Norden CC managed to snatch a tie in late drama at Stag Park during a rain reduced game against Clitheroe.
In an all too familiar scene this summer it was 12 o clock on game day and the players were in the clubhouse watching it rain. Five times between 12-3 the players walked out to the covers as rain had stopped, only for it to start again just as they were about to remove the covers.
However, perseverance paid off and a after a great job mopping up by all the players the game was scheduled for a 16:15 start with 22 overs per side. Clitheroe won the toss and elected to field.
It was a bad start for the Stags as Crabtree and Zaidi both went for a duck. Tolley (11) and Jack Taylor (10) steadied the ship before Tolley chipped one to deep point. Captain, G Butterworth, joined Taylor and kept things ticking until Taylor was adjudged out, stumped.
It was then a bit of a procession as S Butterworth (1) and Holt (0) went quickly. The captain (8) and Willis (8) then fell to leave the Stags at 55-8 and many fearing we wouldn’t even see the overs out. However Debnam had other ideas and put on a seasons best 23, ably supported by Allen (6). Debnam was run out off the last ball of the innings, pushing for a second, and the Stags finished on 82 all out. Heyman (3-17) and Sharp (3-14) were the pick of the bowlers for the visitors.
The Stags needed an early wicket, and Zaidi had Ross (8) caught by Holt with the score on 17. Lord (34) and Jack Dewhurst (15) then took the attack to Norden playing some aggressive, whilst sensible cricket. At 63-3 the game looked dead and buried, especially with Clitheroe professional Munaweera looking in good touch. A double change in bowling brought G Butterworth and Debnam into the attack. Clitheroe moved along to 73-3 when G Butterworth bowled Charlie Dewhirst. Debnam then trapped professional Munaweera LBW. It was then the Debnam show as he had Hewitt (1), Lemon (5) and Dibb (0) all in quick succession. Clitheroe were 81-8 with just two needed for victory. It then looked like disaster struck as Debnam bowled a leg side wide to take the scores level. However, Debnam bounced straight back and bowled Hayman (0) to finish with 7 overs 7-22. It was into the final over we went with Clitheroe needing 1 run and the Stags needing 1 wicket or a maiden over to tie. G Buttewrorth who had 6 overs 1-10 gave the final over to Zaidi, who with the 3rd ball of the over had Bennett (2) smartly caught at short cover by Willis and the game finished a tie.
Scorecard : https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/5592537
The 2nd XI tried to perform a miracle of their own. After being bowled out for just 35 they had Clitheroe 2nd XI worried at 18-5, but they rallied well and knocked them off with 4 wickets to spare.
After being inserted on a damp one things didn’t start to badly with the experienced front 3 of Hashum, Docker and Kabi taking us to 17-2. However, disaster struck after this and only Sami Waheed (10) showed anything like. Sam Halstead with 4-23 and Lucas Murphy 5-10 were the only bowlers used by the home side.
The Stags need something special and with Usama taking 4 early wickets and Munny 1 they had Clitheroe reduced to 18-5. However, it what was a spicy affair, the lack of runs proved costly and a partnership of 12 between Murphy and Halstead more or less saw Clitheroe to victory
Scorecard : https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/5593334
On Sunday it was the turn of the 3rd XI as they travelled to Rishton to play their 3rd XI. Rishton won the toss an batted first. Clark (32) and Leathert (16) were the mainstay in Rishton’s 93 all out from 31.5 overs. For the Stags Mohsin Iqbal got 4-13 and Charlie Gooding 2-5.
Norden made quick work of the target, knocking off the required runs from 17.2 overs. After losing Bebb and Kearns early, Zeeshan Anwar (37) and Munny (43) saw the Stags home in quick time.
Scorecard : https://norden.play-cricket.com/website/results/5616310