Cricket: Heywood seconds claim double win in league and cup

Heywood’s Second XI are proving to be the club’s success story of the season to date.

On Saturday they cantered to their fifth successive win, at Royton, in Division Four East of the Greater Manchester League, to stay top of the table.

The following day saw a six-wicket win over Deane and Derby at Crimble to reach the third round of the Second XI Cup.

Heywood’s bowling attack, with Simon Dawson and Lee Clarkson leading the way, proved far too strong for Royton who were bundled out for 97.

Paceman Dawson claimed 4-37 while off-spinner Clarkson maintained his excellent start to the season with the ball to grab three victims.

The other three scalps went to Tom Pagett, Cab Hilton and John Keyworth.

Mikey Witts achieved a personal milestone as Heywood easily reached their victory target of 98 in 33 overs.

Witts shared an opening stand of 66 with Jacob Kaye, who then fell for 22, but the former continued to complete his first senior half-century for the club.

He eventually fell for 52 with the score 79.

Although Olivia Thomas went for three to make it 81-3, the job was completed by Rob Bennett and Chris Booth.

Sunday’s Cup victory at home to Deane and Derby was even more meritorious with the side missing regular front-line spinners Chris Kaye because of work commitments and Clarkson feeling the after-effects of an ankle injury sustained at Royton.

The visitors posted a challenging target of 175 which could, and maybe should, have been considerably less but for a series of dropped catches.

Chief sufferer was 14-year-old leg spinner Thomas, but she still finished with the creditable figures of 3-41 from eight overs.

Bowling in tandem with her at the other end was Bennett, who himself had a 3-42 return from nine overs, and the duo did their side proud while the visiting batting line-up was looking to accelerate the run rate.

Will Taylor also bowled a fine spell of 2-25 from 10 overs after coming on as first change in the attack, and there was a wicket apiece for Pagett and Keyworth, although Deane and Derby’s final total of 175 was a tough-looking target.

Heywood’s reply suffered a quick setback when Dominick Fawcett was lbw for a duck then Jacob Kaye went the same way for a well made 20.

When Matt Hood fell for 22 following some lofty blows it was 64-3 and the game in the balance.

Heywood captain Steve Evans came in to join the impressive Bennett and the duo quickly put Heywood in command. They shared a fourth-wicket stand of 79, with Evans contributing 29 until being stumped.

Bennett looked comfortably the most accomplished player on the day and saw the side home when joined by Thomas.They shared an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 34 with the youngster looking calm and well organised in making eight, providing valuable support for Bennett who ended on 71 and fully merited the applause of a generous patio and pavilion crowd.