Stacksteads run ends in a thrashing

STACKSTEADS CC A BLISTERING 137 runs from Read CC’s Connor Lowes brought Stacksteads’ four-game unbeaten run to an abrupt halt as the New Hall Hey side were thrashed by 172 runs at Whalley Road.

Read batted first in perfect conditions, but it was Stacksteads who struck first when Will Cook-Martin pounced on a missfield to run out Mohammed with the score on 13.

Jack Jones was starting to dominate the bowlers after a couple of early edges and had hit seven boundaries before Paul Scaife clung onto a fiercely hit drive low down in the covers off the bowling of Andy Jones for 29.

Lowes and Zafran made steady progress and had put on 64 risk-free runs when the latter feathered a catch to John Hindle off the bowling of John Dawson with the score on 99 after 22 overs.

Lowes now joined by Marshall upped the tempo as Stacksteads rotated their bowlers with the former unleashing a series of huge sixes and the latter square cutting at will.

Both batsmen survived difficult catching opportunities and made the visitors pay as they went on an all out assault scoring 178 runs in 20 overs as the put the bowlers to the sword in the afternoon heat.

Dawson was brought back into the attack and finally dismissed Lowes thanks to a fantastic catch from Scaife in the deep as he attempted to add to his nine maximums and 15 boundaries in his innings of 137.

Andy Holt bowled out Marshall five runs later for a run-a-ball 67 then Clark suffered the same fate at the hands of Dawson for one.

Read closed on 295 for 6 with Dawson finishing with a respectable 3 wickets for 34 runs off 13 overs.

In reply, Matt Croney was promoted into the opening spot due to Cook-Martin suffering a knee injury whilst ●● Jonathan Butterworth fielding, but he was out with just five runs on the board as he edged a short delivery to the wicketkeeper.

Jonathan Butterworth and John Hindle both looked comfortable at the crease using the pace on the ball to good effect and had added 38 runs in just seven overs when the latter was caught behind for 23 off Wood.

Ellis Hussey followed just four balls later as he was LBW to the same bowler without scoring as Stacksteads slumped to 43 for 3. Read struck again 11 runs later with Scaife being caught out without scoring.

Dawson took 13 balls to get off the mark,but once the opening bowlers were rested he looked to take on their replacements and had hit two boundaries off Butt’s second over before he was bowled out by a well disguised slower ball for 16.

And 77 for 5 quickly became 85 for 7 as Butterworth was LBW for a well-worked 31 and Holt was caught out for 2.

With Stacksteads playing purely for pride, Cook-Martin combined with Francis Chadwick and Matt Hussey to get his team into three figures however he was run out for 13 hobbling for a second run.

Hussey and Andy Jones hit a late flurry of boundaries before the former was bowled out leaving Stacksteads all out in the 33rd over for 123.

This Saturday Stacksteads are at home to Earby 2nds and play Euxton also at home on Sunday in the semi-finals of the Lawrenson Cup.