Stacksteads claim win in epic match
STACKSTEADS CC STACKSTEADS CC came out on top after a “roller coaster” match at Burnley Belvedere, which saw the visitors’ lower order recover the innings with the bat and their bowlers holding their nerve backed by fantastic catching.
Stacksteads were put into bat and John Hindle showed his attacking intentions clipping the first ball of the innings off his legs for four runs.
Hindle carried on in the same vain, supported by Jonathan Butterworth, as Stacksteads rattled along to 40 before the latter was caught out for nine.
The visitors’ innings then stagnated as the Belvedere bowlers improved their accuracy which resulted in Francis Chadwick – and then Hindle – being bowled out for 7 and 32 respectively.
The home team then took control of the game by taking the wickets of Paul Scaife and Cameron Holder to reduce Stacksteads to 69 for 5.
Skipper Matt Burke led the counter-attack with a quick-fire innings of 36 off just 28 balls, taking the score to 117 before being caught at cover.
John Dawson then stepped up a gear taking on the role of aggressor as he firstly put on 16 with Pete Hoskin and then 29 with Tom Thompson.
The number nine batsman Thompson briefly outscored the established Dawson by hitting two fours and two sixes on the way to a crucial 24.
Paul Chambers then provided vital support in a partnership of 41 for the ninth wicket helping Dawson to a half-century and his team past 200.
Stacksteads closed on 203 for 9 with Dawson unbeaten on 64 in an innings that included seven fours and two maximums.
Cameron Holder struck early for Stacksteads having Paul Blakey caught behind, but then Ali Akbar and Ayaaz Dar took control of the innings.
The pair had moved the score on to 80 before Dar was caught low down by Holder at deep mid-wicket off the bowling Owain Tracey for 24. The game swung back in Stacksteads’ favour in Tracey’s fourth over as Mohammed Nawaz was give out, caught behind without scoring ●● John Dawson scored 64 runs and then two balls later Dawson pulled off a magnificent diving catch to dismiss Seroze Hussain.
Belvedere were now reduced to 88 for 5 but Akbar was looking increasingly dangerous.
Ali Zar was trapped LBW for five, so with Akbar fast running out of partners he was forced to attack Tracey and paid the price as Dawson held onto a firmly-hit drive above his head to remove the danger man for 78 and hand the initiative back to Stacksteads.
Colin Quinn and Ali Shabar kept the home teams’ hopes alive adding 22 before the former was caught by Butterworth off Holder.
Caleb Greenhalgh then became victim to the second amazing catch of the innings when Holder plucked a guaranteed six out of the air on the boundary edge to give Tracey his sixth wicket.
Paul Chambers kept his nerve to bowl a wicket maiden, dismissing Shabar for 38 before Daniel Jenkins and Doug Livesey played out the remaining overs falling 11 runs short but denying Stacksteads extra bowling points.
This Saturday Stacksteads are away to Ribblesdale Wanderers seconds.