For the second day in succession, Heywood showed just how much better their best is than nearly every team in the CLL.
This time Clifton were on the receiving end of the Heywood onslaught, and they were never really in the game as they were crushed by 75 runs.
They also gifted Heywood the fifth point with an amazingly unrushed display in the field, Greg Jennings inexplicably taking forever to bowl each over as Clifton, despite some bad weather, failed to bowl their 50 overs in the allotted time.
Heywood were put in by the visitors, who have secured themselves a place in the top division for next season’s new league structure, and immediately were under pressure as the previous day’s hero – Ross Zelem – was bowled by stand-in pro Raymond van Schoor for a duck.
Worse was to follow when captain Bobby Cross was bizarrely given out caught and bowled by the Namibian, when he himself was blatantly unsure it had carried. Opinions were mixed around the ground as to whether the ball did carry but I was certain it didn’t and was most annoyed by Clifton’s lack of sportsmanship. It’s a club I like but I don’t like that sort of thing.
Anyway, this brought Danny Pawson to the crease to partner Travis Townsend and the tone was set as the all-rounder blasted a drive through extra cover off his first ball.
Like the previous day, Townsend was marvellous all round the wicket, and off his legs and to the short ball he was peerless.
Pawson showed his full array of shots too, and was particularly harsh on anything a fraction short and wide of off stump.
It was a real shame when Townsend played on with his score on 99, and despite his rueful smile on the way out he must have been gutted missing out on a century on what could be his final appearance at Crimble.
Pawson was run out for an excellent 75 and all that was left was for Hamish Paterson – on what is his last appearance at Crimble – to biff a huge six off his first ball off Jennings as Heywood finished in 220.
Thanks to their poor over rate, Clifton were docked three overs from their chase and they were never in the hunt.
A 50-run opening partnership was broken by Humza Naeem, who bowled brilliantly as the second change bowler, picking up two more wickets to finish with 3-17 off 7 overs.
Rob Slawson and Chris Kaye then picked up where they had left off the previous day, helping themselves to three wickets apiece as Clifton finished on 145-9. The five points were Heywood’s.
It was another fine performance from Heywood. Again Walsden held their nerve against Radcliffe, and it is almost a certainty they will the title, and they will deserve it too. But Heywood keep proving they are worthy challengers for the title and without a strange run of poor form mid season they would have been the team at the top of the table.
HEYWOOD
R Cross c and b van Schoor 15
R Zelem b van Schoor 0
T Townsend b Jennings 99
D Pawson run out 75
C Maguire c Dorsey b Jennings 0
D Latham not out 10
H Paterson not out 8
Extras 13
Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 220
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-56, 3-200, 4-200, 5-203
Bowling: van Schoor 11-3-39-2, Jennings 25-6-119-2, Wright 14-1-5-56-0
CLIFTON
M Athouda lbw b Naeem 20
C Lord c Pawson b Naeem 26
J Royle b Naeem 0
R van Schoor c and b Kaye 17
T Derbyshire st Pawson b Kaye 2
J Ainscough c Fawcett b Kaye 20
L Dorsey not out 21
G Jennings c Pawson b Slawson 12
R Reade lbw b Slawson 0
A Lord lbw b Slawson 4
M Wright not out 2
Extras 21
Total (for 9 wkts, 47 overs) 145
Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-50, 3-64, 4-69, 5-77, 6-105, 7-133, 8-134, 9-141
Bowling: Paterson 10-1-26-0, T Townsend 8-0-28-0, Kaye 11-2-28-3, Naeem 7-0-17-3, Slawson 8-1-34-3, Maguire 3-0-9-0
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