Match Reports 2013

Won by 7 runs
Hayfield 104–5 (+2 retired)
Buxton 97–5 (+2 retired)

We travelled up to Buxton optimistically having been called at 5.30 to say it was raining and in doubt. In light drizzle we pushed off the covers and Anthony Thorpe and Harry Turnbull opened our innings. Buxton's opening bowlers were sharp and Harry was unfortunately out in the fourth over having valiantly defended but unable to score. Elliot Brownsword joined Anthony at the crease and these two steadily upped the run rate with some sensible batting to both carry their bats and retire on 28 and 25 respectively. Thomas Weston replaced Anthony and he scored an important 12 runs in steady fashion supporting one end before he was bowled by the returning opening bowler. Isaac Young played a timely swashbuckling innings to smash an impressive 14 before he was caught unselfishly trying to push on further. Runs were important now and Izzy Pridmore deserved much more but was run out by Buxton's smartest piece of fielding all game, when the umpire wrongly pressed Izzy into a second run that really wasn't there (sorry Izzy!!). Joe Brooks would finish 2 not out, as did Joseph Wyatt, and they sandwiched Charlie Craig who was out for a duck trying to smash the ball out of the park (under instruction!). So our innings ended on 104–5 with two retirements.

Hayden Brownsword, who made his debut as scorer, duly handed the pencil to his Mum for Mel to continue for the second half.

It was clear Buxton wanted to try and get this finished before any threat of rain returned. Anthony opened and following his neat first over the attack was taken to Harry Turnbull with 10 runs off his first over. Anthony bowled out his three and Harry, after recovering for his second over to take a wicket, was further punished in his third as Buxton raced on past the required run rate.

Izzy replaced Anthony from the pavilion end and delivered three quality overs, swinging the ball both ways and deservedly claiming a wicket in her final over courtesy of a great catch by Harry Turnbull. Buxton's opener and No.3 both retired and against the new batsmen Joe Brooks bowled a neat over; but with Buxton in danger of racing away a change of pace was required, and spin king Jacob Miller bowled two inexpensive overs to thwart the chase. Thomas Weston bowled two inexpensive overs and Isaac Young did the same from the town end.

With five overs to go Hayfield had dragged themselves back into the game. A neat run-out thanks to Elliot Brownsword put further pressure on Buxton and the pendulum began to swing the way of little old Hayfield.

Cometh the hour, cometh the two youngest players. Charlie Craig took responsibility to bowl the last two overs from the pavilion end and bowled neatly to restrict Buxton even further. Joseph Wyatt stepped up to bowl from the town end and in his first of two overs bowled a snorter to dismiss the dangerous No5 with a ball that pitched outside off and took the top of leg (prouddadtastic!!). Charlie had effectively won the game with his last over but there was still time for Joseph to claim another wicket in the last over thanks to a smart catch by Joe Brooks.

Batting

Anthony Thorpe 28 retired
Harry Turnbull 0
Elliot Brownsword 25 retired
Thomas Weston 12
Isaac Young 14
Izzy Pridmore 2
Joe Brooks 2no
Charlie Craig 0
Joseph Wyatt 2no
Jacob Miller DNB
Extras 19

Bowling

Anthony Thorpe 3 overs 0 wickets for 4 runs
Harry Turnbull 3 overs 1 wickets for 29 runs
Izzy Pridmore 3 overs 1 wickets for 18 runs
Joe Brooks 1 overs 0 wickets for 6 runs
Jacob Miller 2 overs 0 wickets for 5 runs
Thomas Weston 2 overs 0 wickets for 5 runs
Isaac Young 2 overs 0 wickets for 7 runs
Charlie Craig 2 overs 0 wickets for 8 runs
Joseph Wyatt 2 overs 2 wickets for 6 runs
Catches — Joe Brooks and Harry Turnbull
Run out — Elliot Brownsword

Elliot kept wicket very well for half the innings and swapped with Anthony for the remainder and Anthony indeed took a neat caught behind off the bowling of Izzy, but the home umpire (who apologised afterwards) didn't give it as he said he didn't think it carried (all he had to do was ask?!). But hey ho, that's cricket — you lose some and win some — but winning away is so so sweet!

Well done to both sides: a thoroughly enjoyable game that had just about everything and had BetFred slashing odds throughout the game as the pendulum swung from one side to the other.

Lost by 29 runs
Glossop 111–5
Hayfield 82–6

Hayfield took a side made up of just four Year 7s, four Year 6s and three Year 5s up to a very flat batting wicket on the impressive Glossop CC ground.

Glossop elected to bat and Hayfield set about the opening pair with some tidy bowling from Anthony and Joe Brooks, and it was Joe who got the breakthrough with two wickets in his first over followed up by a third in his third over. Harry Howarth and Jacob Miller spun their magic but Glossop began to claw their way back into the game with some well-placed boundaries. Harry claimed an important wicket to momentarily halt the recovery, but Glossop importantly succeeded in getting two of their batters past the 30 and retirement stage. Joseph Wyatt bowled two overs as did the ever-impressive Sam Moss.

Glossop managed to sneak up to 111–5 but with 24 gifted to them in extras and a few misfields to boot it should've been a much lower total that Hayfield had to chase.

