Cricket: No joy for Heywood Thirds in Sunday Cup

Heywood Cricket Club

Heywood Thirds were comprehensively beaten by Astley and Tyldesley in the first round of the Sunday Cup at Crimble.

In a match reduced to 36-overs-per-side following a late arrival by the visitors, Heywood were bowled out for 110 after Astley and Tyldesley had made 143-7.

Jack Mann proved a thorn in the side of the Heywood bowlers with an unbeaten 59 that was to eventually prove crucial. 

Rick Purser claimed 3-17, Cab Hilton 2-39 and Will Taylor 1-32.

In reply, Heywood got off to a poor start as they lurched to 32-5. It was only when captain Roger Smethurst joined Joey O’Neill that the rot was stopped, although the run rate was rising all the time.

O’Neill eventually fell for 17 and it was left to Smethurst to hold up the rest of the innings with a fine, unbeaten 45 before Heywood were dismissed 34 runs short of their victory target with only two overs left.