Purser And Jones Seal Exciting Victory For Seconds

For Warne and Gilchrist, read Purser and Jones.

Heywood second team’s oldest performer and one of its youngest combined at the end of a thrilling second team game at Crimble that beat the weather and saw Heywood remain undefeated after three CLL games.

Chasing a rain-reduced target of 121, Walsden were well placed for victory when Danny Bailey was biffing his way to 37.

But the wily Rick Purser, kept on by captain Roger Smethurst when armchair critics in the clubhouse had advocated his removal from the attack, varied his pace and length beautifully and safe glovework from keeper Scott Jones led to three stumpings and victory for Heywood. Purser finished with the outstanding figures of 6-46 off 13 overs as Walsden fell eight short of their target.

Earlier, Smethurst won the toss and despite the weather being gloomy decided to bat. Simon Dawson and Matt Hood got Heywood off to a very quick start and despite losing Hood to a dubious caught behind decision, Dawson and Dom Fawcett took things on until the former was caught in the deep for 43.

Heywood then lost a series of wickets and collapsed to 97-5. Smethurst and Chris Booth then took the score up to 131 until Smethurst fell, then Grogan then came in and the innings accelerated with 220 looking likely.

But Heywood lost Booth (28), Jones (0) and Grogan (24) for just three runs and Heywood looked in trouble. But Purser and Sam Byrne batted sensibly to take Heywood to 189 off 49 overs.

Heywood’s innings was interrupted at least three times due to heavy drizzle and this reduced the Walsden innings to 26 overs and a target of just 121.

Heywood opened with Grogan and Purser and within six overs Purser removed both their opener  then  captain Stuart Hanson in successive balls.

Then Walsden enjoyed a significant partnership between Danny Bailey  opener Brown, although the run rate always remained at over six an over, and eventually the Purser and Jones show saw Walsden off.

A delighted Smethurst said: “It was a good victory in difficult conditions against a strong team. The fact that Simon got us off to a good start made a big difference but then the innings of Chris Booth in the middle order was crucial to us not being bowled out cheaply.

“The performance was similar to last year in that we batted all the way down and the lower order of Grogie, Rick and Bernie played crucial knocks to ensure we had a total we could defend

“ Duckworth Lewis didn’t affect us as badly as I feared in the reduced target and I thought we bowled and fielded well.

“It was good to see Rick back in the wickets, having not done a warm up this week and then on a difficult pitch Scott Jones kept well taking some crucial dismissals.

“This weekend is another tough one with Rochdale having finished in the top two for the last four years.

“We also have some players unavailable this weekend with Grogie unavailable on Saturday and then Phil Dawson and Sam Byrne missing on Sunday.

“It gives an opportunity for others in the club to force their way into the team and Ben Thulborn showed some promise in scoring 11 this week after his big score in the 3rd XI the week previously.”

Summary:

Heywood 189 (Dawson 43, Booth 28, Grogan 24, Illingworth 5-56)

Walsden 113-6 (Purser 6-46)

Heywood 4pts Walsden 0pts

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