Opening with Anthony and Isaac Young, there was optimism in the camp, but when Issac was plumb LBW and then Jacob Miller unfortunately bowled next ball to one that never got up, Hayfield were up against it. Charlie Craig joined Anthony at the crease and the two kept up with the run rate with some good shots and good running. Anthony was bowled on 23 trying to accelerate to his retirement score and then soon after Charlie was bowled for 17 doing the same. Harry Howarth's first ball will have added to the bruises on his legs but he survived and was unlucky caught off a leading edge. Jacob Noakes played some lovely strokes but was frustrated to keep finding fielders as we fell dangerously behind the run rate required. After Jacob and Harry were out, Joe Brooks and Joseph Wyatt were left an impossible task, but once again they gave it their best and there was some great cricket played.

Sam Bickley, Hayden Brownsword and Sam Moss were eagerly netting on the boundary and warmed up with some short bowling from Cath Moss; however, all three would unfortunately not make it out to the square and Hayfield's innings drew a close on 82–6.

Bowling

A Thorpe 16–1 off 4
J Brooks 19–3 off 4
J Wyatt 19–0 off 3
H Howarth 23–1 off 4
J Miller 17–0 off 4
S Moss 10–0 off 2
Extras 24 (2 No Balls, 15 wides, 7 byes)
Catches — Sam Bickley and Jacob Noakes.

Batting

A Thorpe 23
I Young 1
J Miller 0
C Craig 17
H Howarth 2
J Noakes 2
J Brooks 1 n/o
J Wyatt 5 n/o

Good effort lads against a well-organised and experienced Glossop side.

Won by 7 wickets
Charlesworth 189 all out
Hayfield 191-3

Hayfield began their defence of the Bissenden Cup with a comfortable seven-wicket defeat of Second Division side Charlesworth who have been regular visitors to the village in this competition in recent years.

Charlesworth batted first and openers Gilham and youngster Partridge made steady progress against Ben Higginbottom and Josh Unsworth with 21 runs scored on the first eight overs. However, Gilham called his partner for a single but the smart money was always against Partridge making his ground before Higginbottom fielded the ball to Jon Duckworth whose turn it was to keep wicket this week. And so it proved and a disgruntled teenager had to leave the field though he was far too polite to castigate his senior partner for his poor call.

Number three Elliott provided some momentum to the innings with boundaries off Higginbottom and Jimmy Adamson in a robust 35. However, Matt Proctor replaced Adamson after a short spell and, despite struggling to find his length, found a perfect delivery to dismiss Elliott with the score on 82 after 22 overs. Five runs later Gilham departed after giving more credence to the saying the saying that you should never run on a misfield and when Whitney departed, adjudged LBW to David Platt for just four, the visitors were teetering on 97-4.

That Charlesworth set any sort of competitive total for their hosts was mainly thanks to experienced campaigner Wardle who smashed a quick 39 to take his side to 189. Unsworth (2-27) and Higginbottom (3-40) returned to clean up the tail. Whilst they shared the majority of the wickets, Platt and Proctor were both economical in their respective eight-over spells to ensure that the batsmen had a manageable task ahead of them.

After his previous day's heroics, Shane Furness looked in fine form again so it was a surprise and disappointment that he found an outside edge off the bowling of Evans after he and Duckworth had seen off the not insignificant threat of Littlewood and Povey who both bowled well in opening four-over salvos.

However, Duckworth was in no mood to be dominated as he made short work of the visitors' change bowling. Russ Evans looked in good form with an imperious six over midwicket off skipper Wood. However, the same bowler had his revenge when Evans clipped to midwicket to leave his side on a wobbly 66-2.

Duckworth was joined by Ben Higginbottom and, despite their varying expectations with regard to their running between the wickets, the pairing launched a vicious assault on the bowling in a stand of 115 in just 13 overs. Duckworth reached a majestic 81 when he sought to inflict more punishment on the visitors but instead miscued to Partridge at mid-off.

Higginbottom was just one short of a deserved half-century when he hit the winning runs to see Hayfield safely into the next round.

Won by 9 wickets
Broadbottom 203 all out (5 pts)
Hayfield 207-1 (20 pts)

Hayfield scored an impressive maximum-point victory over high-flying Broadbottom to stay in touch with the leaders of the DCCL at a sun-drenched Hayfield in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.

Broadbottom batted first and got off to an impressive start thanks to the prolific Aaron Walsh who looked to be the best batsman that the villagers had encountered to date. Despite losing opening partner Demidh, an early victim of a straight Josh Unsworth delivery, Walsh was in no mood to be tied down as he dominated a stand of 79 with Perrin who made just 24. But with the score reading 92-1 after just 15 overs, Jimmy Adamson, who had conceded 17 runs in his first eight deliveries from a rampaging Walsh, caused the Broadbottom opener to play one big shot too many, chipping to Unsworth at midwicket, to hand Hayfield a welcome fillip when heads were maybe just beginning to drop.

Walsh's dismissal proved to be a pivotal point in the innings, and probably the whole game, as the runs dried up for the visitors. Adamson showed admirable composure in putting his early mauling to the back of his mind as he and Unsworth pegged the run rate back. Unsworth cleaned up Perrin and Courtney fell to a brilliant piece of opportunism from Owen Kirton who threw down the stumps from backward point to make the Broadbottom number four rue his complacent running between the wickets.

