Pawson And Kaye Lay Platform For Clifton Hammering

ANOTHER bumper wicket haul by Chris Kaye and an impressive contribution with the bat by Danny Pawson set up Heywood’s third successive five-point haul.

Kaye claimed 7-42 to help topple Clifton for 151 at the Manchester Road ground.

That was well short of Heywood’s imposing total of 236-7, with Pawson showing what he is really made of with a hard-hitting 78.

Heywood were always going to make a big total, after being put into bat, once professional Andrea Agathangelou and Ross Zelem had shared an opening stand of 67.

Aggers galloped to 45 before appearing to stop on his shot and hit the ball in the air. Then Zelem fell for 18 without addition to the score, both going to catches at mid-on.

Chris Kaye and Danny Pawson celebrate a wicket

Pawson was joined by skipper Bobby Cross and the pair made sure that the innings did not stutter after the bright start.

Both took toll of the Clifton attack as the total reached 140 with 20 overs still left. So it was something of a surprise, although the drying wicket was showing signs of playing tricks, when Cross fell for 31 to a return catch by off-spinner Mubeen Akhtar.

That did not, however, deter Pawson, who smashed three sixes, including a classy straight effort off Akhtar.

Dale Latham gave him good support with 16 then Lee Grogan was a six-and-out victim, before Pawson – looking set for a century – was caught on the deep long-on boundary going for another maximum.

It left Steve Wallwork, making a welcome return to the side after the birth of his daughter, to make sure Heywood did not squander the remaining overs with an unbeaten 24.

Clifton needed a bright start to have any chance of being competitive, and Chris Lord and Andy Griffiths briefly threatened to oblige.

Lord, however, chipped a catch to Wallwork for 12 out of 26, as overseas amateur Hamish Paterson got a scant reward for an excellent opening spell, to bring Griffiths to the wicket. And the new batsmen showed a busy and confident approach.

But, with the total of 54 and his personal contribution 18, he became Kaye’s first victim when he pulled a short ball to backward square leg where Zelem took a neat catch.

And that was virtually that.

Adam Holt was joined by professional Hendo Puchert, but there was a procession of batsmen back to the pavilion as the middle and late order were mopped up by Kaye, who was well supported by a tireless stint from Grogan at the other end.

Holt went for a struggling 19 caught by Adam Fawcett, Dean Morris was stumped, then Liam Dorsey and Greg Jennings both lobbed tame catches off the left-arm spinner – who, in truth, got some of his wickets rather cheaply in one of his less impressive spells.

Cross was able to give Fawcett a bowl and he responded with the wicket of Viral Jetavat, before the relentless Kaye accounted for Akhtar and Dan Hill.

All that was left was for Paterson to come back into the attack and have Puchert caught by Latham on the long-on boundary for 51, and Heywood were home and dry with just less than seven overs to spare.

Heywood innings

Clifton Innings

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