Green’s place in final secured
ON Sunday Hawk Green entertained Upton, Birkenhead, in the semi final of the Cheshire Shield Cup.
With the heavy rain overnight and showers in the morning the Hawk Green groundstaff and players worked tirelessly and managed to get the ground fit for a game with reduced overs, 37 per side.
On winning the toss the Upton skipper, Tom Marsland, decided to bat first and the Upton openers Matt Owen and Sam Talbot faced the Greens opening attack of Jack Needham and Dylan Heginbotham, both batsmen really struggled against the pace and accuracy of the bowling.
First to fall was Sam Talbot, who had been wafting at Jack Needham’s bowling on a regular basis and finally succumbed when he was caught behind for 5, 12-1, he was replaced by Chris Stowell-Smith.
The new pair took the score to 88-1 after 18 overs when the heavens opened again.
Once more the groundstaff, players and even a couple of spectators started to clear the puddles once the covers had been removed, various scenarios were discussed as to the outcome when, and if, play resumed.
Eventually with the mopping up complete the game was restarted with both sides to receive 26 overs each under Duckworth and Lewis rules, realising the need for quick runs and only eight overs remaining Owen and Stowell-Smith started to inject some urgency in the quest for runs, but the Green are an excellent fielding team and it was one big hit too many that led to the downfall of Stowell-Smith when he was caught by Ben Littler for 52 off the bowling of Jack Needham 112-2.
Owen fell immediately after run out for 35 by an excellent throw from Sam Messih 112-3, new batsman Dan Owen fell in exactly the same manner this time a smart piece of fielding and throw from Peter Richards, 113 - 4.
The two remaining batsmen really struggled to cope with the bowling and the innings stuttered to 123 - 4, after the calculators were put away it was decided that under the Duckworth and Lewis rules that the Green had to score 151 in 26 overs to win.
The run chase was led by Josh Hampson and Jordan Henderson facing the Upton opening attack of Liam Sundve and Tommy Maguire, Jordan Henderson showed his intent from the outset only to fall to an excellent catch by Matt Owen off the bowling of Maguire for 16, 17-1, next to the crease, Peter Richards, also took the attack to the bowlers when he fell to first change bowler, Callum McCormack for a run a ball 17, 46-2.
Chris Stowell-Smith was introduced into the attack and made an immediate impact as he had Hampson caught behind for 11, 47-3. new batsmen Jack Needham also succumbed to the same bowler falling for 5 caught Matt Owen, 56-4.
The two new batsmen Ben Littler and Paul Needham started very patiently and some supporters became slightly concerned when the Green fell behind the rate required but following a backfoot punch for 6 by Needham both batsmen upped the run rate.
Needham eventually fell for a better than a run a ball 37 including 3 x 4s and twomaximums, 1205, Littler at this time showed his maturity in seeing the game to its conclusion and with Dylan Heginbotham in good form the victory was sealed when Littler hit a straight drive to win the game, with 11 balls to spare, and also bring up a well deserved 50 with 5 x 4s and 2 maximums, Heginbotham closed on 11 not out.
The Green are at home in the Final on the 13th September hosting Barrow in the final.
All credit to both umpires for seeing this game through to its conclusion a great game played in the right spirit.