Cricket: Norden in final of the Tanner Cup following win over Stayley

Norden Cricket Club

Norden are through to the final of the JW Lees Pennine Cricket League’s Tanner Cup following their win over Stayley at Stag Park on Saturday.

They posted a total of 238-7 then bowled Stayley out for 156.

The win might not be without cost, as Norden's professional Naveed Zamurad pulled up injured while bowling. However, latest reports indicate he might be fit to play this coming weekend.

Norden opened their innings with Josh Tolley and Steve Pimm, Tolley the more aggressive, but on 28 Tolley went to a good low catch by Ben Downend.

Pimm, who batted well for his 30, was joined by Zamurad who played his usual style of smacking anything loose or short. The pro’ looked on line for a big score, but with 42 to his name he went for another big hit and was caught by Hamza Nadeem.

Pimm was next to go, bowled by Ronnie Cameron, but two decent partnerships followed as Ash Gowers made his way to a not out 72.

Harvey Fitton added 23 before being trapped leg before by Peter Skuse, Greg Butterworth scored 24 then was bowled by Nadeem, and Hashum Malik failed to score.

By the time Malik was out Norden had passed the 200 mark, and in the short time remaining they blasted the bowling.

Simon North scored 11 off five deliveries before setting off for a run from the bowlers’ end to find himself next to Gowers with no chance of getting back.

Gowers rounded off the innings with two fours and a six.

Stayley’s reply had hardly got under way when Bhavin Patel was bowled by Chris Hartley.

Norden had to work hard for their wickets, but they picked up another when Chris Humphreys trapped Steven Bird leg before, and one run later Dylan McLachlan was run out as he tried to scramble back after going for a run that was never on.

It became 50 for four when Rhys Downend was caught behind by Gowers, but Stayley showed they were far from done as Dave Roberts and Peter Skuse built a good partnership.

They took the total up to 114 before Roberts was given out. The umpires agreed that a delivery from Simon North had clipped the bails, but Roberts claimed the ball had come back off keeper Ash Gowers onto the bails. The umpires’ decision stood and Roberts had to go.

It was becoming a hopeless task for Stayley, although the vastly experienced Peter Skuse was still there. That was until he hit a North delivery into the hands of Hashum Malik.

From that point on Stayley were treading water.

Nick Woodhead was caught behind off Greg Butterworth, Nadeem was bowled by North after shaping to make a big hit and missing the ball, and Ben Downend went leg before to Butterworth.

The end came when James Wardle smacked a North delivery straight to Steve Pimm at point.

Norden will meet Heyside in the final at a venue to be decided on.

Norden

J Tolley c B Downend b Roberts 25
S Pimm b Cameron 30
N Zamurad c Nadeem b B Downend 42
A Gowers not out 72
H Fitton lbw Skuse 23
G Butterworth b Nadeem 24
H Malik b D Roberts 0
S North run out 11
D Fitton not out 0
Extras 11
Total (for 7 wickets) 238
Bowling: Nadeem 10-1-37-1; D Roberts 10-0-73-2; R Downend 6-0-22-0; Skuse 10-2-33-1; B Downend 5-0-26-1; Cameron 9-0-38-1.

Stayley

D McLachlan run out 22
B Patel b Hartley 0
S Bird lbw Humphreys 16
P Skuse c Malik b North 25
R Downend c Gowers b Zamurad 0
D Roberts b North 39
H Nadeem b North 13
N Woodhead c Gowers b Butterworth 0
B Downend lbw Butterworth 0
J Wardle c Pimm b North 9
R Cameron not out 5
Extras 27
Total 156
Bowling: Hartley 4.5-0-38-1; C Humphreys 6-1-16-1; Butterworth 9-3-21-2; Zamurad 5.1-0-18-1; Malik 4-0-29-0; North 10-0-31-4.