Distant sides come together for first clash

GEOGRAPHICALLY Upton and Hawk Green are the two most distant clubs in the County League and the two clashed on Saturday for the first time at Upton.

On winning the toss the Upton skipper invited the Green to take first knock with openers Josh Hampson and Tearon Gleeson facing the Upton attack led by Battersby and McGowan.

The wicket proved to be very low, but that was not to cause the loss of the Greens first when Gleeson chipped a full toss from Battersby to Seaton leaving the Green on 13-1 and he was quickly followed by next batsman Sam Messih, who was adjudged LBW to Battersby for 4, 21-2.

Next to the crease was the Green’s skipper, Elliot Young, and both he and Hampson seemed very comfortable at the crease and without being too aggressive slowly moved the score forward until with the score on 72 Hampson was adjudged LBW off the bowling of Smith for 30.

Jack Needham joined his skipper at the crease and the pair took the attack to the Upton bowlers with boundaries and a couple of maximums until Needham was bowled by Sharrock for 25, 111-4.

With the Green supporters hoping that the team could reach about 180, when Sam Clarke strode to the wicket, no-one could have possibly predicted what was to come. With an excellent understanding they rotated the strike and the score started to rise steadily.

Young was first to reach 50, but shortly after the dressing room erupted as Clarke reached his first senior team 50, and when he eventually fell, caught Stewart bowled Sharrock for 61, he had added 123 runs and left the wicket with the score on a very healthy 234-5.

The final question was would Young reach a well-deserved ton and this was answered in the affirmative in the start of the penultimate over when he struck a four, a fantastic innings from the captain and it was great to see not only the spectators applauding a great knock, but also every one of the fielding team.

With Jordan Henderson being stumped off the last ball of the allotted overs for 11, the score closed on 253-6 with Young not out on 101, a memorable knock from the skipper.

With three pace bowlers missing it was left to Jack Needham to bear the brunt of the pace attack against the Upton openers Seaton and Marsland, Needham shared the new ball with Young and it was Needham who struck first when he bowled Marsden for 4, 5-1.

New batsman di Stefano and Seaton dug in and didn’t look capable of launching an attack on the Greens total but fair play to Needham for giving his all for 11 overs on what was the hottest day of the year so far.

Henderson replaced Young and trapped di Stefano lbw for a stubborn 19, 50-2. Stewart was next to the crease and next to depart as he was caught by Ben Cartledge off the bowling of Henderson for 2, 62-3.

Captain Smith joined Seaton and it became obvious that to stand any chance of taking maximum points they had to remove the latter. Gleeson was brought into the attack and struck at once, bowling Seaton for a stubborn 52, 104-4.

It was apparent that Upton were nor capable or interested in trying to win the game.

Smith was next to fall, a tremendous catch at square leg by Clarke bowled Henderson 104-5, Stowell Smith only lasted five balls before he fell LBW to Gleeson, 105-6.

In the final over of his 15 Henderson removed Williams, caught behind by Jake Skelton, 108-7.

This became a game of attrition with five or six fielders crowding the bat and two slow bowlers in action as Henderson finished his spell.

Young came back into the attack and bowled Green who had stuck around for 9 overs for just a single, 121-8.

Battersby joined McGowan and batted very stubbornly before falling to Gleeson for 5, 130-9. McGowan played aggressive strokes mixed with stubborn resistance before he became Gleeson’s fourth victim, LBW for 16, handing victory to the Green in a great game with just one over to spare.

Next week the Green are at home to Winnington Park, wickets pitched 12 noon.