Heywood move Into LCB KO Cup round two

Skipper Danny Pawson, a hit with bat, ball – and tactically

Heywood made it three wins in a row in different competitions with a solid performance in defeating Royton at Crimble in the first round of the LCB KO Cup on Sunday.

On a pitch offering something for all bowlers, Heywood were on song from the off to restrict the visitors to just 132 off their 45 overs.

Then despite the loss of a couple of key wickets, pro Rob Nicol and skipper Danny Pawson calmed any nerves to set Heywood up for a probable clash with 2013 champions, Northern, who beat Heywood in the semi finals en route. 

All Heywood’s bowlers were on song, with the pick of the figures going to Andy Dawson. He made the crucial early inroads, removing both openers with just 23 on the board. Nicol, looking to have much more rhythm to his bowling, then bowled Liam Brown, and from there it was a one-man show for Royton.

That ‘one man’ was Sri Lankan pro Geeth Alwis, who looked comfortable all the way through but received little support from anyone else in his side on his way to an excellent 60.

Further wickets came from the always-impressive Joe Lovell and the skipper Danny Pawson, as well as another for Nicol, before Dawson claimed two more late scalps to finish with 4-25 from his nine and keep Royton down to just 132-9 off their overs.

Mention should also go to first team debutant Jon Keyworth, in for the on-call Simon Dawson. The medium-pacer has played just a handful of games for the Heywood second team but bowled a very tight opening spell from the Lake End to put pressure on the visitors. His figures of 9-3-28-0 were only missing a deserved wicket, and he is a welcome addition to the club’s bowling stocks.

In reply, it was evident the wicket was difficult to bat on and the previous day’s hero, Bobby Cross, this time went early. Liam Mason played and missed a couple of times, but he hit well over the infield for 23 before he holed out.

However, Nicol had decided he would bat for the duration and despite finding the going tough against a good Royton opening attack, he started to flow alongside skipper Pawson, who was in top form.

Pawson fell before the end for 33, but the damage was done and it was left to Nicol – having produced his best all-round performance of the season so far – and Rob Baker to walk off to more warm applause from the always supportive Heywood faithful.

Royton
T Walsh c Latham b A Dawson 9
A Durose c Hunt b A Dawson 7
G Alwis c R Cross b Lovell 60
L Brown b Nicol 3
C Porteous c and b Nicol 2
N Sinkinson c Latham b Pawson 2
D Hulme c Burrill b Pawson 5
A Tesz c and b A Dawson 0
M Smith not out 12
A Good c Mason b A Dawson 8
C Taylor not out 6
Extras 18
Total (for 9 wkts, 45 overs) 132
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-23, 3-52, 4-58, 5-62, 6-96, 7-98, 8-103, 9-125
Bowling: A Dawson 9-2-25-4, J Keyworth 9-3-28-0, R Nicol 9-0-25-2, D Pawson 9-1-22-2, J Lovell 9-0-23-1

Heywood
R Cross c Tesz b Smith 5
L Mason c Alwis b Durose 23
R Nicol not out 44
D Pawson lbw b Porteous 33
R Baker not out 4
Extras 27
Total (for 3 wkts, 33.1 overs) 136
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-54, 3-122
Bowling: A Good 9-3-34-0, M Smith 9-2-22-1, G Alwis 2-0-8-0, A Durose 3-1-5-1, C Taylor 4-0-23-0, C Porteous 3.1-0-15-1, L Brown 2-0-14-0, A Tesz 1-0-9-0