Heywood Seconds Conquer Weather Then Tame Werneth

THE Dawson brothers and a determined groundstaff ensured that Heywood Cricket Club’s second team beat the weather and earned a cracking five-point victory over Werneth on Sunday.

Heavy rain thwarted every first team fixture in the Central Lancashire League, but Heywood’s determined volunteers worked all morning and early afternoon at Crimble to ensure that a 27-over game could get under way at the remarkably early time of 3.15pm.

And their hard work was rewarded with an excellent game of cricket between two spirited teams that saw brothers Simon, Phil and Andy Dawson and veteran Rick Purser play key roles.

Simon and Phil shared a first-wicket stand of 64 in a total of 124-6, then Simon took 4-4 and Andy 3-19, backed up by 3-50 by Purser bowling throughout, to dismiss Werneth for 106.

That secured a second successive five-point victory to see the side flying high at the top.

Captain Roger Smethurst, one of the working party who made play possible, paid tribute to the club’s volunteers for their efforts, and to Werneth and the two umpires for their desire to see the game played.

He said: “There was a lot of effort put in from 9.30am by members of the ground committee, and their efforts paid dividends.

“But we have to really give credit to both umpires and to the Werneth team, who were keen to play and who contributed to a good game of cricket.”

Heywood’s testing target of 124 was built on the solid foundations provided by Simon and Phil Dawson.

Simon played the aggressive role and sometimes rode his luck in a quickfire 44 until he was caught behind with the score on 64.

Wes Hunt fell to a contentious first ball caught behind decision, but Phil continued to anchor the innings. And his patient 32 – along with a biffed, unbeaten 18 by Adam Fawcett – saw Heywood post a challenging target.

Purser and the third Dawson brother Andy then got stuck into the Werneth top order and the Oldham area side were reduced to 26-5, before Jason Lutener and John Taylor started to worry Smethurst’s side as they put on a superb 68 for the sixth wicket in front of a large and appreciative home support.

However, Simon Dawson was brought into the attack and he turned things back in Heywood’s favour, first having Lutener magnificently caught by the increasingly impressive Scott Jones behind the stumps, then ripping through the tail to finish with 4-4 off three overs.

Fittingly, perhaps, it was left to Purser to take the final wicket with two balls to go. He bowled through the innings, keeping one end tight and enabling the young strike bowlers to whirl away from the other.

His figures of 3-50 from 13.5 overs were testament to the important role he played.

Smethurst was understandably pleased with his side’s performance, and said: “That was a good, solid performance.

“Phil and Simon got us off to a good start and Phil held the innings together, which meant we had wickets in hand at the end and enabled Adam Fawcett to bat well and add those extra, vital runs.

“It was a total I would have settled for before the start, but then we bowled really well. And it wasn’t until their two lads came into the middle order and played properly that Werneth started to get into the game.

“We didn’t help ourselves with some poor dropped catches early on but overall we fielded well and showed good spirit.

“I have to mention Scott Jones’ catch off Simon Dawson, which really took the game away from Werneth. He took it full length but was not sure he had caught it as his elbow hit the floor after he had dived, but the ball was held in his other hand.

“He then ran out the Werneth batsman, unsure if he had caught it, until Rick told the umpire what had happened.”

Heywood won by 18 runs

Heywood

S Dawson c Lutener b Khan 44
P Dawson b Shazad 32
W Hunt c Lutener b Khan 0
T Blundell c Umar b Shazad 6
A Dawson run out 1
C Booth c Longden b Shazad 1
A Fawcett not out 18
S Jones not out 3
FOW 1-64, 2-64, 3-94, 4-94, 5-98, 6-106
Extras 19
Total (6 wickets, 27 overs) 124
Bowling: Burston 7-2-29-0, Umar 6-0-30-0, Khan 7-1-26-2, Shazad 7-1-30-3

Werneth

I Dronsfield c M Grogan b Purser 2
Z Tahir c Hunt b A Dawson 2
A Umar c Hunt b Purser 4
J Burston b A Dawson 12
J Lutener c Jones b S Dawson 32
S Keezer c Hunt b A Dawson 0
J Taylor c P Dawson b S Dawson 31
F Khan b S Dawson 1
O Farooq not out 9
H Shazad b S Dawson 2
D Longden lbw Purser 0
FOW 1-6, 2-6, 3-21, 4-23, 5-26, 6-94, 7-95, 8-95, 9-101, 10-106
Extras 11
Total (all out, 26.5 overs) 106
Bowling: Purser 13.5-2-50-3, A Dawson 7-1-3-19, A Fawcett 3-0-33-0, S Dawson 3-1-4-4

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