Spinners turn screw as Heywood falter within sight of Monton victory

Andy Dawson takes a catch to go with his five wickets

Heywood failed to capitalise on a winning position to go down to an 18-run defeat in an entertaining clash at Monton.

Poised at 112-2 chasing 188 at the half-way stage, the curse of the drinks break struck at the Quaker Ground. Skipper Danny Pawson, playing beautifully alongside Bobby Cross, was trapped lbw first ball after drinks were taken to overseas Dale Steyn-alike Niki Brouwer for 42.

Despite Cross playing a different game to everyone else, the rest of the batsmen found the spin of South Africa international pro Simon Harmer and leg spinner Riaz too much to handle.

With only Andy Dawson of the bottom seven reaching double figures, all the pressure lay with Cross and when he fell to Riaz it was game over and Heywood fell 18 short. It was a disappointing end to a match Heywood looked to be well on top of, but all credit must go to Monton who have a very fine bowling attack and in pro Harmer a man who knows how to appeal an lbw decision.

That Monton were restricted to 188 was down in no small part to Andy Dawson, who came back for an excellent second spell to finish with 5-47 off 14 overs. He and brother Simon were useful with the new ball, Andy making the first breakthrough to remove Morris, but although they kept things tight they were unable to make further early inroads.

Simon Dawson was, again, unlucky in a long and testing opening spell, finishing with figures of 0-18 off 11 and including a spell of four consecutive maidens. He was kept at bay – just – by the impressive young number three Sandham, who found runs easier to come by at the other end against brother Andy and pro Rob Nicol, who picked up the second wicket to fall.

The short straight boundary at the car park end was particularly to his liking, and he and pro Harmer put on 80 for the third wicket before Bobby Cross pulled of a superb bit of fielding at extra cover to run out the backing-up Harmer.

Andy Dawson returned to take two in two balls with two excellent lbws – and a play and a miss on the hat-trick – and when Sandham fell to Pawson, revelling in his new role as fourth seamer, Monton looked in tatters at 125-6. But Heywood took their foot off the gas, and excellent batting from Riaz and Collins helped them post a challenging total, despite the fine performance of Andy Dawson.

Heywood lost Liam Mason cheaply for four in reply, then suffered a big blow when Nicol was trapped lbw by tall opening pace bowler Sandham, who was backing up his batting with a good, controlled opening spell.

Cross was superb all around the wicket, and alongside Pawson, again showing himself to be a marvellous player of spin, Heywood got back on top.

Then came drinks, a bundle of nerves, a raft of leg befores and some excitable appealing, and Heywood fell just short.

MONTON
J Lenihan c A Dawson b Nicol 15
L Morris c K Cross b A Dawson 1
J Sandham lbw b Pawson 62
S Harmer run out 37
N Bouwer lbw b A Dawson 1
A Riaz c R Cross b A Dawson 30
B Mander lbw b A Dawson 0
D Collins lbw b A Dawson 19
A Nawaz not out 10
T Coe not out 0
Extras 13
Total (for 8 wkts, 50 overs) 188
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-40, 3-120, 4-124, 5-124, 6-125, 7-173, 8-181
Bowling: S Dawson 11-4-18-0, A Dawson 14-2-47-5, R Nicol 9-1-40-1, K Cross 6-0-33-0, D Pawson 10-0-46-1

HEYWOOD
R Cross b Riaz 75
L Mason b Bouwer 4
R Nicol lbw b Sandham 8
D Pawson b Bouwer 42
D Latham lbw b Harmer 2
W Hunt c Bouwer b Harmer 1
A Dawson b Harmer 16
S Burrill lbw b Harmer 0
S Dawson c Collins b Harmer 0
C Booth lbw b Riaz 2
K Cross not out 0
Extras 20
Total (45.2 overs) 170
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-35, 3-112, 4-122, 5-132, 6-158, 7-164, 8-164, 9-168, 10-170
Bowling: J Sandham 8-1-31-1, N Bouwer 7-2-33-2, S Harmer 19.2-3-55-5, D Collins 4-0-15-0, A Riaz 7-1-25-2