Cricket: Heywood teams for the weekend

Heywood Cricket Club

Heywood’s senior side start a four-game run-in to the end of the season on Saturday 24 August which will decide what standard of cricket they will be contesting next year.

They take on Denton at Crimble knowing that victory is vital to keeping hopes alive of making it into the top two teams promoted to the Premier Division of the Greater Manchester League.

Heywood are nine points behind leaders Moorside in Division 1A, but only six behind joint second-placed Flowery Field, Glodwick and Denton West.

The following week, 31 August, they go to Uppermill, then comes the crunch in the final two games – at home to Flowery Field on 7 September, and away to Glodwick in what could be a last game decider on 14 September.

Heywood’s second team are bottom of Division 3 East, and to have any chance of avoiding relegation need a victory when they go to Dukinfield on Saturday.

There is action at Crimble on Sunday 25 August when the 3rd X1 entertain Astley Bridge.

• Heywood 1st X1 (v Denton, home, Saturday, 12.30pm): S Burrill (capt), W Hunt, J Morley, A Dawson, R Cross, J Kettleborough, S Dawson, J Kaye, J Mills, C Hilton, F Iqbal (pro).
• Heywood 2nd X1 (v Dukinfield, away, Saturday, 1pm): S Evans (capt), R Smethurst, C Booth, C Kaye, M Grogan, O Thomas, Z Baig, T Pagett, C McNally, D Hilton, M Dearden.
• Heywood 3rd X1 (v Astley Bridge, home, Sunday, 1.30pm):  R Smethurst (capt), M Hood, J O’Neill, D Hilton, J Keyworth, C McNally, M Dearden, O Thomas, T Pagett, J Kaye, C Jackson. Reserve: R Purser.