Rowston at number five put bat to ball in scoring 37 but Adamson and Ben Higginbottom, a revelation in his back-up seamer roll this season, tied up the innings with Adamson finishing with 3-61 from 15 overs and Higginbottom helped wipe up the tail with 4-33 as Broadbottom's innings subsided to 203 all out.

Hayfield knew that chasing down the total would not be easy with Broadbottom's attack, spearheaded by the pacy Jay Riley, being one of the better bowling units in the league. However, Shane Furness and Jon Duckworth, promoted to open the innings ahead of Russ Evans, played watchfully in seeing out the first half of the innings without any real problems, although Riley was bowling a tight spell in conceding just 22 runs in his first dozen overs.

However, the bowling at the other end was less of a threat. Hayden Rotors conceded 57 runs at five an over in his spell and Riley received little more support as Rowson and Dooley were milked for five an over. Furness and Duckworth both reached half-centuries in their 126 opening partnership which ended when Duckworth, maybe in an untypical loss of concentration, tried to launch Dooley straight only to find the safe hands of Rotors at mid-off after reaching his first fifty for his new club.

With five an over required off the final fifteen overs, Russ Evans was in no mood to make it a tight game and raced to a quick 35 not out with Furness making a perfectly timed unbeaten 76 to see their side home with four overs to spare.

Hayfield travel to Old Glossop next week who are riding high in third place in the league.

Lost

Lost to a more mature, stronger and older Dove Holes side.

Despite batting well, in particular Simon Fraser (30 not out), the score was less than enough due to poor running by Simon and Anthony Thorpe. The bowling again was reasonably good, but let down by poor ground fielding and too many byes.

In conclusion, a good performance let down by poor running between the wickets and poor fielding.

Won by 92 runs
Hayfield 188–9 (19 pts)
Compstall 96 all out (4 pts)

Hayfield returned to winning ways with what will, on paper, look like a comfortable victory at old foes Compstall but which in fact was the product of a remarkable batting recovery sparked by a lower order revival that rescued the villagers from the ignominious position of 33–5 after 21 overs.

With the 1.30pm start time looming large, there were only eight Hayfield players at the Compstall 'Wok', forcing Julian Burgess to take first knock on a slow, dry pitch. With regular opener Shane Furness waiting at home for deliveries of a different kind, Jon Duckworth was promoted to open the innings with Russ Evans. Faced with a young but not inexperienced new-ball attack of Hegginbottom and Markowicz, Hayfield would have fancied posting a sizeable total. However, they didn't reckon on being tested by the best bowling combination that they have faced this season, with Markowitz in particular bowling a good length on a pitch with little pace or bounce.

Evans eventually went to drive a full ball from the Compstall left-armer only to snick to Hegginbottom Snr behind the wicket. Compstall's next success came courtesy of a slice of luck as Furness, batting at three after his late arrival, was adjudged to have made some contact with a rare legside Hegginbottom delivery straight into the keeper's gloves.

Gareth Davies and Duckworth sought to consolidate the innings but found runs difficult to come by. Chew replaced Hegginbottom after an excellent opening spell and soon induced Davies into an ugly heave to leave Hayfield reeling on 20–3. And when Markowicz accounted for Duckworth and then the hapless Dave Aldridge in three balls, few would have predicted a single batting point for the visitors.

However, Burgess steadied the ship in a 34-run partnership with Ben Higginbottom, who seemed to revel in his role as team fitness assistant with some challenging running between the wickets that went some way to reversing his captain's excesses during his week in Oxford.

Sadly for Burgess, the Compstall bowling changes seemed to be working as youngster Webb, bowling at a lively pace, found his way through his defences in his first over to leave Hayfield still in dire trouble. Higginbottom was joined by George Wood at 64–6 with Hayfield's hopes hanging by a thread. However, the Compstall victory charge was repelled and then derailed by the impressive lower-order batting. Wood, watchful at first, eventually opened his burly shoulders and began to play some expansive drives between long off and midwicket. Higginbottom was more orthodox but the pairing added a crucial forty runs before Higginbottom departed in Hegginbottom's first over of his second spell.

Any thoughts of Compstall wrapping up the Hayfield innings early were dashed by Wood, who continued his bludgeoning of the bowlers, and Josh Unsworth who continued his impressive batting form as the Scarborough friends took the game away from their hosts. Whatever they put in the Yorkshire water must have worked, as any misgivings from disgruntled team mates at their late arrival were washed away in a tsunami of boundaries as both batsmen reached fine fifties before departing late on to a floundering Compstall attack. In all, 112 runs came from the last 15 overs to leave the shell-shocked hosts wondering just how they had left their visitors wriggle free from such an impossible situation.

Compstall's reply began steadily with the ever-reliable Dave Bailey once again acting as the cornerstone for his side's batting. Runs were hard to come by, but after an early breakthrough by Josh Unsworth, an impasse ensued with Bailey and Hegginbottom Jr repelling any threat posed by Unsworth and Davies but without real scoring at any alarming rate. At the halfway point in the innings the score had only just passed 50, but with just the single wicket down. Bailey had just hit impressive boundaries off Unsworth, but the scoring rate required had exceeded five and a half runs per over with the home side finding runs equally hard to come by as the Hayfield top order had done earlier.

