Week 18 report: 1s hammer Woodhouses to take bonus point win

The 1^st XI completed a league double over 2^nd placed Woodhouses with a 156 run victory at Belfields on Saturday.

Bury batted first and had a cautious start to their innings, reaching 72-2 at drinks. Mukhtar Nasir (34) departed a couple of overs later, and two more quick wickets put Woodhouses on top at 90-5 with 20 overs remaining. Kershaski Jno Lewis and Gary Garner however fought back – the 6^th wicket was worth 99 when the latter was bowled for 42. Jno Lewis reached his highest league score of the season, 91 from 67 including 8 fours and 4 sixes, before being controversially given run out in the final over. Bury finishing on 221-7.

A fired up Mukhtar Nasir took 3 early wickets, the third perhaps the most important, with Majid Majeed ran out at the non-striker’s end after Nasir spilled a chance to catch Nick Hardman. However, his stay at the crease didn’t last much longer – he picked out Ali Hussnain at square leg from a rare loose delivery in an excellent Alex Breckin spell. The two first change bowlers were also in the mood for wickets, with three apiece for Ali Naizi – the highlight being a superb grab at long on by Breckin – and Jno Lewis, who ended the game in a fitting fashion, knocking the middle stump out of the ground to seal a comprehensive bonus point victory over the promotion hopefuls. (Scorecard)

The 2^nd XI were blown away at Radcliffe Road by Division 4W leaders Royton. Usama Akram (41) and Ali Hassan (38) provided a quick and strong start at 81-1, however a dramatic collapse, with 5 wickets for Dave Clarke and 4 for Joe Taylor, saw Bury all out for 104. Zarqash Ali took a wicket before the scoring began, but 66 from 67 balls from Clarke prevented any Bury hopes being raised, the target knocked off for the loss of 3 wickets inside 22 overs. (Scorecard)

On Sunday, the 3^rd XI had a batting innings to forget, being bowled out for 57 by Edenfield. However, a valiant effort with the ball meant it was far from easy-going for the visitors, Bury taking 8 wickets with 3 in Scott Worswick’s early spell and 2 for Josh Bowen. (Scorecard)