Greens take step towards the title
WITH the season coming to a conclusion the Green still had a slight advantage over their closest rivals Mottram, the visitors to Rhode Fields on Saturday were Dove Holes.
On winning the toss the Dove captain Dan Jones elected to bat and opened the innings with himself and the league’s leading run scorer Tom Forder against the Green’s attack of Ryan Stringer and Josh Unsworth, on a wicket with a little grass on it which proved to be favourable for batting yet still offering a little assistance to the bowlers.
Unsworth was first to strike as he had Forder caught Sam Clarke for a duck and two overs later he removed Jones when he clean bowled him for six, 6-2.
The new batsmen, Mark Vernon and Jack Gregory, dug in against some fine pace bowling but it was the introduction of slow bowler Jordan Henderson that proved the undoing of their partnership when he had Gregory caught Lee Hallas for 15 in the 16th over, 29-3. Next to the crease was Shaun Cartledge and he too dug in with Vernon.
The Greens skipper was trying all his bowling options but it was once again the introduction of spin, Mark Richards, who proved the downfall of Cartledge caught Unsworth for 15, 69-4. Mark Turner was next to the crease and next to fall, caught Peter Richards off the bowling of brother Mark for 5, 83-5.
Vernon was still proving to be a thorn in the side of Hawk Green as he mixed stubbornness with a little aggression.
Following the fall of the fifth wicket the Greens skipper reverted to his opening attack with immediate success as he removed Joe Gregory caught and bowled for two, 93-6.
Vernon’s stubborn resistance ended when he was clean bowled by Stringer for a hard earned 51, 104-7. Next to fall was Tom Drabble, caught behind and the next ball saw Sean Critchlow bowled off the bowling of Ryan Stringer who then clean bowled Dave Cartledge as the Dove innings closed on 123.
A fine performance from the Greens bowlers with, Ryan Stringer closing on 4-15, Josh Unsworth 3-27, Mark Richards 2-23 and Jordan Henderson 1-9.
The Greens response was led by Unsworth and Josh Hampson and it was the former who fell first, caught on the boundary from the first ball he faced.
He was replaced by Peter Richards who showed his intent from the start as he raced to 26 when a leading edge proved to be his downfall, 43-2. The Green were to lose no further wickets in pursuit of victory as Jack Needham and Hampson guided them over the line. Hampson hit an imperious 61 and Needham, belying his age, a forceful 40 off only 38 balls and it was fitting he completed the victory with a six over backward square leg.
A fine win in their pursuit of the title, but the day was completed when the Greens 2nd Xl were crowned champions as they earned enough bonus points and their closest rivals lost.
Next week the Greens 1st Xl are away to Old Glossop wickets pitched 12-30pm with the 2nd Xl at home.