Seconds’ Bowling Too Strong For Timid Villagers

Heywood Seconds’ powerhouse bowling attack proved too much for Walsden as they moved ominously into the final of the Burton Cup at Crimble last night.

The game had gone into a third day (night) after rain had ended proceedings following Heywood’s innings of 184 on Sunday.

Walsden resumed last night on 105-4, needing another 80 to win, but never looked capable or, surprisingly, willing to mount a serious challenge from the 12 overs remaining and Heywood won by a comfortable 18-run margin.

It was a great result for the club and with the seconds leading the league and the firsts challenging Walsden’s senior side at the top of Division One, it is evidence of the strength and spirit in the club.

But back to Sunday, and on a decent wicket, Heywood’s batsmen set up the victory with a patient, if unspectacular, performance.

Simon Dawson batted beautifully for his 39 but then inexplicably chucked his wicket away and was stumped.

There were patient knocks from captain Roger Smethurst and all-rounder Curtis Maguire, but the key innings of the match came from Andy Dawson.

The youngest of the three brothers is better known for his big hitting, but he settled down and, with help from the likes of Chris Booth, took Heywood to within touching distance of a good target before he fell for an excellent 39.

The home side’s total of 184 divided supporters – had they scored too few or, as others thought, was it too many for a side used to bullying their opponents on their small home ground?

As it was, the rain ended play on Sunday at the half-way stage.

Captain and former first-teamer Stuart Hanson set the tone for the innings with a watchful knock as he tried to play out the excellent Heywood opening attack of Maguire and Lee Grogan.

It was Grogan who made the first breakthrough, then Sam Byrne came on and took a wicket with his first ball.

Both Andy and Simon Dawson stifled the Walsden batting, and it was no surprise when Hanson took a risk too many and was brilliantly run out by an alert Simon at mid-off.

No Walsden batsmen would take a risk, but young Joe Gale started to take on the field a little, something the visiting batsmen seemed incapable of given they don’t have to do much running on their picturesque but small ground, and Walsden finished the Monday night action on 105-4 with 12 left.

Byrne and Maguire opened up on Tuesday, and regular wickets and maidens left Walsden needing more than 10 an over off the final four overs, something they never got close to thanks to more excellent fielding and bowling.

Victory was greeted with joy by the young, home-grown side and by Smethurst in particular. It’s the first time since 1996 that Heywood have made a Burton Cup final and Smethurst is the only player at the club who was in that winning team.

They now face Middleton on Bank Holiday Monday, August 27, with the venue yet to be decided.

Scoop’s Man Of The Match: Simon Dawson.

HEYWOOD
P Dawson c Bailey b Gale 1
S Dawson st Brown b Harlow 39
C Maguire c Brown b Halstead 11
R Smethurst c Hanson b Illingworth 20
W Hunt c Bailey b Halstead 4
A Dawson c Bailey b Illingworth 39
L Grogan run out 5
A Fawcett c Brown b Illingworth 6
C Booth c Hanson b Illingworth 13
S Jones not out 3
S Byrne run out 8
Extras 30
Total (49.4 overs) 184
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-57, 3-73, 4-89, 5-122, 6-130, 7-145, 8-172, 9-172, 10-184
Bowling: Gale 5-0-20-1, Copping 5-0-30-0, Halstead 10-6-15-2, Harlow 10-0-30-1, Illingworth 10-1-30-4, Hanson 9.4-0-47-0

WALSDEN
D Brown c Hunt b Grogan 5
S Hanson run out 38
D Howley lbw b A Dawson 1
D Bailey lbw b Byrne 15
J Gale not out 54
M Harlow st Hunt b Byrne 16
P Marrow c A Dawson b Grogan 9
C Hanson b S Dawson 8
D Copping not out 5
Extras 14
Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 166
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-26, 3-51, 4-89, 5-117, 6-140, 7-155
Bowling: Grogan 8-2-22-2, Maguire 10-1-27-0, A Dawson 6-2-21-1, S Dawson 10-3-26-1, Byrne 10-3-30-2, Smethurst 4-0-18-0, Fawcett 2-0-18-0
HEYWOOD WIN BY 18 RUNS

 

 

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