Cricket: Maiden century for Sam Kindlen as Thornham win again

Photo: Jean Stanley

Sam Kindlen defends on way to a maiden century

A great start to the 2017 season for Thornham continued on Saturday as Hindley St Peters left Rochdale Road empty handed.

Thornham were dealt a blow on Friday as regular opener Phil Sutcliffe suffered a broken thumb which meant a reshuffle of the order was required.

Discussions were had and it was decided that Sam Kindlen would open with the in-form A Micklethwaite.

Winning the toss for the second successive week Captain Phil Deakin elected to bat.

Despite some good opening bowling from Hindley, the two Thornham openers got off to a good start with 50 coming up in no time, Micklethwaite playing the unusual role of the attacker.

Micklethwaite completed his fifty when he pushed a single to mid-off, but soon after the first wicket of the innings fell with the score on 92 as Micklethwaite was bowled for 52.

Kindlen was joined at the crease by Sergeant and he was the next to go being caught behind for five.

Kindlen played some lovely strokes to bring up his half century.

With an impressive partnership between Kindlen, and Howarth blossoming, 300 looked on the cards, before Howarth was caught at midwicket for 39.

Kindlen, who was approaching three figures, had to stay there for a good score to be posted especially after a flurry of wickets - Grey and M Micklethwaite being the culprits.

With overs running out Thornham had to swing the bat and both Deakin and Kindlen sent the ball all over ground.

It wasn’t long before a maiden century for Kindlen came up as he scampered through for a single.

The Thornham innings reached 281.

With Thornham setting a tough score Hindley needed batsman to score big. Clough had other ideas as he struck for Thornham with the score on 11.

A partnership between Moorfield and Whitehead blossomed to jangle the few nerves of the Thornham side, but that partnership was ended by Fletcher, having changed ends he bowled Whitehead with one that nipped back.

More wickets soon followed as spinner Chris Heywood bowled Wood and had both Shafiq and Moorfield caught leaving St Peter’s on 109-5.

Deakin struck during his fifth over bowling Atlaf.

The game seemed all but over, however Hussain struck the ball to the boundary a number of times.

Heywood still bowling, put pressure on the Hindley batsman at the other end and that pressure resulted in three more victims as he finished with 6-47 from 15 overs.

Hindley finished on 193 resulting in Thornham gaining a bowling bonus point.