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Cricket: Red rose raiders inspired by kids
Towergate Halifax League SUPERB performances from two teenagers helped Norden carry off the Rod Warhurst Cup across the county border into Lancashire for the first time on Sunday.
Spin bowler Jason Collin and opening batsman Steve Fletcher, both members of the club's all-conquering under 15s last season, were the star men as the red rose side romped to a convincing eight-wicket win over Lightcliffe in the Sunday Section final at Booth.
Collin took five wickets to help dismiss Lightcliffe for 119 but even that effort was upstaged by Fletcher, who smashed an unbeaten 101 inside 20 overs to take the man of the match award.
Lightcliffe had won a league meeting between the sides a week earlier and victorious skipper Rob Greenwood admitted he had been surprised by one-sided nature of the contest.
"We certainly brought our 'A game' with us," he said.
"We bowled very well, took three amazing catches and when a lad gets 100 like that you have to be happy.
"It was one of those days when everything clicked."
Booth have spent several thousand pounds on drainage work after heading the Halifax League entering last season's final day, only to suffer a heartbreak home washout, allowing Warley to snatch the title.
That investment looked worthwhile on a day when other matches in Calderdale were unable to go ahead.
Asked to bat first on a damp pitch following heavy overnight rain, Lightcliffe were soon in trouble when in-form opener Tom Gorridge was bowled in the first over.
Skipper Kevin Booth and Dave Knight steadied the ship and took the score to 33 before a stunning catch from Greenwood off the bowling of Matt Farrand accounted for Booth.
The introduction of leg spinner Collin swung the game very much in Norden's favour. After conceding 20 runs in his first two overs the youngster located a challenging length and proceeded to run through the Lightcliffe middle order to claim five for 42 from his permitted nine overs.
Lightcliffe's demise was hastened by further excellent catches from sub fielder Leon Wild in the gully and keeper Ian Bird, who wrapped up the innings by diving full length to grab the ball from an inside edge.
Only James Powe, with an aggressive 22, and Will Gough, with an unbeaten 27, offered resistance as the innings closed in the 38th of the allotted 45 overs.
Fletcher then set about the Lightcliffe bowling in fearless fashion, dispatching the ball to all parts of the ground.
He dominated an opening stand of 49 with under 13s player Danny Buckley and lost a second partner, Phil Docker, to leg spinner Powe as Norden raced to their target.
Greenwood hailed Fletcher's innings as "phenomenal" and revealed that both the batsman and Collin had been having indifferent seasons up to Sunday.
"Steve has loads of ability while it has not been happening for Jason with us. But he has worked really hard in the nets and came good on Sunday."
Lightcliffe v Norden
Norden won by 8 wickets.
LIGHTCLIFFE 119
T Gorridge b Pritchard 0
K Booth c Greenwood b Farrand 19
D Knight c Farrand b J Collin 16
C Saunders b J Collin 1
J Powe c Harrison b J Collin 22
E Edwards c sub (Wild) b Ingham 1
J Godden c Farrand b J Collin 8
W Gough not out 27
K Sharples b Ingham 0
S Kalanovic st Bird b J Collin 9
J McLean ct Bird b Greenwood 5
Extras 11
Bowling: M Pritchard 9-2-18-1, M Farrand 5-0-19-1, J Collin 9-0-42-5, A Ingham 9-5-15-2, D Buckley 4-0-17-0, J Harrison 1-0-1-0, R Greenwood 1-0-1-1.
NORDEN 120 for two
S Fletcher not out 101
D Buckley c Sharples b McLean 5
P Docker b Powe 6
A Ingham not out 5
Extras 3
Bowling: J Godden 3-1-15-0, J McLean 6-1-24-1, E Edwards 3-1-26-0, J Powe 4-1-8-1, D Knight 2-0-24-0, T Gorridge 1-0-16-0, S Kalanovic 0.2-0-7-0.
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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