Green triumph on two fronts
WITH a slightly depleted side the Green travelled to Hayfield on yet another glorious day for cricket, and what a thrilling game ensued.
On winning the toss the Hayfield skipper Anthony Ebbrell elected to bat and the Hayfield openers George Wood and Russell Evans faced the Greens opening attack of Lee Hallas and Jack Needham.
Both batsmen struggled against the pace of Hallas but it was Needham who struck first, having Evans caught at first slip by Peter Richards for 12, 27-1.
Next to the crease was Gareth Davies and he also struggled against Hallas but the introduction of George Ridings into the attack had an immediate impact as he had Wood trapped LBW in his first over for 28, 50-2.
Hayfield’s South African, Hershelle Poggonpoel, joined Davies at the wicket but was unable to contribute to the total as he also fell victim to Ridings LBW for 1, 52-3.
New batsman Kieran Sharp was soon into his stride, punishing any loose bowling and in partnership with Davies added 51 to the total before he fell to Ridings bowled for 27, 103-4.
Incoming batsman James Gemmell also batted with intent and with Davies in cruise control the pair added a further 56 when Gemmell smashed a straight drive back at bowler Peter Richards who took an amazing caught and bowled.
The batsman stood in disbelief at his dismissal, 159-5, Gemmell out for 30.
Jacob Noakes was to be Ridings’ fourth victim, caught by Mark Richards for 1, 160-6,
Elliot Noblet (5) was bowled by Richards, 1737, James Adamson entertained briefly and added 35 but the reintroduction of Needham into the attack paid dividends as he first had Adamson caught by skipper Josh Hampson for 21 and then Davies succumbed LBW for a fine 74 and the innings closed on 216-9 after the allotted overs.
George Ridings was the pick of the bowlers with 4-38, with a special mention to Hallas conceding just 14 runs.
The Greens response was led by Josh Hampson and Paul Needham. The Hayfield attack was led by Hugh Woods and Poggonpoel. With the score on 39 Hampson received a delivery from Woods that reared at him and he was caught behind for 25, 39-1.
Jack Needham was next to the crease and next to depart as he chased a wide delivery from Woods and was also caught behind, for 1, 56-2.
As the wicket became more batsman friendly, incoming Ben Littler and Needham started to take control and punish any loose deliveries, Littler being the main perpetrator and new bowler Jimmy Adamson being on the receiving end.
The partnership was finally broken when Needham was caught Ebbrell off the bowling of Adamson for 43, 111-3.
Peter Richards was next to the wicket and after a watchful few deliveries he cut loose. In the meantime Littler had a rush of blood and was bowled Adamson for a fine 46, 122-4.
Justin Blackhurst joined Richards and the pair added a further 32 runs before Richards was excellently caught by Woods for 32, 164-5 and the Hayfield team and spectators began thinking of a victory.
Next to fall was Blackhurst, bowled Noblett for a well constructed 23, 181-6, with Sam Clarke being bowled by Adamson for 2 the score stood at 182-7 – still 35 required for victory.
With Hallas hitting 11 from the 37th over the pressure on the Green was released a little but the game swayed back in favour of Hayfield as Ridings was LBW to Adamson, 200-8.
Mark Richards was the incoming batsman with 17 still required and the game in the balance.
With the score on 209 in the 42nd over both batsmen took a single and then Hallas struck two fours to seal the win and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with Hallas closing on 27 not out and Richards also not out 5.
On Sunday the Green entertained Dove Holes in the semi final of the Bissenden Cup.
Skipper Josh Hampson won the toss and elected to bat first, opening the innings with himself and Justin Blackhurst facing Sean Critchlow and Jack Gregory and it was the latter who struck first having Blackhurst caught for 8, 12-1.
Peter Richards joined Hampson and the pair added 73 for the second wicket with some fine stroke play but also with some excellent running between the wickets which eventually led to the downfall of Hampson when he was runout for 34, 85-2.
Ben Littler joined Richards and left two balls later bowled for a duck.
Richards and incoming Jack Needham kept the scoreboard ticking over and added 42 before Richards was caught for a well constructed 66, 129-4.
A mini collapse with the fall of Logan Jeffs and Sam Clarke for 1 and 2 respectively, 149-6, enter Brad Holmes, the entertainer, and he did not fail as he batted very maturely but also with some audacious shots with Critchlow being hit out of the attack, when he eventually fell, run out, for a magnificent 54 the score was 240-7 which quickly became 240-8 when Needham fell for a run a ball 59.
New batsman Tom Chetwyn fell for a duck, 242-9, the last pair Mark Richards (9 not out) and George Ridings (6) took the final total to 256.
With three main bowlers absent, Peter Richards took on the task of opening the bowling with Jack Needham and it was the latter who struck first having Daniels Jones caught for a duck, 3-1.
Richards had Mark Vernon LBW for 13, 25-2, and a partnership of 71 between Jack Gregory and Tom Forder was broken when Mark Richards bowled Forder for 31, 96-3.
Shaun Cartledge then fell to George Ridings for 2, 106-4, Joe Gregory joined brother Jack and the pair added 34 when Jack was bowled by Jeffs for a fine 65, 140-5.
Peter Richards accounted for Joe Gregory (38) Tom Forder (4) and Dave Cartledge (14), 1948, while Jack Needham and Bradley Holmes to quickly kill off the challenge when they dismissed the last two batsmen, leaving Dove 211 all out.
The Green play Tintwistle in the final at Hazel Grove on Sunday 5th August 1pm start.
On Saturday the Green entertain Tintwistle, wickets pitched 1pm.