Richards puts rivals to sword
OLD Glossop were Hawk Green’s visitors to Rhode Field in the first round of the Bissenden Cup on what was a glorious day for cricket.
Old Glossop skipper won the toss and asked the Green to take first knock, on what appeared to be a great batting track, and he must have regretted this decision with the carnage that was to follow.
Josh Hampson and skipper Josh Unsworth opened the innings against opening bowlers Ellis Walsh and Mark Allen and it was the latter who struck in his first over having Hampson LBW on the back foot.
Next to the crease was Peter Richards who started his innings very watchful and the Old Glossop team must have been relatively happy for the first six overs.
It was at this point that Richards decided enough was enough and cut loose and started to flay the bowling to all parts of the ground. In partnership with Unsworth he took the score very quickly to 94 when the latter popped the ball to point with his score on 32, 94-2.
Richards was joined at the crease by Ben Littler and the pair added 47 runs before Littler was caught and bowled by Paul Littlewood for 13, 141-3.
That brought to the crease teenager Jack Needham, and what followed in the next 20 overs was more akin to a game in the IPL with a succession of reverse sweeps, ramp and scoop shots along with classic cover drives and, in particular from Richards, huge maximums both straight and leg side.
The teenager was not to be outdone by his senior partner and really started to accelerate, Richards reaching his ton with the score on 187.
All the Old Glossop bowlers were savaged by the pair, none more so than Mark Allen who went for 100 in just eight overs.
With just three overs to go Needham reached a well deserved century from just 67 balls before he was trapped LBW by Steven Allcock, 384-4.
In what must be close to or an actual League record the pair added 243 runs, and shortly after Richards reached a personal milestone as he reached a magnificent double century.
The innings eventually closed on a mammoth 404-3 with Richards not out on 228, a truly memorable innings.
The Old Glossop response was led by Adam Demidh and Jerome Sagar against the Greens opening attack of Lee Hallas and Jack Needham and it was Sagar to fall first caught off the bowling of Hallas, 5-1.
In the next over Jack Needham removed Demidh, 5-2.
Andy King fell at 17-3, bowled Hallas. This quickly became 17-4 as Logan Jeffs claimed his first wicket bowling Mark Allen.
There followed a spirited mini revival as Stephen Alcock and Dom Sagar added 60 for the fifth wicket before Alcock was caught off the bowling of Unsworth, 77-5.
Next to fall was Andy Smith, caught off the bowling of teenager Harry Fenteman, 94-6. Dom Sagar was eventually removed on 99-7 and Lee Hallas mopped up the tail and Old Glossop were all out 109.
Lee Hallas finished with three wickets, Logan Jeffs a very creditable eight overs 2-18 and teenage debutant Harry Fenteman 1-32.
Hawk Green 2nd Xl lost heavily in their defence of the Hawke Trophy to Broadbottom. The Green are away to Dinting on Saturday 12th and at home to local rivals Compstall in the second round of the National KO. Wickets pitched 1pm for both games.