Cricket: Norden make it three wins in a row

Norden made it three wins in a row when they defeated Clitheroe in an away JW Lees Lancashire League match on Saturday.

Clitheroe, the champions of last season, were shot out for only 104, Stags’ professional Jake Sandham recording his best figures of the season – 5-35.

Any thoughts of an easy win were quickly dispelled with the reply showing seven wickets down for 68.

Gradually, and not exactly swiftly, Stags inched closer to victory thanks to 16 from Steve Pimm and 14 from skipper Hashum Malik.

Norden were still eight short of victory when the ninth wicket fell.

The win was rounded off by Nick Brierley who was playing his first match of the season. He finished unbeaten on 14, with Chris Humphreys unbeaten on two off 12 deliveries, and 12 points were in the bag.

Sandham took the first wicket of the day when he trapped Charlie Dewhurst leg before with 12 on the board.

Harry Lang and Jack Dewhurst put on 20 before the former was stumped by Brierley who was standing in for the unavailable Lee Crabtree, and wickets started to tumble.

Home pro’ Fawad Alam was caught by Brierley off Sandham, Peter Dibb went the same way and Sam Mulligan was caught by Dominic Humphreys.

From being 32-1 Clitheroe were 38 for five.

The late middle order proved somewhat stubborn, but it was mainly due to the innings of Jack Dewhurst that Clitheroe managed to limp to 100.

He was last man out, stumped by Brierley off Greg Butterworth for 64.

A total of 104 looked poor, especially when Norden took their reply up to 19 without loss. But things then started to happen, aided by one or two very strange decisions.

Both Josh Tolley and Harvey Fitton were caught on 19, Dan Buckley didn’t get off the mark, and Jake Sandham was also out without scoring.

Dominic Humphreys, Greg Butterworth and Joe Humphreys all added hard earned runs but their wickets meant Norden were staring down the barrel at 68 for seven.

Pimm and Malik then frustrated the home attack. Pimm scored 16 off 38 deliveries, of which 12 came in boundaries, and Malik scored 14 off 27 deliveries.

The partnership was broken on 86 when Pimm was bowled by Alam, and Malik fell on 97, leg before to Alam.

It was then down to Brierley and Chris Humphreys to decide a nervy thriller.

Clitheroe

• C Dewhurst lbw Sandham 1
• H Lang st Brierley b C Humphreys 12
• JM Dewhurst st Brierley b Butterworth 64
• F Alam c Brierley b Sandham 1
• P Gibb c Brierley b Sandham 0
• S Mulligan c D Humphreys b Sandham 0
• F Butt c Pimm b Malik 5
• T Lord c C Humphreys b Butterworth 4
• K Robinson run out 0
• S Halstead c D Humphreys b Sandham 2
• M Sharp not out 0
• Extras 15
• Total 104
• Bowling: Sandham 12-2-35-5; C Humphreys 7-1-21-1; Butterworth 10-0-27-2; Malik 5-1-16-1.

Norden

• J Tolley c Robinson b Sharp 12
• H Fitton c Robinson b Halstead 7
• D Buckley c Mulligan b Sharp 0
• D Humphreys c Sharp b Halstead 12
• J Sandham lbw Sharp 0
• G Butterworth lbw J Dewhurst 11
• S Pimm b Alam 16
• J Humphreys c Butt b Sharp 6
• H Malik lbw Alam 14
• N Brierley not out 14
• C Humphreys not out 2
• Extras 13
• Otal for 9 wkts) 107
• Bowling: Halstead 13-3-29-2; Sharp 15-7-26-4; J Dewhurst 8.1-2-39-1; Alam 6-2-11-2