Norden have ben regular visitors to cup semi-finals in recent years. Unfortunately, they can now add Sunday’s LCF knock-out defeat to the 1 t20 and 3 Worsley Cup losses in the last 5 years. The Stags were definitely second favourites going into the game against current Liverpool Competition leaders, Ormskirk, but Norden had made the same trip last season and returned victorious so there was confidence in the camp that the result could be repeated.
Not a lot went right from the moment the coin went in the air and Greg Butterworth called wrongly, allowing the hosts the first use of an excellent looking track. Openers Calum Turner and George Politis started brightly and Norden’s attack was soon under pressure. It took the lesser-seen off-spin of Josh Tolley, the man who had done the damage in last year’s fixture, to get the breakthrough on 86 when he had Turner caught by Dom Humphreys for 31. The wicket brought Sam Holden to the crease and he provided an immediate boost to the run-rate. With the sun out and the pitch flat, the Norden attack was made to toil. 6 bowlers were tried, but there was no joy as the Ormskirk pair put on a partnership of 163 in just 21 overs. Holden was particularly harsh on anything loose, hitting 9 fours and 4 sixes as he reached his century from 69 balls. Politis had also made it to three figures when he also fell to Tolley, but the damage was well and truly done. A couple of wickets fell in the closing overs, but 284 for 4 was the total and an extremely tough task was on the cards.
Extremely tough became impossible inside 2 overs as Norden’s 2 big guns, Tolley and Mitch Owen were dismissed for 1 run between them. Scott Butterworth followed the next over and it was a case of trying to avoid embarrassment at that point. Lee Crabtree and Greg Butterworth battled up to 44, but 2 more quick wickets fell on that score as Crabtree was followed back to the dressing room by Alex Willis, both out to Jamie Barnes. There was a promising innings from Oli Yates, who made 18, and Butterworth stayed resolute to be unbeaten on 43 when Norden were bowled out for 118. Barnes finished 5 for 35. Whilst the defeat was a heavy one, there was no shame in losing to this Ormskirk side, who will take some beating in the final.
LCFKO Scorecard: https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/6623836
The league fixture against Church had been moved to Saturday to accommodate the semi-final and Norden turned in a solid performance to take the maximum 12 points. On a pitch that was keeping low from the outset, batting was tough and Lee Crabtree and Greg Butterworth’s innings were invaluable. Both made scores in the 30’s at strike-rates under 50, but with conditions as they were this was exactly what was required. The spinners were the main threat with professional Zain Abbas and Mo Bhada taking 3 wickets each, and wen Butterworth was bowled by Bhada the match ws in the balance with Norden on 136 for 7. The fact Norden could go into the break with all the momentum was down to an excellent 8th wicket partnership of 39 between Stan Kearns and Dean Lord. Kearns’ knock of 36 from just 33 balls was by far the most fluent of the day and defied his inexperience at this level. 177 for 9 on this pitch felt like a huge score.
In reply, Church started relatively well and moved to 36 for 1, but Dom Humphreys and Scott Butterworth then started to cause havoc. 4 wickets fell for 2 runs, as Abbas watched on from the other end. Owen came into the attack, and his extra height highlighted the unpredictable bounce in the pitch and he took 4 wickets for the second week in a row as Church slumped to 86 all out. Abbas finished unbeaten on 46, with all 10 wickets falling to seam, in contrast to the 1st innings.
1st XI Scorecard: https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/6107874
The 2nds fell to a heavy defeat at home to Colne on Sunday. After losing the toss and being asked to field first in the heat, the Norden bowlers struggled to contain the powerful Colne batting line-up. The visitors struck 23 fours and 9 sixes in their innings of 244 for 8. Norden were well in it when Colne were 136 for 6, but Danny Kegg, with plenty of lower-order support, took the game away. Jake Hill was the standout Norden bowler, with figures of 3 for 40. The Norden reply was a strange one, with extras by far the top-scorer with 32. No batter made it past 13 and Colne opening bowler, Martin Windle, had the remarkable figures of 8 for 75 from 12 overs.
2nd XI Scorecard: https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/6110343
2nd XI Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fMNhvaq-Jo&feature=youtu.be
The 3rds also lost their top-of-the-table clash at home to Nelson on Saturday. A young Norden team could only manage 111 all-out in 28.4 overs. Harry Mason top-scored with 37 and there was an excellent innings of 18 on his senior debut by 12-year-old Adam Bunting. Norden threatened to make things interesting with 4 wickets, but Rashid and Asghar’s unbroken stand of 50 saw Nelson over the line.
3rd XI Scorecard: https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/6110010
3rd XI Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3LAPG_xS2o