Tolley blasts Crompton to victory over Norden

Norden Cricket Club

Crompton’s Josh Tolley blasted his team to victory over Norden with a smattering of sixes and a brilliant knock of 85 which was backed up by a half century from Denis Louis.

This was Norden's first JW Lees Pennine League home game, and it was also the first match played on the revamped square at Stag Park since work was done on it last autumn - the square played well.

Norden totalled 194, and Crompton quickly got within range before a collapse saw them lose four wickets cheaply before they got over the line.

The fact Crompton had six wickets down at end of play was cosmetic as far as Norden’s display was concerned.

Stags’ batting came up 40 or 50 short of what could have been, fielding was not at its best, with three costly chances put down, and the usual opening attack never looked threatening.
Norden took first knock and had a run on the board first delivery, thanks to a wide from Ullah Sami.

The next delivery went straight through Michael Price’s guard to hit the sticks.

Skipper Simon North went for five, Harvey Fitton was given out leg before to Tolley, a decision the batsman clearly didn’t agree with, and Norden were in a spot of bother at 47 for three.

Ash Gowers and Steve Pimm pulled the innings round with a partnership just short of 100.

Pimm made his way to 49, but there was to be no collection, as he was trapped leg before by Andy Yates.

Norden then suffered a mid-order slump. Gowers was caught for 66, newcomer Nicholas Fairchild was caught for four, Greg Tattersall was leg before for four, and Hashum Malik was bowled for one.

Martin Smith smacked three legside sixes, but in going for another he found the hands of a fielder on the boundary edge.

Smith’s cameo, however, did give Norden a reasonable total and one they obviously hoped to defend.

Doubts started to grow in the mind as Tolley took Norden’s attack to the cleaners, fed by some poor deliveries.

At one stage it looked as though Tolley and Yates might carry their team home without loss, but on 76 Yates was run out by a throw from Steve Pimm.

This obviously didn’t worry Tolley who now had a hard-hitting partner in Louis.

The blitz continued until Tolley skied a delivery from North and saw the bowler take the catch on the drop.

With 183 on the board Khan slammed a Price delivery back down the wicket and looked stunned as

Price took the catch to signal a mini collapse.

Louis reached his half century but then fell to a catch by Chris Hartley in the deep.

Stephen Wright was bowled, Rigby was caught, but Ash Zulfiqar ensured there would not be the craziest of finishes as he rounded off Crompton’s victory with two boundaries past the injured Jack Duffy.

Norden

M Price b Sami 0
S North c Louis b Zulfiqar 5
H Fitton lbw Tolley 25
A Gowers c St Wright b Tolley 66
S Pimm lbw Yates 49
N Fairchild c Si Wright b Tolley 4
M Smith c Yates b Sami 24
G Tattersall lbw Yates 4
H Malik b Louis 1
J Duffy c Sami b Louis 6
C Hartley not out 1
Extras 9
Total 194
Bowling: Sami 6-0-31-2; Zulfiqar 8-2-38-1; Tolley 15-2-53-3; Yates 13-2-59-2; Louis 3-0-12-2.

Crompton

J Tolley c and b North 85
A Yates run out 18
D Louis c Hartley b North 50
W Khan c and b Price 21
S Rigby c Price b North 1
St Wright b Price 4
A Zulfiqar not out 10
Si Wright not out 0
Extras 9
Total (for 6 wickets) 198
Bowling: Hartley 8-0-37-0; Smith 3-0-29-0; Fairchild 7-0-40-0; Malik 6-0-30-0; North 5-1-26-3; Price 4-0-29-2.