Jimmy Adamson was called on to replace Davies, who had completed a wicketless but ultimately miserly 12-over spell, and in the off spinner's first over came the pivotal moment in the game. Bailey called Hegginbottom for a single but misjudged his call, with Russ Evans collecting the ball and throwing down the stumps with a direct hit to end Bailey's stay at the wicket and, with it, Compstall's hopes of victory.

Following Bailey's demise, Adamson tore through the Compstall middle and lower order as eight wickets fell for 34 runs. Hayfield's premier slow bowler varied his pace in a spellbinding 8.2 overs in which he accounted for 6 wickets for just 12 runs. Equally impressive at the other end was Unsworth, who bowled 20 unchanged overs for just 47 runs. He should have four wickets but for a Laurel and Hardy moment between Aldridge and Davies, although this was possibly the only blip in an outstanding fielding performance. However, this just opened the door for Adamson to end the game at the other end to give Hayfield a much-needed 19-point win to take into next week's game at home to Broadbottom.

Lost by 33 runs
Hazel Grove 231–5 (20 pts)
Hayfield 198 all out (6 pts)

A dismal day and night before what appeared to be a routine fixture against basement side Hazel Grove only set the tone for what was probably Hayfield's worst home performance for many years.

Heavy rain in the days before the game had flooded the outfield and made the ground covers somewhat redundant as water seeped onto the playing surface putting the game in jeopardy. However, sterling work by the ground staff ensured play started on time though the wicket was soft to say the least. It was no surprise therefore that Julian Burgess inserted the visitors on winning yet another toss.

Disappointingly, Hayfield did not make use of what appeared to be favourable bowling conditions as the opening pairing of Josh Unsworth and Gareth Davies bowled loosely to allow Geoff Noden and new signing Andy Thurston to put their sign in a dominant position. Having said that the first dozen overs were average, the bowlers were let down by shoddy fielding and dropped catches, as well as being on the wrong end of some close LBW shouts.

Thurston and Noden both made half centuries in a century opening stand. Dave Aldridge had replaced Davies from the playground end but, perhaps maybe looking forward too early to his Snowdonia holiday, served up some veritable tripe to allow Thurston to progress from the twenties to the fifties in just two overs.

That Grove failed to make 250 was thanks to Josh Unsworth who upped his game to bowl through the innings from the Royal end and also Ben Higginbottom whose part time seamers may well be relied on more this season if this spell was anything to go by. Having being 130–1 after 25 overs, Hayfield will have been grateful to be set just 232 after the visitors failed to accelerate the innings in the final twenty. Nevertheless, a return of five wickets (including two run outs) was a disappointing return from the villagers for whom Chris South was perhaps the only other high point in a tidy exhibition of keeping in which he looked comfortable standing up to Unsworth and fully deserved his stumping to dismiss Thurston.

Hayfield got off to a flying start with Russ Evans hitting three sixes in the first over of the innings bowled by Andy Rodgers. However, he lost opening partner Shane Furness who faced just two balls; a sumptuous boundary off Ryan Hayward followed by an outside edge to Gibbs behind the wicket. Despite the early setback, Evans and Davies continued their momentum to take the score to 60–1 after nine overs. However, despite the early Evans onslaught, Hayward and Rodgers showed good temperament and skill and continued to pitch the ball up to the batsmen, bowling to a well set field. The runs began to dry up for Hayfield causing Evans to go aerial only to find the safe hands of Andy Oldfield at deep mid off.

Thereafter, Grove were firmly on top with Burgess and Aldridge departing quickly and when Davies was adjudged LBW the game was almost up for Hayfield, especially when Wood and Higginbottom followed after sprightly cameos.

That Hayfield got anywhere near the imposing Grove total was thanks to Owen Kirton and, in particular, Unsworth who gave their team some hope with a fifty partership which at least kept their visitors feeling as though they were still in the game. But Kirton was run out, South went cheaply leaving Unsworth to score an almost impossible forty runs off three overs. In a tremendous effort which saw him reach a brave fifty, he swung once too often, bowled by Rodgers to end the innings and deservedly give Grove their first victory of the season.

Hayfield's league season already looks in tatters and, whilst reinforcements are clearly needed to support Unsworth and Davies in the bowling department, the batsmen need to find some real form if this season is going to produce any meaningful success.

Lost by 11 runs

We somehow conspired to throw this game away...and I take a portion of the blame for not noticing quite how far we had dropped behind the run rate before it was a bit too late.

We seemed to be in control early on and Dove Holes slowly set about building a total. Even with the two opening batters both retiring we looked like we would keep them to a score around 70. However some spirited batting by the last two pushed their total 89 with overs up.

Special note to Charlie for a great caught and bowled and Harry Howarth for a real hand-stinging attempt at a brave catch late on.

Anthony and Isaac opened up and played some majestic shots but all to fielders. Isaac was out bowled to Dove's best bowler without scoring which was a big blow to us. Harry joined Anthony and although they appeared to be scoring we began to get bogged down and fell dangerously behind the run rate. This forced them to push on and luckily Anthony was able to reach the 25 to retire but it came a bit too late. Harry was bowled for 7 when trying to push on. Izzy and Thomas batted well together but as Dove began to turn the screw we were now facing an uphill battle. Izzy was unselfishly run out for 6 and Thomas followed by the same fate for 7. Elliot swung the bat and was bowled giving it his all on the last ball for 10, leaving Jacob propping up his end on 2 not out. Our score was an agonisingly close 79 runs, just 11 short of victory...ouch! Dove generously gave us 22 extras towards our total.

