Heywood spin twins tighten grip to scupper Monton hopes

An impressive spell from Joe Lovell

Joe Lovell and Steve Wright formed a destructive partnership to spin Heywood to a tense victory over Monton at Crimble.

Lovell claimed 5-53 from 18 overs and Australian recruit Wright 4-52 off his 15.1 over stint to topple the visitors for 181 in reply to Heywood’s 198-6.

It was a match that ebbed and flowed consistently with both sides seeming to take control at various stages of the match before an enthusiastic home crowd containing the visiting Trevor Brown and Nolan Hall.

Brown was an opening batsman for Heywood in the late 1960s and early 1970s before emigrating to Perth more than 40 years ago, while Australian all-rounder Hall was professional at Crimble in 1978 and returned as overseas amateur in 1979 and again in 1984 and 1985.

Their popularity was clearly in evidence as they renewed old friendships – and the cricket entertainment was not too bad, either!

Heywood should really have gone comfortably past the 200 mark after a fine opening stand of 131 between Bobby Cross and Wes Hunt, the latter departing for a meritorious 30 with 15 overs left.

But Monton paceman Jake Sandham and stand-in professional Cobus Pienaar – who also featured for Heywood at home to Werneth last year – produced fine spells in the remaining overs to stem the run rate and take wickets at vital times.

Sandham had Hunt and Cross, the latter cruising his way to another classy contribution of 84, caught behind and Pienaar claimed the scalp of professional Rob Nicol in identical fashion.

They were also parsimonious in leaking runs despite the Heywood middle order trying to up the run rate, and it was left to skipper Danny Pawson to make sure Heywood got going again with a positive 36 from just 22 balls.

That included two tremendous leg-side sixes and, just when he looked likely to get Heywood up around the 220 mark, he was run out going for a second run by a brilliant direct hit from third man by Amir Riaz.

Heywood would probably have taken their closing total of 198-6 before they started but not two-thirds of the way through their innings. And they looked set to pay the price when Monton in reply galloped to 95-1 after 20 overs.

Lovell and Wright were by this time into their off-spin partnership, Wright claiming the vital wicket of Ben Chapman for 63 and Lovell getting rid of the dangerous Sandham for 22 within the space of two runs.

It gave Heywood a foot in the door, and Lovell and Wright walked right through it!

Monton’s overseas amateur Niki Bouwer and Pienaar, who is Lowerhouse’s professional in the Lancashire League, steadied the visitors’ ship with a stand of 30.

But Wright bowled Bouwer for 15 and Lovell held on to a juggling return catch from Pienaar for a similar contribution … and the complexion of the match changed.

The spinners made the rest of the batting line-up fight for their runs, with Josh Lenihan (21) and Danny Collins (14) the only other Monton batsmen to reach double figures.

The visitors were still in it with 18 needed from the final three overs, despite having only one wicket left, but Collins smashed a skier to the legside boundary where the dependable Hunt took a fine catch.

While the spinners, Cross and Pawson deserve most of the credit, a word of praise of Hunt, too. He may not be the finished article in his new role as an opening batsman, but he is growing dedicatedly into the role and learning to value his wicket.

And, in restrospect, that century opening partnership with Cross was to prove vital.

Heywood
R Cross c Hindle b Sandham 84
W Hunt c Hindle b Sandham 30
R Nicol c Hindle b Pienaar 7
D Pawson run out 36
S Wright b Sandham 11
S Burrill run out 3
A Dawson not out 8
M Grogan not out 1
Extras 18
Total (for 6 wkts, 50 overs) 198
Fall of wickets: 1-131, 2-132, 3-154, 4-175, 5-188, 6-191
Bowling: N Bouwer 6-1-23-0, J Sandham 14-3-46-3, C Pienaar 12-3-45-1, A Riaz 15-2-51-0, B Chapman 3-0-27-0

Monton
B Chapman c Cross b Wright 63
C Hindle c Nicol b A Dawson 0
J Sandham c Grogan b Lovell 22
C Pienaar c and b Lovell 15
N Bouwer b Wright 15
J Lenihan lbw b Lovell 21
A Nawaz c Grogan b Wright 5
L Morris lbw b Lovell 0
D Collins c Hunt b Wright 14
J Faulkner st Pawson b Lovell 1
A Riaz not out 0
Extras 25
Total (47.1 overs) 181
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-95, 3-97, 4-127, 5-131, 6-155, 7-160, 8-169, 9-181, 10-181
Bowling: J Keyworth 6-0-28-0, A Dawson 4-0-25-1, H Naeem 4-0-17-0, J Lovell 18-2-53-5, S Wright 15.1-1-52-4