Cricket: Hughes steals the show

Middleton Cricket Club

A gloriously sunny day at Towncroft seemed to bring the best out of Walsden. The league leaders bowled Middleton out for 163 and the Yorkshire team knocked the runs off inside 19 overs.

Middleton's innings was held together by George Walker (52), but once he was the fifth man to fall, the innings collapsed from 99 for 5, to 125 for 9.

The total was helped along by a quick-fire innings from Tom Astley. He hit 28 off 18 deliveries, before he was ran out by Shub Harkel, and the innings finished on 163.

Early wickets were needed if Middleton was to have a chance, and with the score on 12, they got their wish. Steve Holmes removed Jake Hooson via a catch by Grant Edmeades.

This wicket started the Chesney Hughes show. He hit shots with such unbelievable power and precision, hitting them to all parts of the ground. He brought his half century off 23 deliveries, and if it wasn't for a sublime catch by Mo Shahid, he would have gone on to get plenty more.

That was it for Middleton, as James Rawlinson and Matt Dawson finished the proceedings for Walsden with over 31 overs to spare.