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Norden edge tight game
8/ 7/2008
CRICKET at Woodhouse Lane is usually about high scores on a good batting track.
Last Saturday, Norden and Royton managed only 260 runs between them for the loss of 19 wickets, but this was one of the best matches of the season involving The Stags who are now level on points with leaders Radcliffe and only second in the table by way of having one less limited win than their rivals.
For the committed spectators it was a late nail-biter, with Royton going mighty close to overhauling Norden’s 135 for nine in the 30-overs per team match.
The game had everything, good fielding, bad fielding, good shots, bad shots, a seven-wicket haul which included an all-bowled hat-trick for Royton pro Luke Proctor, and an eight-wicket haul for Norden’s overseas amateur Zane Arthur.
For once, the wicket gave more help to bowlers rather than batsmen, and run-scoring was not easy.
Royton decided on using only two bowlers, Proctor and Dion Taljard who struck first when he had Hashum Malik trapped leg before for one with the total on 14.
Jean Symes and Nick Brierley pushed the score up to 44 before Proctor claimed his first victim when trapping Symes leg before for 29. Greg Tattersall and his skipper put on 32 for the third wicket, but Norden then suffered a middle-order collapse.
Brierley got a lifter from Proctor and was caught by Simon Harmer, Tattersall swept to leg only to be caught by Harmer, and Daz Cryer swung at a delivery outside the off stump, got an edge, and was caught behind.
Norden were 75 for five and in trouble.
But then came another 30-plus stand between Jon Fawkes and Zane Arthur, ending with the score on 107 when Arthur was beaten by a slight riser from Proctor which took the bails.
Enter the arena Ollie Makin who made some lusty blows in his 26. He did have one escape when given out caught on the boundary edge.
After the finger had been raised the umpires had a natter and appeared to confirm their first decision, but they then reversed it, told Makin to bat on, and awarded a six as the catcher had gone over the boundary when taking the ball.
Makin took two fours off Proctor to take the total onto 135, but he was then bowled all ends up.
Harvey Fitton had his off stump knocked back first ball, and the hat-trick was complete when Blair Patterson lost his off stump.
A total of 135 was better than had looked possible at one stage, but could Norden defend it? That question was partially answered when, with the Royton reply on four, Walsh played on a delivery from Arthur.
Another 18 were added before Arthur moved one away from Ryan Harding and Nick Brierley took the catch behind the stumps.
This meant Proctor and Ward being at the wicket, both capable of ending Norden hopes.
They had taken the total to 56 when Ward was bowled middle peg by Arthur, and four runs later Proctor was caught behind.
Simon Harmer went the same way for two, Ian Halliwell was castled by Arthur, and Royton were 71 for six.
The total crept up to 86 before Arthur struck again when he had Dhar trapped leg before, and another 10 went on the board before Symes joined in the fun by bowling Hughes round his legs. Taljard tried a reverse sweep and found the hands of Blair Patterson – 101 for nine.
Norden looked to have it in the bag, but Royton were not finished and Andy Morris took advantage of a few loose deliveries to run up 19 runs and push Royton up to 125 with seven balls left.
From the first of those seven Morris slammed Arthur towards the legside boundary, and there was Patterson to take a good catch and ensure a Norden five-pointer.
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14/07/2008 at 22:41