Weekend Recap at Reside Stag Park
The weekend kicked off on Friday with the final group stage match of the T20 competition, as The Stags welcomed Haslingden to Reside Stag Park. Haslingden won the toss and elected to field.
Skipper Humphreys continued his red-hot form from June with a blistering half-century off just 25 balls. He was joined by sub-professional Jameel Stuart after seven overs, who carried on the assault with a destructive innings, smashing the Haslingden attack to all parts of the ground. Stuart finished with a sensational 80 off just 31 balls, helping The Stags post a formidable total of 214 from their 20 overs.
Haslingden never really got going in reply. Inspired bowling changes by Humphreys turned the game decisively, including the reintroduction of Stuart, who delivered a remarkable quadruple-wicket maiden to complete his five-wicket haul. Haslingden were bowled out for just 84, securing a comprehensive win for The Stags. Securing a home quarter final birth vs Burnley on the 4th July.
Scorecard : http://www.lancashireleague.com/Scorecards/1373/1373539.html
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7qhIsqidaA
Saturday brought the return of league cricket with a top-of-the-table clash as 2nd-placed Clitheroe visited Reside Stag Park. Captain Crabtree won the toss and chose to field first.
Clitheroe’s opening pair capitalised on a depleted Stags bowling attack, racing to 196 before the first wicket finally fell in the 34th over. A lack of pressure and missed opportunities allowed Clitheroe to post a commanding 322/6 from their allotted 50 overs.
In response, The Stags got off to a bright start with the ever-positive opening partnership of Taylor and Humphreys putting on 69 in just eight overs. Humphreys went on to record his second half-century of the weekend, but wickets fell around him, and he was eventually dismissed with the score at 126-3. From there, the chase faltered, with the middle order unable to rebuild, and the innings ended in disappointment at 181 all out in the 32nd over.
A tough day for the 1st XI, with valuable lessons to take into the second half of the season.
Scorecard : http://www.lancashireleague.com/Scorecards/1373/1373281.html
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-zPJv-pIbI
Norden 2nd XI vs Clitheroe 2nd XI – Saturday 28th June
The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first. It was tough going for the Stags as Clitheroe’s top 3 tucked in. 61-1 soon became 153-1 with Dawson (26), Bennett (56) and Butterfield (45) all making good scores. Zeeshan Tariq bowled tightly for his 1-23 off 12. It was occasional bowler, Tom Booth, doing the late damage picking up 4-20 from his 3 overs to see Clitheroe finish on 240-7.
The Stags lost Booth (2) and Malik (23) early, but Docker (62) and Allen 20) got us right back in the chase. The weather closed in and a quick fire 28 from 18 balls from Muddar got us back in the hunt. Off the last ball of the over the Stags needed a 6 to sneak in front on DLS, but Muddar was caught on the deep long off boundary. The rain continued and the umpires too the players from the field, with no more play possible. A tough one to take… but in such a competitive division, it’s a game of fine margins.
Scorecard : http://www.lancashireleague.com/Scorecards/1373/1373609.html
Norden 4th XI vs Todmorden 4th XI – Sunday 29th June.
With no scheduled fixture for the 3rd XI we managed to arrang 4th XI friendly, consisting of 3 U16 and the rest 12-14 year olds, none of whom had playeed senior cricket this season.
The visitors batted first and made 162 all out from 39 overs. The pick of the home side bowlers was Jonjo McCann who took 5-29. The older, more experinced Todd attack was too hot to handle for the young stags, with us being bundled out fro just 53. None the less a great experience for the young players, many of whom were getting their first experience of senior cricket and the longer fromat of the game.
Scorecard : https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/7158517