Title hopefuls lose to Greens
ON yet another glorious day for cricket, Hawk Green entertained title contenders Mottram.
On winning the toss, skipper Josh Unsworth elected to bat.
Josh Hampson and Paul Needham opened the innings against the opening attack of Michael Scott and Oliver Andrews.
On a wicket with a little bit help for the bowlers both batsmen played carefully at first and were very watchful of the odd ball which spat a little off a length.
As the wicket appeared to settle they both played some delightful shots and the 50 partnership was reached, both batsmen seeming in control until Hampson chased a wide delivery and was caught behind for 24 off the bowling of Andrews, 55-1.
Unsworth joined Needham at the crease and he too was soon into his stride, opening his credit with a delightful punch through cover point.
Needham was then caught off the bowling of Stefan Fielding for 34, 67-2.
Ben Littler was his replacement and with Unsworth, in the face of some wayward bowling, they took the total to 133 when Unsworth lost his concentration and was bowled by Ryan Fitton for 33.
New batsman Jack Needham was caught off the bowling of Scott for just 7, 144-4.
Jordan Henderson smashed a couple of fours before a delivery from Scott just clipped the top of leg stick, 158-5.
Newcomer Chris Moores was stumped off the bowling of Fitton for just a single, 161-6, and it appeared with just 10 overs to go that Mottram were gaining the upper hand.
However, the Greens batsmen Littler and Sam Clarke had other ideas as they started to smash the bowling to all parts of the ground and produced a partnership of 72 before Littler fell for an excellent 88, 233-7.
New batsman Logan Jeffs joined in the fun, hitting two maximums in the last over to give the Green a final total of 257-7 with Sam Clarke not out on 39.
Mottram openers Andrew Metcalfe and Oliver Andrews started very steadily against the Greens opening attack of Jack Needham and Lee Hallas, both quick to react to any loose balls.
The Greens’ first success came when the score was on 79 and, having replaced Jack Needham, Jordan Henderson took the wicket of Metcalfe caught Lee Hallas for 42.
Next to fall was Oliver Andrews, again caught Hallas, this time off Unsworth.
Stefan Fielding and Ryan Fitton had advanced to 164-2 with 10 overs to go when Paul Needham took a brilliant catch to remove Fitton for 36, 164-3.
At that stage, Mottram were in a better position than the Green.
Fielding had been batting very fluently when a rash stroke proved his undoing as he hit the ball straight to Paul Needham off the bowling of Unsworth for 47, 190-4.
With overs running out, a very tight spell of six overs from Richards and Unsworth saw the rate required for victory increase to over 12 per over.
With the total on 198, Liam Tongue hit Richards high into the sky with seemingly no apparent danger, but Jack Needham had other ideas as he raced fully 25 metres flung himself to his left and took a magnificent catch to end Mottram’s hopes of victory.
Two more wickets fell to Unsworth and the Mottram response closed on 223-7. Unsworth was the Greens’ most successful bowler with 5-44 from 11 overs.
The 2nd Xl lost to the same opponents by eight wickets after posting a competitive score of 190, with Joe Buttler on 88 and George Ridings on 54.
The 1st Xl are away next Saturday to Dove Holes and on Thursday 14th they entertain local rivals Compstall in the Offside Trust T20 competition.