Wake up call. Complacency all round — including me; we all need to understand where we could've saved those 11 runs or scored 11 runs more.

All that aside it was another good exciting game of cricket played in the right spirit (maybe a little too gently by me!?). We play cricket to enjoy it though — that is the main thing — but I can't forget how much I hate losing! Dare I say it...the better team lost, but beaten we were so congratulations to Dove.

Hope to see a lot more of you at training on Thursday this week: work to be done.

Massive thank you to Ben H for scoring, really appreciated.

Won

A good win despite a poor fielding effort in damp conditions. Jake Young and Simon Fraser were the pick of the bowlers despite the poor fielding; Jake and Isaac young were excellent. Buxton bowled well initially and Simon Fraser and Anthony Thorpe batted sensibly if slowly to set a good base which allowed the later batters, particularly Gregory Longson with 21, to secure a good win.

Match abandoned
Mottram (7 pts)
Hayfield (7 pts)

Ground waterlogged.

Won by 4 wkts
Dove Holes 190-6 (7 pts)
Hayfield 191-6 (18 pts)

Hayfield stopped their recent run of poor form with a victory over high-flying Dove Holes but it was far from a comfortable victory as heavy rain and a battling performance from the visitors threatened to scupper the villagers' victory quest.

After a Herculean effort to make the sodden outfield playable, the umpires and captains agreed to start at 3.30pm with a 28-over-per-side contest. Julian Burgess could make a comfortable living from predicting the outcome of a tossed coin, but it was visiting captain Jo Gregory who called incorrectly and Dove Holes were asked to bat first.

Hayfield opened with Gareth Davies and Dave Aldridge and the visitors made a slow start against some tight bowling; father and son combo R and D Jones struggled to put bat to ball, with just 29 runs coming off the first ten overs. It was Aldridge who made the first dent in the Dove batting when Jones senior skied to George Wood at long on.

However, Jones junior punished a tiring Aldridge who was pummelled for three sixes in his seventh over to make way for the medium pace of Ben Higginbottom who was playing his first game of the season. Initially, the move seemed to backfire as Jones continued his onslaught of boundaries with assistance from number three Jack Gregory. But Higginbottom's seven-over spell, whilst expensive, was characterised by finding wickets at key moments and and he clean-bowled Gregory for 22 and then Jones who made a punchy 63 inside twenty overs.

Thereafter, Adam Critchlow and Jo Gregory upped the tempo of the innings with seventy runs coming off the last six overs. A run out of Critchlow for a bruising 33 and the late wickets of Gregory, for 45, and Johnson failed to slow the scoring rate as the innings closed on 190-6 from their allocation of overs. Higginbottom finished with 4-56 from his seven overs but pick of the bowlers was Davies who didn't deserve to be wicketless after bowling unchanged from the pavilion end.

With tea saved until after the game, it was only ten minutes after the close of the Dove innings that Russell Evans and Jonny Spencer strode purposefully to the wicket to face the new-ball attack of Jones and S Critchlow. However, Jones started disastrously, with his first delivery being a no-ball full toss that was dispatched into the river by Evans. Further boundaries followed as Evans milked the the first over for 21.

Spencer tried to emulate his partner and was beginning to find the middle after some early fresh-air shots. However, Critchlow found a straight one that sent Spencer on his way for just 7 and Jones then found his revenge when he yorked Evans for 29.

Hayfield were struggling with the score on 39-2 but the early-innings blitz meant that they could afford a degree of consolidation. Jon Duckworth and Davies looked in good form as they put on forty to take the score to 79 just before the halfway mark before Duckworth failed to clear mid-off after successive boundaries off Jones.

Burgess joined Davies and they took the attack to Dove Holes in a 42-run partnership against the change bowling of Dave Cartledge and D Walker. However, despite having conceded 15 runs in his previous over, Cartledge bowled Burgess for 27 to throw the game wide open.

At this stage Hayfield needed 73 runs from 9 overs as Aldridge joined Davies in pursuit of victory. Aldridge played second fiddle to his partner who was particularly brutal on Walker. However, perhaps the game-changing moment came when Davies skied a pull shot to give Walker what appeared to be a simple caught-and-bowled chance but the chance was spilled in a swirling wind and Davies survived to spearhead his side's victory pursuit.

Aldridge perished for 21, bowled by Cartledge off the last ball of the 25th over, leaving the home side to score 27 off the last three overs. George Wood hit boundaries off the last two balls of the 26th over to keep his team in the hunt before he was run out off the first ball of the penultimate over. However, Higginbottom hit his first ball for four before getting Davies down to the other end to score successive boundaries to all but end the contest. With just three runs needed off the last over, Higginbottom and Davies had no problem in getting the three singles needed to guide Hayfield home for a much-needed 18 points.

Hayfield travel to Mottram next week hoping to gain their first away win of their 2013 campaign.

Won

Hayfield U13s notched up their second win in as many games, this time against Buxworth at home.

Buggy batting first, scoring 81 runs in their 20 overs for the loss of 5 wickets, with another 3 batters retiring after passing 25 runs.

