Heywood romp to final game victory

Heywood concluded their first season in Greater Manchester Premier League with a decisive defeat of Flixton at Crimble.

The nine-wicket romp against the admittedly well-below strength visitors at least makes sure that Heywood end the inaugural season in the new set-up not rock bottom of the table.

However, their relegation fate was known before the start of the game, and Flixton – well established in the top half of the division – also had little to play for apart from pride.

The action was delayed an hour-and-three-quarters after heavy overnight rain had again saturated the square, and the game was reduced to 26-overs-per-side.

Chris Humphreys started the Flixton demise with the early wickets of Alton Beckford, thanks to a smart catch by England’s women’s international Kate Cross, and Luke Perry – the latter having got the innings off to a flier.

Jack Morley and Kate cleaned up the rest of the visiting line-up from 36-2 to 58 all out with just three balls left of the 26 overs.

Morley finished with 4-9 from eight overs and Cross 4-11 from 7.3 overs to set a modest victory target of just 59.

That proved no problem, despite the early demise of Australian overseas amateur Jayden Borg in his last match before flying back to Melbourne.

Kate’s brother Bobby joined Dominic Humphreys, promoted to opener, at the crease and the duo had no problem putting together a half-century stand.

Cross finished on 30, Humphreys on 22, and the Crimble faithful were left to wonder where the season had gone wrong.

Flixton

L Perry b C Humphreys 27
A Beckford c K Cross b C Humphreys 2
A Perry not out 18
U Tariq c Grogan b K Cross 7
M Mitten c Grogan b Morley 0
C De’Ath c Grogan b Morley 0
L Claffley lbw b K Cross 0
O Riley c D Humphreys b Morley 3
U Mottiwala c R Cross b K Cross 2
A Embleton c Grogan b Morley 3
M Hughes b K Cross 0
Extras 4
Total (25.3 overs) 59
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-36, 3-37, 4-37, 5-39, 6-44, 7-45, 8-51, 9-58, 10-59
Bowling: S Dawson 5-1-27-0, C Humphreys 5-1-10-2, J Morley 8-3-9-4, K Cross 7.3-2-11-4

Heywood

J Borg b Tariq 6
D Humphreys not out 22
R Cross not out 30
Extras 2
Total (for 1 wkt, 13.3 overs) 60
Fall of wicket: 1-10
Bowling: U Tariq 5-0-21-0, A Beckford 4-0-15-0, C De’Ath 2-0-9-0, A Embleton 2-0-11-0, L Claffley 0.3-0-2-0