Both Norden and Haslingden left Stag Park on Sunday thinking that the rain had denied them a good opportunity of registering a first win of the season. After being invited to bat first, half-centuries from Josh Tolley and Oli Holt helped Norden get up to what appeared to be a very competitive score of 186. The pitch was offering something for bowlers of all types, but sadly only 1.1 overs of Haslingden’s reply was possible before the rain came and ended what could have been a very good contest.
Norden had plenty of help from the Haslingden fielders, with numerous catches going to ground. Tolley was put down twice in the first over and he punished the visitors with a knock that contained five 4’s and four 6’s. Holt was also a beneficiary of an early drop, but after getting off the mark with a 6, he played some fine shots on his way to a second 1st XI fifty for the club. There was the opportunity with 10 overs to go to push the score beyond 200, but the returning Oliver Cameron took 3 late wickets to add to his 2 with the new ball and, despite a good contribution from Scott Butterworth, the innings ended in the 49th over. Most on the ground felt it was a good score, but the elements denied us the chance to find out. The 2 early washouts leave Norden already 14 points behind early leaders Burnley, with absolutely nothing they could have done about.
1st XI Scorecard: https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/5593238
1st XI Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1qT5wOSqhI
The 2nds got their season underway after last week’s abandonment, but were comprehensively beaten at Haslingden. Phil Docker lost an important toss, and The Stags were quickly in trouble with Spencer Allen being dismissed without a run on the board. Kabir Ahmed, Docker and Jozef Gordon got the score up to 80 for 3 but a couple of middle-order run-outs and some poor shots down the order meant it was just 110 that they were able to post. When the rain then came and reduced the target to just 69 in 21, it took any chance away and Haslingden got home 3 down with just over 7 overs remaining.
2nd XI Scorecard: https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/5593238
The 3rds were involved in a remarkable game at Clitheroe on Saturday, which ended in a tie. Norden batted first in a match reduced to 31 overs per side and a good partnership between Jozef Gordon and Mo Iqbal had set a great platform when Iqbal was dismissed with the score at 84 for 2. Unfortunately, the middle and lower orders were unable to take advantage and nobody else could manage double figures as the visitors collapsed to 119 all out. Gordon’s knock of 64 from 71 balls was the clear standout. Clitheroe’s reply also included one significant knock, with Harrison Shipston making 60, but Norden’s bowlers kept picking up wickets at the other end and it all came down to the final over with the scores tied and just one wicket remaining for the home side. Joe Golden kept his cool and from the 3rd ball, Shipston called for a single but was unable to make his ground and the game was tied.
3rd XI Scorecard: https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/5616248