Kate Cross shines alongside local young talent in front of cameras to see off Littleborough

Kate Cross celebrates her first wicket

The first match of the group stage of the John Willie Lees Twenty20 Cup and Heywood only got home by the skin of their teeth.

There was much satisfaction for the Crimble side to take out of their five-wicket defeat, with just three balls to spare, of a Littleborough side containing several highly-rated performers.

It was another headline show by Kate Cross and further proof, if any were needed, that a woman, if good enough, can hold her own with the men.

Kate responded to the pressure of the presence of Sky TV cameras with a 4-12 return from her four overs that ripped the heart out of the Littleborough middle order to enthusiastic support from the home crowd.

The visiting Littleborough players joined in the applause as she led her team-mates off the field.

The Dawson brothers, Andy and Simon, are making rapid strides with the ball, and Andy, although maybe overdoing it a tad against Littleborough, is responding to calls for him to show more maturity with the bat.

Dale Latham is also growing into his new role of wicketkeeper-batsman, displaying excellent technique with the gloves then stepping forward with the bat when Heywood needed nine runs from the last over.

His sizzling cover drive from Michael Burns’ first ball was the shot of the match and he followed up with three the next ball.

Another of Heywood’s nurtured talent, Wes Hunt, provided the coup-de-grace with a couple to seal victory.

Latham’s more-than-capable re-emergence behind the stumps has provided another spin-off, leaving skipper Danny Pawson free to direct operations in the field – and emerge as a vital surprise packet with the ball.

His 3-13 return was just as impressive as Kate’s, and he will surely give Heywood’s seam attack much more balance in the coming weeks to come.

Liam Mason has had a tough baptism with the bat since signing from Royton. His engaging personality has won over the local supporters, who were therefore delighted with his hard-hitting 30 at the start of the Heywood innings, which was, in the final analysis, a crucial contribution.

Heywood have other T20 group matches to come, both away, at Monton on Saturday 30 May 30 and Clifton on Friday 5 June.

LITTLEBOROUGH
C Schofield b A Dawson 22
M Z Khan b Pawson 13
J Smith-Butler b K Cross 6
C Perren not out 35
M Taylor c K Cross b Pawson 2
M Burns b Pawson 0
T Pye st Latham b K Cross 3
J Barnes b K Cross 2
J Roach c R Cross b K Cross 1
M Hodson not out 10
Extras 8
Total (for 8 wkts, 20 overs) 102
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-36, 3-47, 4-61, 5-61, 6-65, 7-67, 8-75
Bowling: R Nicol 4-0-18-0, S Dawson 4-0-24-0, A Dawson 4-0-21-1, K Cross 4-0-12-4, D Pawson 4-0-13-3

HEYWOOD
L Mason c Willman b M Taylor 30
A Dawson c Perren b Schofield 15
R Nicol lbw b Burns 22
D Pawson b Smith-Butler 5
R Cross b Smith-Butler 10
D Latham not out 12
W Hunt not out 2
Extras 7
Total (for 5 wkts, 19.3 overs) 103
Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-59, 3-76, 4-78, 5-94
Bowling: J Smith-Butler 4-0-24-2, M Z Khan 1-0-7-0, M Burns 3.3-0-17-1, M Taylor 4-0-14-1, M Hodson 2-0-12-0, C Schofield 4-0-18-1, L Willman 1-0-4-0