Hayfield bowling:
Anthony Thorpe - 3 overs 2 wickets for 1 run (2 wicket maidens)
Jacob Miller - 3 overs 1 wicket for 14 runs
Joe Brooks - 2 overs 0 wickets for 9 runs
Charlie Craig - 2 overs 0 wickets for 14 runs
Harry Turnbull - 2 overs 0 wickets for 8 runs
Elliot Brownsword - 2 overs 0 wickets for 4 runs (1 maiden)
Alex Aitken - 2 overs 0 wickets for 10 runs
Joseph Wyatt - 2 overs 1 wicket for 16 runs (1 wicket maiden)
Jacob Noakes - 2 overs 0 wickets for 1 run (1 maiden)

Some marvellous bowling and some equally impressive fielding. Jacob was unlucky to be picked out in the field early on, but then settled himself really well with a great stop on the boundary when the ball flicked off Joe's boot. All wickets taken were bowled. Everyone bowled really well, as Buxworth looked to pile on the runs but were continually frustrated.

Please excuse this week's proud father inclusion...but special note to Joseph, whose first over got dispatched for 16 runs despite every ball being on target. Undeterred, he kept his head; he changed nothing and replied with a wicket maiden in his next over.

Batting was very good once again as Buggy bowled their strongest players from the start. Anthony and Isaac Young opened and both retired on 26 and 27 respectively. Harry Turnbull came in at three and batted well before being caught on 17. Elliot Brownsword hit a majestic boundary to finish 4 not out. Alex Aitken was unlucky to be bowled with only a few runs required, which allowed Jacob Noakes to the crease to hit the winning runs and finish 4 not out. With four balls remaining we allowed play to continue with the game won. Elliot was a gentleman and retired to enable Jacob Miller to the crease (at his third attempt) for the final four balls...but he was unable to get on strike!

Well done to all the lads involved today. Another good team performance.

Lost by 20 runs

The Under-16s lost against a much more experienced and bigger side. We bowled well, in particular Jake Young, very accurate, and Simon Frazer, both taking 2 early wickets. The other three bowlers were also successful, in particular Gregor Longson.

We lost the match by 20 runs due to some poor fielding costing 12 runs and 14 byes.

Our batting was poor, with Anthony Thorpe being run out for the second time in succession.

The feature was 11-year-old Isaac Young top-scoring with 11 against six-foot quick bowlers.

In conclusion, work is needed on fielding, wicket-keeping and running between the wickets.

Won by 1 run
Hayfield 73-3
Chapel 72-5

Hayfield U13s started their season with a great win away to a very experienced Chapel side. Hayfield were fielding just three Yr 8 players alongside five from Yr 7 and three from Yr 6, all however selected on merit.

Apologies for any minor inaccuracies, we had no scorer and so I had to copy Chapel’s book after the game. Whilst the stats might not add up the result was undeniable.

Hayfield opened the batting with Anthony Thorpe and Harry Howarth. Playing sensible cricket on a very green wicket Harry did what he was asked to shore up one end but was unlucky to lose his wicket to a full toss. Jacob Miller was brought to the crease; his job, as was Harry's, to protect one end and allow Anthony to score the team some runs. When Jacob was bowled in came the hard-hitting Isaac Young. He and Anthony now began to push the scoring along as Hayfield found some momentum. Anthony retired on 25 and then soon after Isaac was caught for 7 (although we all think that should've been more). This left Harry Turnbull (10 not out) and Elliot Brownsword (6 not out) to see Hayfield home with a score of 73-3 off their 20 overs. Some great sensible batting on show; maybe we need to push on a little earlier in future games but I am very pleased that both Harry and Jacob both did as they were asked, seeing off the pick of the Chapel bowling attack.

We were not entirely sure if this would be enough, but the team were sent back out to field in determined mood.

Anthony opened the bowling and his pace and accuracy kept Chapel contained. Jacob Miller opened from the other end and his spin dazzled the openers and they were unable to score freely. Thomas Weston bowled very accurately with a hint of swing claiming a wicket when he bowled the opener for 12. Charlie Craig who got the next wicket courtesy of a smart catch by Isaac Young behind the stumps. Joe Brooks and Elliot Brownsword did very well with their bowling as Chapel looked to push on. Joseph Wyatt then claimed the dangerous-looking No.2 bat and the scorebook reads ‘Caught O.Wyatt Bowled J.Wyatt’. Oliver Wyatt then strode up for his first over and with his first ball sent the No.4 bat back to the shed thanks to a good catch by Anthony.

Harry Turnbull and Harry Howarth both bowled very well, putting Hayfield into a comfortable position: with three overs remaining Chapel needed 15 runs to win. Anthony bowled well but some sloppy fielding edged Chapel closer to their target. Oliver calmed nerves with a crucial maiden. Up stepped spin king Jacob to bowl the last over. Chapel needed 6 runs. In the first four balls Chapel snuck added four runs and a run out was denied as the wicket was not claimed cleanly, all adding to the tension. Penultimate ball and Chapel set off on a run that was never there and Hayfield got their man courtesy of a run out. Last ball and Chapel needed 1 to tie and 2 to win. Jacob served up a delight and a dot ball was recorded to seal the win for Hayfield.

A great team performance by everyone involved.

Batting

Bowling

Lost by 84 runs
Dinting 233-8 (20 pts)
Hayfield 149 all out (6 pts)

Hayfield slumped to a second successive away defeat, this time at the hands of champions and league leaders Dinting.

