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Heywood slump to shock defeat

3/ 7/2008

VETERANS Phil Deakin and Brendan Miskella rolled back the years to lead Littleborough to victory against league leaders Heywood at Hare Hill on Saturday.

The duo shattered the visitors’ top order, Miskella, with three wickets, Deakin with one, and Heywood were unable to recover, falling 21 runs short of their winning target of 206.

Deakin also chipped in with two more wickets to end a late fightback by Heywood.

But the star of the show for the hosts was South African overseas amateur Rudi Keiser who scored a stunning century.

The opener hit 15 fours and one six, providing the backbone of the Boro innings, and his partnership with Billy Williams (40) proved crucial.

But the most disappointed man at Hare Hill was Heywood’s evergreen spinner Chris Kaye who bagged a hat-trick and returned figures of six for 42 yet finished on the losing side.

Keiser and Curtis Maguire got Boro off to a fine start, but having passed the 50-mark Jon Storey enticed an edge from Maguire who was snapped up by deputy professional Dissanayake.

Gary Hulme and Keiser kept the scoreboard ticking over and added 47 runs before Hulme was bowled by Kaye.

Boro pro Kamran Hussain threatened briefly but became Kaye’s second victim when he holed out to Blight.

Williams then took it upon himself to play a support role, but when he was out with the score on 196 the home team suffered an alarming collapse.

Only one run had been added when Andy Rodgerson, Danny Thewlis and Jamie Roche were dispatched by Kaye in consecutive balls, and Keiser was run out by Cross.

Seven runs later Deakin (3) made it a round half dozen for Kaye. Matt Collins and Miskella were not out as Boro reached 205 for nine.

Heywood’s strong batting line-up, albeit without their in-form Sri Lankan pro Ruvin Peiris who had a hamstring problem, must have felt 206 was an achievable target.

Tom Hardman and Bobby Cross set about the chase with determination in an opening stand of 48.

Miskella was brought into the attack and in his third over he tempted Hardman into a false shot for Collins to take the catch.

Better was to follow as he trapped Heywood’s prolific Australian Royce Blight leg before for a duck, and saw off Danny Pawson (4) to reduce the visitors to 73 for four.

Cross and Dissanayake set about repairing the damage, but once Deakin stepped up to the plate Cross edged him to Williams behind the stumps, having made a fine half century.

Hussain was introduced to the attack with good effect as he dismissed Dissanayake( 26) and Kaye (4). Heywood were 122 for six and struggling.

Mark Kenny and Lee Grogan did their best to revive Heywood’s fortunes and added 32 runs before Deakin again intervened, Kenny being stumped by Williams for 23.

Steve Cheetham (3) was run out by Maguire’s direct hit, and Grogan (19) was caught behind off Deakin.

It left Storey (10no) and Rob Slawson (4no) too much to do and Heywood fell well short of victory.

l BIWATER are again the main sponsors of Heywood Cricket Club.

Club president Bob Cross (pictured left) visited the Clegg Street factory with the JW Lees Wood Cup to personally thank Biwater chairman Bernard Armstrong for their generous and continued

support and receive the sponsorship cheque.

Remarkably, Biwater have sponsored the club for 18 years and have made a crucial contribution to the Crimble team’s success on and off the field.

And Bob Cross couldn’t speak highly enough about the long-standing commitment they have made to local cricket. He said: "Once again I would like to thank Bernard and the Biwater company for their help.

"Without sponsors the club couldn’t function at the level we do, the contribution they make is crucial."