Norden through to second round of Lancashire Cricket Board knockout

Norden are through to the second round of the Lancashire Cricket Board knockout (supported by LWC Manchester) after beating Walshaw at Sycamore Road on Sunday.

The Stags made a great start, and for a time it looked as though it would be a comfortable routine win, but in the end there were only 16 runs between the teams and some relieved looks among Norden followers.

Daniel Salpietro and Simon Harman put on 76 without looking troubled, but Harman then went back to a delivery from Murphy and was bowled.

One run later Rehan Udwadia edged a catch to Riley in the slips, but Salpietro carried on in his merry way until he reached 65, and the total 106, when he snicked a delivery from Hornby and saw wicket-keeper Watt take a flying catch.

The professional claimed Watt had grounded the ball as he hit the deck, but Salpietro’s appeal to the umpires didn’t convince them to change the decision.

Norden then went through a difficult patch as Hornby, Foy and Rhodes got plenty out of the wicket with their mixture of pace and spin.

Simon North’s poor run continued when he was trapped leg before for four, Ash Gowers was stumped , Steve Pimm went leg before, and both Steve Wild and Dom Humphreys fell to catches.

Norden were on 160 for eight and seemingly well short of what would be needed, but the face of the game changed again thanks to some lusty hitting by Hashum Malik and Martin Smith.

Malik blasted three legside sixes in one over before going to a catch by Foy, while Smith hit a quickfire 24 before being bowled in the last over of the 45.

There was nothing to suggest anything other than a Norden win as Walshaw lost three wickets for 28.

Hornby was clean bowled by Smith, Maloney was caught low down in the slips by Salpietro, and Nichol was bowled by Chris Hartley.

From then on partnerships were formed and broken as Walshaw made their way to 114 for eight, Steve Wild having bowled the big-hitting Sealy for 15 which took his figures at the time to three for 25.

But Riley refused to give up the challenge and took on Wild who went for 11 in one over and 16 in the next.

Riley included three big sixes in his tally and tried to attack every ball he faced as many Norden followers suddenly became extremely worried.

There were still overs left for Riley to continue his mayhem, but injured Hashum Malik was brought back into the attack and bowled the dangerous batsman who had 44 to his name.

Watt briefly tried to maintain the momentum, but the balls remaining dwindled down to see Walshaw’s 45 end on 186 for nine.

Norden
S Harman b T Murphy 26
D Salpietro c Watt b Hornby 65
R Udwadia c Riley b Hornby 0
A Gowers st Watt b Foy 12
S North lbw T Murphy 4
S Pimm lbw Rhodes 12
D Humphreys c T Murphy b Foy 11
S Wild c Riley b Rhodes 3
M Smith b Foy 24
H Malik c Foy b Rhodes 21
C Hartley not out 0
Extras 24
Total 202
Bowling: Sealy 5-1-12-0; Nichol 5-0-25-0; T Murphy 9-0-36-2; Hornby 9-0-42-2; Foy 8.2-0-40-3; Rhodes 8-0-42-3.

Walshaw
J Maloney c Salpietro b Smith 11
D Hornby b Smith 8
G Nichol b Hartley 2
D Foy b Malik 26
T Murphy c Pimm b North 25
N Murphy c Salpietro b Wild 12
D Sealy b Wild 15
D Holland b Wild 1
L Riley b Malik 44
M Watt not out 16
J Rhodes not out 5
Extras 21
Total (for 9 wkts) 186
Bowling: Smith 9-1-31-2; Hartley 9-5-11-1; Malik 7-0-38-2; Salpietro 9-1-38-0; Wild 7-0-53-3; North 4-0-12-1.