Cricket: Kate and Bobby Cross hit top form to help Heywood hammer Denton

Bobby Cross

Kate and Bobby Cross helped Heywood back into joint second place in Division One of the Greater Manchester League with victory over Denton.

England international Kate Cross, sampling her first senior action of the season, claimed six home wickets for 35 runs from just under 10 overs as Denton were bowled out for 154.

Bobby Cross produced a sizzling, run-a-ball 85 as Heywood cantered to their victory target for the loss of just two wickets with just under 20 overs in hand.

It was an assertive display by Heywood – and particularly their brother and sister act.

Kate Cross stepped up to the plate first with three wickets in her first spell to help reduce Denton to 32-5, which also included a couple of wickets in an excellent spell by Simon Dawson, before Denton showed some grit and determination in the face of being routed.

Alex Beeley and 14-year-old Ben Mason led the fightback with a stand of 45 before the latter fell for 18 to Danny Pawson, which left Beeley to anchor the tail with a meritorious 51.

Kate Cross, rested after her initial five-over blast, came back into the attack to polish off the Denton lower order with three more victims.

The total of 154 did not seem a cakewalk with the wicket playing unpredictably and some deliveries jumping off a good length.

That did not faze Bobby Cross, however, and he went on to produce an imperious display that was, even by his own standards, a coruscating contribution.

He shared a run-a-ball opening partnership of 64 with Andy Kerr before the latter, who looked in equally fine touch, surprisingly fell for 24 lbw to home professional Cloete Buitendag.

That brought in Jack Morley and he dropped anchor as runs came freely at the other end.

Cross pounced on anything loose, particularly off his legs, as the duo put together a stand of 77 and put the result beyond doubt.

Cross, needing a further 15 to reach an outstanding century, and victory just 14 runs away, smacked a Buitendag delivery fiercely to Mason at mid-on and fell for 85 made in the same number of balls.

He received a deserved ovation, with the Denton players leading the applause, and it was left to the tenacious Morley and Travis Townsend to complete the job.

Heywood, after their washout at Stand and being pipped by Dukinfield, got their promotion push back on track.

Denton

C Clayton c R Cross b S Dawson 10
R Halpin c Kerr b S Dawson 4
C Buitendag c Burrill b K Cross 4
K Taylor c S Dawson b K Cross 5
T Hanks c Naeem b K Cross 7
A Beeley not out 51
B Mason c Townsend b Pawson 18
M Andrew c L Mason b Morley 11
R Bardsley c and b K Cross 8
C Parker c Townsend b K Cross 10
A Pannett c A Dawson b K Cross 3
Extras 23
Total (46.4 overs) 154
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-19, 3-19, 4-30, 5-32, 6-77, 7-93, 8-124, 9-154, 10-154
Bowling: S Dawson 11-4-20-2, A Dawson 5-0-22-0, K Cross 9.4-0-35-6, J Morley 9-1-29-1, H Naeem 4-0-14-0, D Pawson 8-2-28-1

Heywood

R Cross B Mason b Buitendag 85
A Kerr lbw b Buitendag 24
J Morley not out 11
T Townsend not out 15
Extras 23
Total (for 2 wkts, 30.5 overs) 158
Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-141
Bowling: A Pannett 3-1-13-0, C Parker 4.5-0-37-0, C Buitendag 13-1-50-2, M Andrew 8-0-35-0, R Halpin 2-0-18-0