In May, Cricket returned to Salem fields for the first time since August with the first of a series of friendlies Hebden Bridge CC will be hosting over the next few months.

Monday, June 26, 2006

FINALLY, A WIN FOR HEBDEN

Hebden Bridge CC beat St Mary’s College by 7 wickets
St Mary’s College 116 all out (26.1 overs)
Hebden Bridge CC 119-3 (18 overs)

Following a defeat against the same team earlier in the season, Hebden Bridge finally broke their duck in 2006 with a comprehensive 7 wicket victory over St Mary’s College of Blackburn.

The scene was set as early as the first over as Chris Penny and danger man Hassan Naseer were snared in successive balls from Lawrence Massey. Jeff Anderson took the catch to dismiss Hassan to leave St Mary’s at 0-2. Simon Cartlidge took the key wicket at the other end when Munawar Hussain, matchwinner with 81 not out in the previous fixture, trod on his own stumps, but there was nothing unlucky about the dismissal next ball as Cartlidge bowled Nick Emmett with the total on 8.

David Carter had looked solid before falling to Massey for 3, but it took two Hebden guests, Phil Howitt and Chris Hiam to restore some respectability to the total, Howitt crashing 9 fours in a rapid 40, and Hiam hitting a fine 23, including two leg-side sixes. Both fell to a fine spell from outswing bowler George Kidd, with Johnson taking a good catch at point. Ben Bray (15) and Zeeshan Yousuf took the score beyond 100, before Massey returned to dismiss Zeeshan for 9. He had taken 4-6, Cartlidge 2-11, Kidd 2-13 and Jules Atkinson 1-15. St Mary’s had reached only 116.

A modest chase suddenly started to look more challenging as Hebden skipper Johnson was sent back in Zeeshan’s first over for 5. Hassan Naseer, who recently opened the bowling for a North West College’s side which beat Loughborough University, bowled an extremely rapid opening spell which knocked Jeff Anderson back on to his stumps and left Hebden at 7-2.

However, George Kidd joined John Allison, and after driving his first ball for four, completely dominated the bowling. Allison batted stoically, picking off Hassan’s slower ball well, and the two added 98 before Allison spooned a catch off Nick Emmett for a fine 25. Debutant Nigel Paramor joined Kidd to seal a seven wicket victory. Kidd had raced to a superb 77 not out, with 15 fours and 2 sixes – his square cutting was savage, his off-side driving majestic. Skipper Jamie Johnson rated it as probably the finest innings he’d seen at Salem Fields.

It not only continued Hebden’s recent fine batting performances, but this time, crucially, it resulted in a Hebden victory.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Bradford CAMRA beat Hebden Bridge CC by 1 run at Hepworth and Idle CC
Bradford CAMRA 183-7 (35 overs)
Hebden Bridge 182-7 (35 overs)

Three friendlies and now three narrow defeats for Hebden Bridge this year so far, but this was the most agonising yet. Held at the picturesque Idle ground, the first meeting between HBCC and a side  representing the Bradford branch of the real ale organisation CAMRA was a convivial affair played to a good competitive standard.

Bowling first, Lawrence Massey made the initial breakthrough, courtesy of a juggling catch by opening  partner Simon Cartlidge, but Fawcett (47) and George (36) survived the new ball, then used their feet well against the spinners to put on 68 for the second wicket.

It took a fine spell from Jules Atkinson to apply the brakes, as he dismissed both, courtesy of two excellent stumpings from keeper John Appleby. A solid partnership from Coultas and Taylor kept the CAMRA momentum going but they never entirely got away, with Anderson and Allison bowling tight spells, Cartlidge delivering a fiery second spell and skipper Jamie Johnson sneaking in with a wicket in the last over.

Outstanding in the field was debutant Dom Wilson, and Massey held a good catch. CAMRA had reached 183-7 in their allotted 35 overs, with Atkinson the outstanding bowler with 3-45. Johnson took 1-7, Allison 1-10, Massey 1-20 and Cartlidge 1-24.

