danny Kay and Paul Turner.
The pair were in no trouble at all and took the score to 61-0 when the Woodley skipper made a bowling change, swopping Paul Turner for George Hill, and Danny Kay for brother Jamie.
It was Jamie who struck first, having Young caught and bowled with only his third delivery.
Next to the crease was Peter Richards and he and Hampson added a further 20 runs with Hampson the aggressor scoring the majority until he was eventually LBW to Hill for 53, 81-2, Jack Needham joined Richards and the pair started to increase the run rate until, with the total on 115, Jack Needham lost his off stick to the bowling of Hill.
When Richards was joined by Jordan Henderson the supporters expected – and got – an increase in the run rate as the pair started to flay the Woodley bowling.
But this did not last too long. With the total on 159 and his own score on 24 came the comical run out of Henderson who, when turning to make ground, gave a great impression of Bambi on Ice!
It was at this stage that Richards really began to cut loose but lost partners on the way as Justin Blackhurst (1), Paul Needham and Josh Unsworth – both for four – failed to support him and when he was unluckily run out for an excellent 74 the total was 201-8 and it was left to youngster Ryan Stringer with a quickfire 21 to take the total to 225 at the end of the allocated overs.
Jamie Kay was the pick of the bowlers with 3-54.
After a nervous start the Woodley response, led by Harrison Webb and Danny Oldland against the new opening attack of Ryan Stringer and Jack Needham, got off to a bright start, taking the score to 52 when skipper Unsworth turned to his two spinners, Mark Richards and Jordan Henderson.
It was the latter who struck first, having Oldland caught and bowled for 24, 54-1. Shortly after Harrison Webb was run out for 28, 61-2, new to the crease Connor Cranwell did not trouble the scorers as he too was run out for 2, 63-3.
Gordon Hill and Jamie Kay valiantly tried to repair the damage against two slow bowlers on a wicket conducive to spin.
Richards struck when he had Hill caught by Blackhurst for 11, 74-4. Kay was joined by brother Danny but it was the former to fall first bowled by Richards for 11, 88-5.
When Danny Kay was bowled by Henderson for 4 and the total 91-6 the writing was on the wall, Paul Turner was caught Ryan Stringer bowled Richards on the same score and James Duggan fell to Henderson for a duck, and after a very brief cameo from number nine Gary Picken, 15, James Duggan was LBW to Henderson and Richards accounted for Picken and Jake Hounslow in the same over to leave Woodley 112 all out and 20 further valuable points.
During the 22.4 overs bowled by Richards and Henderson Woodley lost 10 wickets for just 60 runs with Henderson finishing with 3-35 and Richards 5-22.
The Greens 2nd Xl also won compiling a formidable total of 256-7, skipper Ben Littler 70, Brad Holme 85 and Peter Taylor 35 not out, they then restricted their opponents, Woodley, to 207 to strengthen their grip for the title.
Next week the Green are at home to Dove Holes wickets pitched 1pm.