Julian Burgess won yet another toss and invited his hosts to bat first on a bright and breezy day in Glossop. Gareth Davies and Josh Unsworth again shared the new ball but found the initial going tough against Matt Coleman and Greg Harwick who was in particularly belligerent against anything pitched up to him, including a remarkable lofted six off Davies over cover into the car park.

The Dinting pairing rattled up fifty at five an over before Dave Aldridge, who had replaced Davies from the pavilion end, gained a fortunate LBW decision to dismiss Coleman who appeared to have got an edge on a delivery before it hit his pads.

However, Dinting skipper Danny Brightmore timed the ball from the outset as he and Harwick produced the day's best batting as they dominated the bowling in a run-a-ball half-century partnership to take their team in a commanding position. However, with Harwick looking well set for a century, he chopped a shortish Aldridge delivery onto his stumps to give Hayfield their first point.

Hayfield's limited attack was exposed by Brightmore as he saw off the modest threat of Aldridge with a flurry of straight boundaries as Dinting's score passed 160 at the thirty-over mark. Jonny Spencer bowled four respectable overs but made no dent in the strong batting line-up, who looked set to score close to 300.

That the home side only posted 233 was in no small part due to the return of Davies and Unsworth, who switched ends from their first spells to peg back Dinting. Brightmore had made a high-class half century before trying to heave Unsworth and was bowled and Davies removed Sam Elliott at the other end. Adam Wilson and Glen Draper hit boundaries but the late-innings flurry never materialised as the fall of wickets kept the run rate to around five an over. Safe catching and a spectacular run out from Burgess ensured that Hayfield had a decent chance of victory at the halfway stage. Despite conceding a century of runs in his 17 overs, Unsworth deserved his two wickets in a disciplined spell at the death and Davies ended with three wickets and was clearly the pick of the bowlers.

Hayfield's reply started well with Russ Evans and Shane Furness playing watchfully against John Coleman and Ped Sevill. Whilst the scoring was not as dominant as the start of the Dinting innings, a score of 40-0 after ten overs was an encouraging start.

However, the game changed with the introduction of Danny Brightmore who breached Furness' defences early in his spell. This slowed the scoring rate and when Evans missed a pull shot off the same bowler and Davies missed a straight Coleman delivery, Dinting had a firm control of the game with Hayfield floundering on 60-3.

Burgess and Jon Duckworth consolidated the innings, but when they looked to raise the run rate they frustratingly found fielders instead of gaps as the pressure mounted. With twenty overs left Hayfield still needed 164 runs and this became 144 off the last 15 when Burgess was bowled by left arm spinner Brian Thompson for 23.

Dave Aldridge lost Duckworth to Harwick's medium pacers but found some momentum with George Wood as some much needed boundaries to see the target reduced to 88 off the last eight overs. However, the high run rate proved too much. Wood edged the returning Coleman to Gaz Gerrard, Aldridge fell LBW to Harwick and Coleman ran through the tail to finish with 5-32 to leave Hayfield well short of their victory target and a single away from a third batting point.

Hayfield will hope to regain some form and much-needed confidence with a home game against Dove Holes next Saturday.

Won by 10 wkts
Charlesworth 94-3
Hayfield 95-0

Won by 54 runs
Hayfield 261-3 – total score 246
Whaley Bridge 232-8 – total score 192

A great win for Hayfield, as Whaley were the league and cup winners last year. Batting first, we accumulated runs consistently, with good batting performances from Charlie Craig (12), Jacob Noakes (8) and Jo Wyatt (7). A very pleasing aspect of the batting performance was the fact that five batters were not out and the fact that every single one of the 7 boundaries was hit along the ground.

The bowling was equally impressive. Once again we have a team of 7 bowlers, 6 of whom took wickets including 6 clean bowled. Highlights were Hayden Brownsword (3 for 2 off 2 overs), Jo Wyatt (1 for 1 off 3 overs) and Sam Moss (2 for 1 off two overs).

Finally, his first time behind the stumps, Jacob Noakes took a quick stumping and only let through 1 bye.

Lost by 25 runs
Birch Vale 164-6 (18 points)
Hayfield 139 all out (5 points)

A dismal performance on a dismal day saw Hayfield lose to an under-strength Birch Vale team and with it their unbeaten start to the new season.

With an uncovered pitch having taken on water prior to the match, Julian Burgess inserted his hosts on a cold and breezy day. However, with the prospect of maybe batting second on a drying pitch, the decision was not an easy one and one which may have left him wishing that he had called incorrectly.

Vale's innings of 164-6 was built around an innings of impeccable technique from Tom McIlvenny who was the only batsman on show who really looked comfortable against the rising delivery that was a feature of the afternoon's play. Having lost opening partner Lloyd Kennedy, caught behind by stand-in keeper Burgess off Gareth Davies, Birch's skipper forged two crucial partnerships with Rick Johnson and Mike Walsh to see his side past 100 for the loss of just two wickets. However, while batting was not easy, Hayfield bowled far too many short balls, which were gratefully accepted by the Birch top four. The leg-side boundary tally made up too high a proportion of the runs, with the Hayfield bowlers seemingly unable to bowl a consistent length on a pitch that was providing plenty of assistance.

Johnson fell to Davies for 16, the only victim to the pull shot all day, George Wood taking a decent catch running backwards from square leg. Mike Walsh and McIlvenny provided the day's best batting in a watchful partnership of 70 before Unsworth returned to dismiss Walsh for an important 33.