Jamie Johnson was in no mood to play a waiting game, and soon launched himself into the CAMRA bowling attack, as Appleby’s first 3 overs went for 25.

Jeff Anderson provided solid support as the score passed 50 in the eighth over and it was a surprise when Johnson fell to a slip catch off the accurate leg-spinner Bredaus for a fine 37, with 7 boundaries. Anderson soon followed to a superb catch by Coultas for an equally impressive 21. Allison and Howitt made steady progress towards the hundred mark, with Allison eventually bowled for 11. That brought in Josh Phillips, who looked fluent from the off, and he and Howitt added 45 in good time, Phillips crashing three leg side fours in a single over. When Phillips fell to Holden for 16, Hebden needed less than 50 with 8 overs to go.

Cartlidge started well, but Howitt, having reached his first fifty for the club, was retired on 53 under friendly rules to leave the game still in the balance. He had hit 5 fours and 2 sixes in a well-measured knock. Wilson batted well in his debut innings for 11, but with Cartlidge bowled for 16, Hebden were left with 10 to win off 3 overs, then 10 off two, and finally 9 off the final over.

Massey hit a fine four to leave Hebden five to win off five balls, and Appleby scrambled two singles, but when Massey was bowled off the penultimate ball, Atkinson required a three to win the match from the last ball. His single left Hebden a solitary run short in a quite nervewracking finish. For CAMRA Bredaus (1-16) and Coultas (1-26) were the pick of the bowlers.

As might be expected, the CAMRA hospitality was second to none, to top off a superb day of cricket which left both sides eager for a return match later in the summer.

Thornham III 170 all out (27.1 overs)
HBCC 164 all out (39.5 overs)
Thornham won by 6 runs

Saturday, June 3, 2006

After washouts on successive weekends against teams from Great Harwood and Todmorden, cricket in Hebden Bridge returned with a friendly against a team from Thornham, in Greater Manchester. It produced a thrilling match whose result was in the balance until the very last ball.

HBCC skipper Jamie Johnson lost the toss and found his side fielding first. On an uneven pitch Thornham were immediately in trouble, with McGrath holing out to a good catch from George Kidd off Simon Cartlidge for 2, and Lawrence Massey bowling Whitehouse for 10.

The Hebden opening pair slowly worked their way through the Thornham early order, with No 3 Parr only really cutting loose once Phil Howitt entered the attack at the river end. Massey picked up a deserved third wicket when he dismissed Parr for a fine 54, courtesy of a smart catch by Howitt at mid wicket, and the introduction of George Kidd brought immediate rewards, his first ball producing a superb catch by keeper Jeff Anderson to get rid of Towler for 20.

Dave Brooks got in on the act by scooping up a low catch off Ken Cameron, who then cannily bowled McMahon around his legs after switching his line of attack to around the wicket. Nos 9 and 10 Grey and Heil added useful runs but Thornham were all out for 170. For Hebden Massey took 4-66, Cartlidge 2-38, Cameron 2-14 and Kidd 2-17.

An outstanding fielding display was led by Hywel Morgan who made many fine stops and almost engineered a run-out. Thornham had failed to bat out their overs, leaving Hebden to score at just over four runs an over. Johnson made a circumspect start, but in the face of some impressive line and length from youngsters Heil and Grey, the home side lost early wickets when Morgan, Anderson and Allison were all out in single figures, leaving Hebden at 35-3.

Howitt then joined Johnson, who had gradually begun to dominate the bowling. Johnson was particularly authoritative in pulling the quicker bowlers in front of square, and Howitt, having been dropped on 9, also bedded in. The pair had added 72 when Johnson played on to young spinner McMahon for an impressive 62, including half a dozen sixes. Howitt added a further 46 with George Kidd and Dave Brooks until he attempted a suicidal second run and was left stranded on 47. He had hit 6 fours and two sixes in his top score for the club.

