Cricket: Kerr and Townsend shine as Heywood unbeaten run continues

Another impressive all-round performance saw Heywood prove too hot for fellow high-fliers Woodhouses as they maintained their unbeaten start to the season.

Heywood’s bowling attack probed diligently to restrict the visitors to 153, after they had looked capable of a more significant contribution, then they knocked off the runs for the loss of just three wickets – with Andy Kerr, 61, and professional Travis Townsend, 48 not out, leading the way.

It leaves Heywood top of Division One of the Greater Manchester League after the opening four matches and expectations rising at Crimble.

The Dawson brothers, Simon and Andy, quickly reduced Woodhouses to 12-3, Andy claiming two victims in successive bowls, before Nick Hardman joined substitute professional Ockert Erasmus to spark a revival.

The duo went on the attack and ran purposefully between the wickets to put together a stand of 61 until a Danny Pawson delivery saw Hardman slice a lofted drive caught by Kerr running from point for 32.

Erasmus, the South African whose main paid job is for Lowerhouse in the Lancashire League, maintained the tempo, however, and at 123-4 the visitors looked capable of setting a target around 200.

Heywood kept their focus, and once Humza Naeem – in the middle of an aggressive spell – had Erasmus caught for 60 pulling a short ball to Simon Dawson for a fine catch at mid-on the rot set in.

Jack Morley, making a welcome return after a groin strain, was brought back to claim three late wickets, Andy Dawson’s direct hit claimed a run-out victim, and an assiduous spell by Townsend was rewarded with a stumping scalp.

Heywood’s reply saw 15-year-old Mikey Witts soon caught at slip without scoring, only for the increasingly impressive Kerr – assisted by Bobby Cross and Townsend – to set the stage for a comfortable run chase.

Kerr followed up his century of the previous week with a classy 61, looking totally at ease and only giving the sniff of a chink in his armour on 39 when he survived a tough chance to slip.

Cross took time to settle in but looked in the groove only to fall for 13 to a slip catch with the total 52.

That only brought Townsend to the wicket to give assuring support to Kerr, the latter looking classy and serene as he motored past his half-century. So it was a surprise when, on 61, he was adjudged lbw to Erasmus bowling off-spin around the wicket.

Townsend, joined by the ebullient Pawson, made sure there were no further alarms, however. The professional ended just two short of his half-century and Pawson motored to 25 in a stand of 37 which ensured a maximum six-point haul.

Woodhouses

A Ali c Cross b S Dawson 4
L Johnston c Cross b A Dawson 6
O Erasmus c S Dawson b Naeem 60
A Spender b A Dawson 0
N Hardman c Kerr b Pawson 32
C Reeves st Cross b Townsend 15
P Johnston run out 5
R Sloan lbw b Morley 5
S Webb c Cross b Morley 3
S Linford c Pawson b Morley 1
J Butler not out 1
Extras 15
Total (44 overs) 153
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-12, 3-12, 4-73, 5-123, 6-130, 7-139, 8-140, 9-143, 10-153
Bowling: S Dawson 9-0-41-1, A Dawson 6-1-25-2, D Pawson 6-0-25-1, J Morley 9-2-24-3, H Naeem 6-0-19-1, T Townsend 8-2-17-1

Heywood

A Kerr lbw b Erasmus 61
M Witts c P Johnston b Spender 0
R Cross c P Johnston b Hardman 13
T Townsend not out 48
D Pawson not out 25
Extras 7
Total (for 3 wkts, 41.3 overs) 154
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-52, 3-117
Bowling: A Spender 8.3-1-30-1, J Butler 14-1-43-0, N Hardman 9-1-41-1, O Erasmus 8-0-23-1, S Linford 2-0-15-0