Dave Aldridge bowled a tight few overs and perhaps should have had McIlvenny's wicket but saw a chance spilled at point before yielding to last week's hero, Jimmy Adamson, who again bowled a decent spell and was rewarded with the wicket of Birch's opener for 57. A run out and a stumping by Burgess off Josh ensured that the late innings push was kept to manageable levels, although 164 was well above par on a poor pitch.

Hayfield's innings started promisingly with Russell Evans and Shane Furness safely negotiating two distinctly lethargic opening overs from Phil Trueman and Rick Johnson. However, in the third over, a Trueman long hop kept low and pinned Evans in front of his stumps. And in the next over, a somewhat looser Johnson got a ball to rear up and find Davies' outside edge.

John Duckworth looked comfortable at the crease until he became Johnson's second victim, falling LBW for just 5 in his first innings for his new club, although there were suspicions of an inside edge before the ball struck his pads.

Burgess and Furness fought hard to repair the damage with a doughty stand of 40 to bring their side back into the game but when Burgess clubbed a Jack Linskey full toss straight to deep mid-wicket and Johnson produced another rising snorter to cause Furness to fend to short leg Vale were back in the driving seat with Hayfield floundering at 67-5.

Dave Aldridge smashed Linskey out of the attack with two straight sixes but Johnson was giving nothing away at the other end, producing frequent unplayable lifters to keep his side in charge. Occasional bowler Steve Burns was introduced to replace Linskey and kept Hayfield's batsmen thinking with some prodigious turn from his leg breaks.

Wood hit some lusty boundaries but miscued Johnson to mid-off and Unsworth fell first ball to another lifter from the same bowler. Aldridge did his best to rescue an almost impossible situation but when he was bowled by Burns for 24, the game was effectively over.

A brave late cameo from Jason Ward helped Hayfield to a second batting point but Johnson removed Owen Kirton and Jim Adamson was run out with Hayfield still 25 runs short of the Vale total. Johnson had bowled unchanged for 21 overs taking 6-32 (and his first eleven overs going for just six runs) and showing the Hayfield bowlers the value of knowing the right length to bowl on a helpful pitch.

Hayfield will hope to put a poor performance behind them when they travel to champions and new league leaders Dinting next week.

Won by 9 wkts
New Mills 144 all out (2 pts)
Hayfield 147–1 (20 pts)

Hayfield's league campaign got off to a flying start with a comprehensive win over near neighbours New Mills on a glorious April Saturday afternoon.

With the hopefully only temporary loss of strike bowler David Platt, Hayfield's bowling options looked perhaps looking a little light and this was clearly in Julian Burgess' mind when he inserted the visitors on a placid-looking pitch.

Josh Unsworth and Gareth Davies shared the new ball and it was the latter who made an early double breakthrough by trapping Mills LBW for 15 and bowling Boardman for just a single as New Mills stuttered to 21-2. Darren Coverley and Cal Firth initiated a small recovery before skipper Firth fell LBW to Dave Aldridge who had replaced Davies from the playground end.

Palmer-Williams joined Coverley but was struggling to put bat to ball as Hayfield remained firmly in control. However, Coverley, with his team seemingly in dire straits, mixed sensible caution with some positive batting to haul the visitors past 100. Meanwhile, Palmer-Williams found some confidence and began to strike the ball cleanly to force Burgess to replace Aldridge with Jimmy Adamson.

It proved to be an inspired change, although it was in conjunction with some help from Unsworth who firstly induced a loose drive from Coverley for 68 to break a partnership of 71, and who then brilliantly took a one-handed catch to remove Palmer-Williams for 30 who looked aghast at the manner of his dismissal, a mistimed drive off a gentle Adamson full toss.

Thereafter, the New Mills innings capitulated. Adamson had made a nervous start, but gained confidence from his first wicket to bowl a magical seven-over spell in which he accounted for the last six wickets to fall. The visitors had collapsed from 125-3 to 144 all out, Hayfield's new off-spinning wizard finishing with 6-16. Encouragingly, Adamson was not afraid to give the ball some air and was rewarded with his best-ever 1st-XI figures.

During Hayfield's reply, the New Mills attack rarely threatened to cause any problems. Dave Ward beat the bat on a few occasions and Jamie Henderson bowled a lively spell but Russell 'Fosch' Evans and the newly helmeted Shane Furness (on such a benign pitch there was probably more of a threat from sunstroke than a ball on the bonce) stood firm and punished the bad ball. The pair took the score past 50 with little fuss and so it was perhaps a little surprising when Furness mistimed a drive off James Stevens to provide the visitors with a little optimism.

However, Gareth Davies made batting look very easy as he caressed a chanceless 44 to deny New Mills even a solitary bowling point as he and Evans put together an undefeated 90 partnership to see Hayfield to 20 points and top spot in the embryonic first division table. Evans was perhaps not as his spectacular best with the lack of pace both from the vistors' attack and in the pitch not to his liking, but still made a bullish 69 not out which augurs well for tougher games to come.

Sympathy though goes to New Mills who have been shorn of several key players during the closed season and who may well as a result struggle to emulate the success of previous seasons.

Hayfield's next game is away to even-nearer neighbours Birch Vale. The committee will apparently not accept any claims for travelling expenses for this game.