Downbeat end to season as Heywood Seconds and Thirds lose

Heywood Cricket Club

Contrasting emotions were on display in Heywood second team’s final match of the season at Crimble.

The home side were relegated from Division Three of the Greater Manchester League after a crushing defeat against Prestwich – who in turn clinched the championship in the inaugural season.

Heywood’s total of 115 was never nearly enough, with only opener West Hunt (63) and Michael Witts (14) posting double figure scores.

Heywood could never come to terms with a persistent Prestwich attack, in which Stephen Ritchie and Oli Holt claimed four wickets apiece while Nathan Bailey claimed the other two.

Heywood’s bowlers kept an early grip on the run rate in the Prestwich reply, but it was wickets that the home side needed, and they only claimed one apiece for Joe Humphreys and Cabhan Hilton.

Lewis Smith expertly anchored the Prestwich run chase and finished with an unbeaten 70, and he was supported in the gallop to the finishing line by an unbeaten 14 from Holt.

Heywood Seconds

J Humphreys c Kelly b Ritchie 9
W Hunt b Ritchie 63
S Burrill b Holt 8
M Grogan c Carter b Holt 7
J Morley c Taylor b Bailey 1
M Witts b Ritchie 14
J Mills c Kelly b Bailey 2
C Kaye b Holt 1
R Smethurst not out 1
J Keyworth lbw b Holt 0
C Hilton c Taylor b Ritchie 0
Extras 9
Total (43 overs) 115
Bowling: S Ritchie 11-3-22-4, O Holt 13-4-30-4, N Bailey 13-1-30-2, N Carter 6-0-27-0

Prestwich Seconds

L Smith not out 70
J Doyle lbw b J Humphreys 9
H Aziz b Hilton 12
O Holt not out 14
Extras 13
Total (for 2 wkts, 35.3 overs) 118
Bowling: J Keyworth 4-0-16-0, J Morley 12-3-27-0, C Kaye 6-2-14-0, J Humphreys 4-0-19-1, J Mills 5-0-23-0, C Hilton 4.3-2-9-1

Heywood Third XI finished on a downbeat note as they failed to chase down a modest victory target of 82 in a 32-run defeat at home to Thornham the following day.

Joe Humphreys, Cabhan Hilton and Jack Morley were the main wicket-takers as they helped restrict the visitors to just 81 from 32 overs.

The Heywood batsmen never got to grips with a determined and skilful Thornham attack, despite a defiant effort by Morley. He went in second wicket down but saw a series of partners come and go before he was last man out for 14 as Heywood subsided to 49.