Cricket: Solid all-round show lifts seconds to another victory

Heywood Cricket Club

Heywood Cricket Club’s Second XI pulled off another notable victory as they extended their unbeaten start to the season.

The Division Four East leaders comfortably saw off second-placed Hollinwood by five wickets at Bolton Cricket Club’s ground - their hosts have been unable to play at their home venue.

The win extends Heywood’s lead at the top of the table to seven points and they are also still going strong in the Second XI Cup, in which they travel to Stretford in the third round on June 17.

Hollinwood recovered from 13-2 after two early strikes from Cab Hilton to reach 41 before James Mills grabbed the third wicket.

It was when Chris Kaye was introduced into the attack that tide really began to turn.

The veteran left-arm spinner, who celebrated his 49th birthday last week, set out on a 12-over spell to bottle up most of the rest of the home line-up and ended with the fine figures of 5-17.

The 150 total was still a challenging one, especially after the early demise of Jacob Kaye.

Joey O’Neill came in to join the in-form Mikey Witts and the second-wicket stand was the basis of the eventual comfortable run chase.

They put together a partnership of 88, Witts making 42 and O’Neill 45, until both went either side of the century mark.

The rest of the batting line-up backed them up, however, with double figure contributions from Rob Bennett, Chris Booth and Keelan Nugent seeing Heywood to their victory target with almost two of the allotted 45 overs to spare.