Heyside line up cup final double

SADDLEWORTH’S Matthew Cook is bowled by Dean Watkinson.

HEYSIDE have put themselves in pole position for a Saddleworth League cup final double.

While their second team triumphed at Hollinwood in the Moore Cup, the first XI must be favourites to progress on a rain-interrupted day at Little Hey Street against Tanner Cup semi-final opponents Saddleworth.

The visitors were never able to get on top of the Heyside bowlers and were dismissed for 187.

By the time the black clouds deposited their goods, openers Steve Firth and Scott Bloor were still there on a patient 17 without loss. They resume tonight.

Things had looked good for Saddleworth when openers Neil Holt and Matt Campbell set off briskly but Cook played on to a short delivery from Dean Watkinson for 16 and Campbell followed him, smartly caught be the evergreen Mark Barnes off brother Lee Watkinson for 20.

Lee struck again to dismiss Steve Howard, caught at cover by Bloor with the score at 59, and the big wicket of the threatening Peter Skuse was celebrated soon afterwards when Lee Watkinson scooped up a catch at point off the hard-working Carl Newton for 14.

Heyside had bowled Newton out for an economical one for 31 from his allotted nine and soon after there was a 45-minute break for rain at 72 for four.

When James Davies held on to the first of two smart catches to see off Chris Brazewell for 18 the home side looked in control.

However, Craig Lawrence and Ian McLean combined smart singles with big hitting and a 39-run seventh wicket stand saw them back into the match.

It was veteran Tony Heaton who split them on 104 with Campbell taking the simplest of catches at mid-wicket but Heyside were sharp in the field all day with only one missed catch and a miss-throw when a run out looked likely as the only black marks against them.

They stayed focussed, and opening bowler Dean Watkinson returned to tidy up proceedings late on with McLean last man out for a top score 37.

Watkinson’s two late wickets brought him deserved figures of three for 31 while two of the latter wickets were down to a stumping and a caught behind from the ever-sharp gloves of pro Hugo — he really is a joy to watch when stood up.

It’s Heyside’s to lose from this position. The hair-drier treatment they got from vice-captain Heaton in the dressing room after their abysmal performance at Glodwick 24 hours earlier — they were bowled out for under 100 for the second time this season — should be sufficient to prevent any reoccurrence.

But they are two batsmen down due to work commitments so it will be up to the top order to see them home.