Humphreys with maiden first team half century as Norden beat Monton in CLL opener

Norden Cricket Club

Dominic Humphreys scored his maiden first team half century as Norden opened the defence of their Lake Garage Central Lancashire League title with a win over Monton and Weaste at Stag Park.

There was also a half century for newcomer Ash Gowers as Norden posted 201 for eight before dismissing Monton for 124.

On paper it looks a more than comfortable win, but it was not exactly comfortable at times for the reigning champions who found themselves two for two in a dramatic opening.
Monton’s opening attack of Collins and Bauer got plenty of bounce off the pitch – a rare event on Stag Park wickets in recent years – with the result that they were almost unplayable.

Simon Harman edged a delivery to wicket-keeper Kershaw, and professional Daniel Salpietro edged one to Simon Harmer in the slips.

Rehan Udwadia and skipper Simon North found it a little easier, but runs were hard to comeby, and with 48 on the board North was triggered leg before to a Chris Sandham delivery which looked as though it was rising to miss the stumps.

The 15-year-old Udwadia was out three runs later for a grafted 17, and when Steve Pimm was trapped leg before by Harmer, for seven, Norden were in deep trouble at 68 for five.

It was at this point that Gowers and Dom Humphreys started to turn the game.

Both blasted the poorer deliveries and pushed the total along at a good pace. Gowers’ knock of 54 was perfect, while the young Humphreys batted with the confidence of a seasoned veteran and smacked three sixes in his knock of 50.

They were only three short of a century partnership when Gowers was caught, and five runs later Humphreys fell to another catch.

It was left to Chris Humphreys and Hashum Malik to push the total past the 200 mark, a score which had looked unlikely in those early overs. Humphreys was out stumped final ball of the 50 overs.

There was no repeat of the early bombs as Monton put on 42 for the first wicket, most of those runs coming from the bat of class act Furqan Shafiq.

Chris Humphreys gained the breakthrough for Norden when Kershaw popped one up to Simon Harman in the covers, and five runs later Sandham found the hands of Harman from an Hashum Malik delivery.

Shafiq was joined by Harmer for Monton’s best partnership, but with 50 to his name and 93 on the board Shafiq fell to a good diving catch by Martin Smith. Lenihan went leg before to Salpietro, Chris Hindle was caught behind by Gowers, off Salpietro, Bauer was caught by Chris Humphreys, and when Steve Pimm caught Harmer in the deep it was 108 for seven and start the car time.

Salpietro completed his five for by mopping up Nawaz and Collins to be on a hat-trick ball which the batsman survived.

It was all over soon after when Riaz was stumped by Gowers off a wide from Adam Ahmed.

Norden
S Harman c Kershaw b Collins 0
D Salpietro c Harmer b Bauer 0
R Udwadia c Collins b Sandham 17
S North lbw Sandham 21
A Gowers c Collins b Harmer 54
S Pimm lbw Harmer 7
D Humphreys c Lenihan b Bauer 50
C Humphreys st Kershaw b Harmer 16
H Malik not out 14
Extras 22
Total (for 8 wkts) 201
Bowling: Collins 5-0-16-1; Bauer 11-2-38-2; Sandham 8-1-27-2; Harmer 18-2-60-3; Shafiq 5-0-34-0; Riaz 3-0-15-0.

Monton and Weaste
F Shafiq c Smith b Malik 50
J Kershaw c Harman b C Humphreys 2
J Sandham c Harman b Malik 4
S Harmer c Pimm b Salpietro 38
J Lenihan lbw Salpietro 0
C Hindle c Gowers b Salpietro 1
N Bauer c C Humphreys b Malik 0
L Morris not out 10
A Nawaz st Gowers b Salpietro 3
D Collins lbw Salpietro 0
A Riaz st Gowers b Ahmed 1
Extras 15
Total 124
Bowling: Smith 5-0-38-0; C Humphreys 9-2-17-1; Malik 11-1-19-3; Salpietro 9-1-42-5; Ahmed 1.1-0-7-1.