Hebden still needed 31 off 8 overs, but with Cartlidge and Cameron both out for ducks, it was left to Brooks and young Luke Fisher to face the last over with 8 needed. A scrambled single off the first ball gave Hebden some hope but Brooks failed to repeat his huge six from earlier in the piece, being clean bowled by Rahim, who as seventh bowler took 5-17. Hebden had lost out by a meagre 6 runs with a single ball remaining.

HBCC have a series of friendlies arranged each weekend between now and the end of July. Practice sessions are held each Wednesday at 6.30pm on Salem Fields (off Victoria Road). All welcome.

Forthcoming fixtures - ring Phil Howitt on 01422 844720 if you fancy a game!

Sun 11 June - Bradford CAMRA
Sat 17 June - Stubbings Wharf pub (home)
Sat 24 June - St Mary's College, Blackburn (home)
Sat 1st July - Puzzle Hall Inn (home)
Sat 8th July - Museum of Science and Industry (home)
Sat 19th August - Trades Club (home)
Mon 28 August - Todmorden III (away)

Saturday, May 6, 2006

St Mary’s College Blackburn beat Hebden Bridge CC by 3 wickets Hebden Bridge 161-9 (45 overs), St Mary’s College 167-7 (35 overs)

Cricket returned to Salem fields for the first time since August with the first of a series of friendlies Hebden Bridge CC will be hosting over the next few months. The visitors were a promising side from St Mary’s College, Blackburn, containing several players from both the Lancashire league and the recently formed North West Colleges team.

Frank O'Hanlon swings legspinner Ismail away for six

Hebden skipper Jamie Johnson won the toss and elected to bat. The home side suffered an early blow when Johnson was adjudged caught behind off Rishton seamer Thomas. Undeterred, veteran opener Frank O’Hanlon rebuilt the innings with Jeff Anderson, raising the score to 50 before Anderson was brilliantly caught and bowled by Wasim Ainarkar for 11.

Phil Howitt soon followed for 2, but debutant George Kidd looked fluent, crashing three boundaries before being cleaned up by Zubair Patel for 12. Meanwhile, O’Hanlon had cruised effortlessly to his 50, containing 8 fours and 2 sixes, and by the time he was leg before to St Mary’s captain Matt Wall, Hebden were handily placed at 135 for 5.

Lost ball! St Mary's student Darrel Thomas

At the other end Simon Cartlidge had progressed to 17 with some clean hitting, before unluckily deflecting a ball into his face and suffering an injury which required a hospital visit and 4 stitches. The St Mary’s bowlers gradually ground down the Hebden lower order, restricting them to 161-9, although Ken Cameron made one lusty hit into the river. For the visitors, Aqeel Shah took 2-11 and Zubair 2-25.

Thanks to the nagging accuracy of Laurence Massey, Hebden made early inroads into the reply, opener Thompson holing out to a steepling catch from Phil Howitt. Ben Bray and, crucially, skipper Matt Wall, were also undone by Massey whilst still in single figures. In the meantime the steady Bill Colman nipped in to bowl Mohsin Patel, whilst Howitt brilliantly ran out Zubair for 2.

It left St Mary’s perilously placed at 45-5. Crucially, however, opener Munawar Hussain was joined by Thomas, and both mixed watchful defence with some powerful striking. Thomas progressed to an excellent 50 from 36 balls with three sixes before being bowled by a shooter from Howitt, by which time St Mary’s were closing in on victory. Kidd bowled Aqeel with an excellent in swinger to give Hebden an outside chance, but Munawar saw the students home with a towering six to finish on 81 not out, an innings of huge maturity. He had hit 15 boundaries and timed his effort perfectly. For Hebden Massey took 3-29, Colman 1-16, Howitt 1-35 and Kidd 1-28.

St Mary's College team

Hebden Bridge CC have arranged a series of friendlies throughout the summer against local league, work and pub sides, but still have several dates to fill. If you would like to raise a side to play HBCC or are a club with gaps in your fixture list, please ring fixtures secretary Phil Howitt on 844720 or club captain Jamie Johnson on 847467

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