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Malik puts Rochdale to the sword at Redbrook

1/ 7/2008

THE Hashum Malik Road Show visited Redbrook on Sunday and supporters of both clubs were treated to a blistering display from the burly Norden opener who propelled his team back into the championship race.

Malik’s response to Rochdale’s 109 for eight, made in 28 overs – the game was shortened due to a delayed start – was of such withering and indiscriminate power that before 10 overs had been completed the game was over.

A wagon-wheel of his shots would reveal that no part of its circumference was untouched, but this was not just ugly slogging.

There were some perfectly executed conventional cricket shots in there too, particularly two massive blows off Neil Avery over long off and its accompanying fence.

And Malik also dismissed the cynics who have claimed that his style of batting was suited only to Norden’s small ground, for Redbrook’s boundaries are as long as you will find in much of league cricket.

Malik’s 50 came off 25 balls and his 73 not out contained seven fours and six sixes. He gave one untaken chance but by then the game was up anyway.

In comparison, his opening partner, professional Jean Symes was positively pedestrian, only managing to score at just over a run a ball.

When it seemed a whitewash was inevitable, with the scores level, Symes was bowled by Dane Currency to give Rochdale their only success.

Rochdale’s innings had been more like conventional cricket.

A decent start by Dominic Ayres and Alcindo Holder, who on a normal day would have been happy with a scoring rate of five runs per over, gave the hosts hopes of posting a challenging total.

However, Harvey Fitton accounted for Holder, and with the drying pitch beginning to misbehave the rate stuttered somewhat. Despite other useful contributions from Andrew Dawson, Adam Smith and Scott Butterworth, Rochdale only just squeezed past the 100-mark.

Norden’s overseas amateur Zane Arthur pegged away accurately and was rewarded with five wickets, assisted, it must be said, by two pieces of excellent wicket-keeping by Nick Brierley who stumped Dawson with a lightning piece of work and later caught Butterworth, standing up, down the leg side after the young batsman had gloved a lifter.

Rochdale’s tea-time tactic was to keep it tight until the effect of the interval roller had worn off.

Malik never gave it time, but after a couple of pints and a good night’s sleep, Dale’s bowlers will realise that there was nothing they could have done about his onslaught.

Expect an increase in holiday bookings around the middle of August though – when Rochdale are due at Woodhouse Lane.