Report: 2nd XI move back to second ahead of top of table clash

The 2^nd XI returned to winning ways on Saturday at Stand to move back upto second position in Division 3W, with the visit of the league leaders Whalley Range to come next weekend.

Batting first, opener Zafri Zafardeen (32) and number three Joe Mitchell (22) both got starts but a few cheap wickets saw the score to 102-5. Syed Hashmi, as he did last week, led the middle order attack, scoring at around a-run-a-ball, and he was supported by Sabat Ali Ahmed (19 from 17 balls) and later Mohammed Usman (18 from 23 balls). At the close of the innings, Hashmi had 69* from 73 balls, including 13 fours and 1 six, and Bury had 215-9.

Amir Hayat took a wicket with the first legal delivery of the second innings, caught by ‘keeper Sajad Safi. His opening partner, Mohammed Usman, caused a number of problems on his way to taking 5 wickets (14-2-41-5). Stand reached 133 all out, securing 6 points and moving Bury back above Bolton Indians into second – 2 points behind next week’s opponents Whalley Range. (Scorecard)

At Radcliffe Road, it was Heywood who won the toss and elected to bat on another scorching day. Mukhtar Nasir got the wicket of Martin Walters early on thanks to an excellent catch at gully from Ali Hassan. As in the reverse fixture, Joe Humphreys (33) and Bobby Cross came together for a lengthy 2^nd wicket partnership, before Wes Hunt (43) offered Cross more support – Majid Talib eventually claiming both of their wickets. Dom Humphreys came in at 5 to score a quickfire 42* from 27 balls. A rare late spell from Gary Garner resulted in the wicket of Cross, in the final over for 93, with Heywood settling on 264-4.

The reply started well with 56 on the board for the opening pair of Ammar Baig and Mukhtar Nasir, before the latter was caught by Walters for 28. The wicket of Baig (37) six overs later sparked a middle order collapse – in the 27^th over, Bury were not far off the required rate but 7 down for 125. Garner struck a late 26* to push the score a little closer to Heywood’s – Bury all out in the 36^th over for 173. (Scorecard)

On Sunday, it was a tough day in the field for an inexperienced 3^rd XI bowling attack. Dinesh Munjal (33) and Akash Patel got Ashton Ladysmith off to a flier with 75 for the first wicket in 11 overs – before Scott Worswick claimed the wicket of the former, caught by Charlotte Weston. Connor Kemp ably supported Patel, who continued to score with ease, with over 180 on the board after 27 overs with just 1 wicket taken. Then sparked a magical over from Josh Lawson – 3 wickets in 4 balls including both set batsmen – Patel the first of the three, falling lbw for 89. Adil Maqsood returned to the attack for a much tigher second spell, and got his reward with a wicket, before Worswick (8.5-1-44-3) and James Weston (4-0-23-3) cleaned up the tail to complete an excellent Bury comeback – 183-1 had become 236 all out.

There were starts for Joe Mitchell (21) and Sam Leach (18) before a quick 4^th wicket partnership between Sabat Ali Ahmed (24) and James Weston (24) worth 48 from 47 balls. At 108-3 after 21 overs, the home side had reason to be a little concerned, however the wickets of the two set men stalled any Bury momentum, and with prospects of getting anything out of the game slipping as each over went by, it was Ashton Ladysmith who took the 6 points with Bury all out for 143. (Scorecard)