Heywood seconds stumble after Norden dig deep

Heywood's second team’s comprehensive 83-run defeat at home to Norden hides a story of what could easily have been a far more competitive affair.

The Crimble side had the visitors on the ropes at 100-7 only for John Fawkes, 40, and Paul Morrell, with an unbeaten 60, to rally their side to 199-8.

That was always out of reach of Heywood, who eventually collapsed to 116 all out, only Dominic Fawcett , 42, and Roger Smethurst ,22, making significant contributions.

The Fawkes-Morrell partnership was, in retrospect, the key to the game after Heywood had the visiting batting line-up on the rack.

James Mills started the rot with two wickets in an over, Chris Kaye came on to bowl a long spell which yielded three victims. And with John Keyworth and Dominic Fawcett also striking, Norden looked unlikely to post a challenging total.

Morrell changed the tempo of the innings with his aggressive contribution and sharing a big stand with Fawkes.

Heywood, in reply, were always struggling after an impressive new ball spell of 4-41 by Danny Buckley which accounted for Kaye, Tom Blundell, skipper Adam Fawcett and then Smethurst.

Asif Saeed, well known throughout the league as ‘Beamer’, then ripped through the lower order to finish with 4-25 from nine overs and one ball.

Only Dominic Fawcett provided real resistance in the remote chase for a bonus point before being adjudged lbw.

Norden
A Saeed c A Fawcett b Mills 19
P Docker st Nugent b Kaye 25
D Buckley c Blundell b Mills 0
B Patterson b Keyworth 5
J Humphreys b D Fawcett 5
J Fawkes b D Fawcett 40
P Collinson c Keyworth b Kaye 11
G DeBoeck c P Dawson b Kaye 11
P Morrell not out 60
G Fleming not out 2
Extras 32
Total (for 8 wkts, 50 overs) 199
Bowling: J Keyworth 8-0-23-1, J Mills 9-3-45-2, D Fawcett 9-1-38-2, C Kaye 15-0-48-3, J Morley 8-0-29-0, A Fawcett 1-0-4-0

Heywood 2nds
P Dawson c Fawkes b M Saeed 1
R Smethurst c A Saeed b Buckley 22
C Kaye b Buckley 9
T Blundell b Buckley 0
A Fawcett b Buckley 3
M Grogan c Buckley b Morrell 11
D Fawcett lbw b A Saeed 42
J Morley b A Saeed 4
J Mills b A Saeed 2
K Nugent b A Saeed 0
J Keyworth not out 8
Extras 14
Total (30.1 overs) 116
Bowling: M Saeed 6-0-19-1, D Buckley 8-1-41-4, 9.1-0-25-4, A Saeed 9.1-0-25-4, P Morrell 7-1-26-1