A SPARKLING five-wicket return by James Mills paved the way for a 36-run victory by Heywood’s second team at Ashton.
The left-arm bowler claimed 5-29 in a terrific 14-over spell as the home side were bundled out for 96 in reply to 132 by the visitors, who stay well in the hunt for promotion from Division 4 East.
Heywood’s total was again based on a key stand between Chris Kaye and Rob Bennett, who put on 47 for the fourth wicket from the unpromising position of 31-3.
Bennett eventually went for 21 but Kaye saw it through almost until the end of the innings until falling for 47. The only other player to reach double figures was opener Mikey Witts with 14.
Then Mills took over with the ball to claim five of the first seven Ashton wickets to fall. And with Rick Purser also returning figures of 3-27 the home side slumped 28-8 and looked likely to fold for a meagre total.
But Mark Adrian, who finished with an unbeaten 43, and Paul Rayson put together a gutsy nine-wicket stand of 54 before Tom Sullivan and Kaye eventually claimed the last two wickets.
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Really good to see James coming into prominence once again. The club need our young players to be pushing the first team. It is competition for places that we seem to have lacked in the last few seasons. Well done James.
Totally agree Dave and I was pleased to see the promising PC Smethurst force his way into the firsts last week!
Hilts
You may not be surprised to hear this but the said PC Smethurst was run out!