Simon Dawson routs Littleborough

Simon Dawson is congratulated by Clinton Perren after his 6-20 haul

Heywood rose as one to applaud a magnificent performance from paceman Simon Dawson as Littleborough were routed at sun-kissed Crimble on Saturday.

The elder Dawson brother walked off with the career-best senior figures of 6-20 to his name, a fully-deserved haul after a hostile and accurate spell that saw the visitors dismissed for just 65 chasing Heywood’s testing total of 198-5 on a lively Crimble pitch.

Heywood’s total had been based around another splendid innings from Bobby Cross. He made 96 elegant runs on a wicket that got stickier as it dried out during the Heywood innings, and by the close of the home side’s 50 overs was extremely difficult to bat on. He was backed up by a hard-working 38 from pro Rob Nicol, and a grafting knock of 31 from Danny Pawson.

Cross will be happy to admit that the day belonged to Simon Dawson.

Littleoborough called on the heavy roller at the interval – Clinton Perren trusting the larger machine to dampen down any early life in the pitch – and indeed, even the experienced Heywood ground staff were stumped as to what to expect when Heywood started to bowl.

With his very first delivery, Dawson bowled a perfect length ball a fraction outside off stump, and the Crimble faithful roared with delight as Perren, so often Heywood’s nemesis, edged the ball into the safe hands of skipper Pawson at slip. It was a moment to cherish for Heywood.

Chris Schofield came out in belligerent mode, and tried to take on the other Dawson, Andy, from the pavilion end. But a couple of fours later, he had another swing at a ball just short of a length and, for the second week running, Dawson forced the former England man to play on.

With their two premier players gone, Littleborough should have looked to dig in and play around pro Mohammed Zaman, but they were unable to settle as the Dawson's got whatever they could out of a pitch that offered something but was not the demon wicket it could have been.

Matt Taylor got a fine ball which leapt off a length and took a top edge off Simon Dawson, but otherwise it was fine bowling and superb fielding that brought about Littleoborough’s downfall. The young and athletic Heywood outfielders flung themselves around to ensure there was no release of pressure, and this allowed Simon Dawson, in particular, to bowl his best spell for Heywood.

Ray Baker took a solid catch at mid on to dismiss Mark Burns, and Bobby Cross took a simpler chance to dismiss Casey Roche at cover. Andy Dawson picked up another wicket before pro Nicol pulled off an absolute stunner of a catch off Jamie Roche at second slip to bring up Simon Dawson’s five-for. It appeared as though the ball had gone past him, but he stuck out a big hand and held on comfortably.

Next ball Simon Dawson sent down a rapid, full and straight delivery that knocked out the middle stump of Bood, and then on his hat-trick ball bowled another beauty to Phil Deakin, producing a raucous lbw shout that can’t have been missing much. It could have been that the umpire thought Deakin had got an inside edge, but there was little evidence of that.

The innings concluded with two wickets for off-spinner Joe Lovell – a key component of this Heywood attack. He bowled Phil Deakin with a beauty of an arm ball, and then Zaman, out of partners and patience, had a wild hoik at a flighted delivery and hit one straight up into the safe hands of Cross. Littleborough were all out for just 65 off only 21.4 overs. Remarkable stuff.

Another noisy crowd loved every moment, and Simon Dawson walked off with a strut that suggested he knows he now belongs at the top table of Lancashire league cricket.

It shouldn’t be forgotten, in the heat of the Dawsons’ onslaught, that this victory was built on the back of a marvellous innings from Cross.

He made the most of nearly each and every poor delivery, and with Nicol put on 108 for the second wicket. Batting became noticeably harder as the innings progressed, and Matthew Hodson and Deakin really put the brakes on things towards the end, the pair bowling so well that even Cross, in sight of another CLL century, was forced into a desperate heave and was bowled by Deakin.

Still, Pawson kept the scoreboard ticking over, and with Wes Hunt delighting the crowd with a reverse-swept four, Heywood posed a target that, while maybe 30 runs less than could have been hoped for at one stage, was still a massively testing target.

Heywood
R Cross b Deakin 96
L Mason c J Roche b Taylor 6
R Nicol c Miskella b Deakin 38
D Pawson not out 31
A Dawson c Schofield b Hodson 7
W Hunt c Taylor b Deakin 6
S Burrill not out 1
Extras 13
Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 198
Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-141, 3-155, 4-176, 5-196
Bowling: M Taylor 7-0-28-1, M Burns 6-1-24-0, M Z Khan 11-3-22-0, C Schofield 6-1-28-0, M Hodson 12-2-50-1, P Deakin 8-0-41-3

Littleborough
C Perren c Pawson b S Dawson 0
M Z Khan c R Cross b Lovell 36
C Schofield b A Dawson 13
M Taylor c Pawson b S Dawson 4
R Miskella c R Cross b A Dawson 1
M Burns c Baker b S Dawson 0
C Roche c R Cross b S Dawson 0
J Roche c Nicol b S Dawson 3
M Bood b S Dawson 0
P Deakin b Lovell 2
M Hodson not out 0
Extras 6
Total (21.4 overs) 65
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-13, 3-18, 4-33, 5-34, 6-38, 7-48, 8-48, 9-60, 10-65
Bowling: S Dawson 11-3-20-6, A Dawson 8-0-41-2, J Lovell 2.4-1-1-2