Skipper steers winning course

Hollinwood’s Mohammed Kamran has Shaw skipper Rick Harrington caught behind by John McGovern

AFTER a turbulent few weeks when they saw their Saddleworth and District Cricket League title and Tanner Cup aspirations wrecked through no fault of their own, Hollinwood can at least take something away from the season.

Captain John Winterbottom’s team were crowned Twenty20 champions after a 28-run defeat of Shaw at Uppermill’s Leefields ground.

And the skipper, with Steven Bowers at his side, merit praise for the part they played in the final.

The pair steadied the ship, adding 37 in six overs, after Shaw had hit back from a Qasar Riaz and Aamir Bashir onslaught to reduce Hollinwood to 91 for six.

Winterbottom, after receiving his second trophy as captain after their title triumph of two years ago, said: “Steve and I set out to get to 125 with three or four overs to go and that’s what we did. We couldn’t afford to lose any more quick wickets at that stage.

“We knew anything in the region of 150 would be a reasonable total on this track, although when Qasar and Aamir were going well, 190 looked possible.

“We went all out to win the Twenty20, because we knew it was this or nothing for us this season.”

Hollinwood, if they do not need reminding enough, were docked a stack of points and expelled from the Tanner Cup after inadvertently fielding an ineligible player.

And although winning this competition, sponsored by 20-20 Vision of Uppermill, does not make up for a tilt at the league and cup double, it will lessen the pain.

After defeating Uppermill in the second semi-final — Zeeshan Khan’s 100 off exactly 50 balls was in vain for the hosts — Hollinwood faced a Shaw side who had seen off Moorside in the morning.

SMART

Hollinwood made a flying start, with the openers adding 65 in the first half-a-dozen overs.

Riaz smashed Ruwan Dissanayake for four sixes in an over on his way to 50, before the Sri Lankan professional had him caught on the boundary by Joe Whitehead attempting another maximum.

Shaw had a toehold in the final, but in the next half-hour they were on top thanks to youngsters Sean Dean (three for 19) and Adam Good (two for 15).

Aided by some smart work in the field — Dave Andrew took two catches and Dissanayake produced a brilliant diving effort to dismiss Butt — the pair snaffled five wickets between them for the addition of only 25 runs.

But Winterbottom and Bowers stood firm to gradually inch Hollinwood to a respectable total.

Shaw started well, with skipper Richard Harrington, who had earlier claimed three for 21, and Andrew taking the score up to 48 after the departure of Gareth Harrop.

Harrington looked in good touch, lifting Butt over his head for six, but he chased a wide delivery and was caught by wicketkeeper John McGovern off Mohammed Kamran.

Andrew and Steve Whiston maintained the momentum but when Whiston was out 16, it signalled a rash of Shaw wickets.

Dissanayake and Andrew were run out — the former without facing a ball — Shahzad Sadaqat produced a stunning one-handed catch to get rid off Matthew Tipton and Winterbottom held a simple chance to eject Eugene Welgemoed. From 67 for three, Shaw slumped to 86 for seven.

Rashid Khan, whose figures of three for 33 were spoiled with 12 runs coming off his third over, deceived Whitehead and Good, which left the way clear for Bashir to finish it off when he had Dean stumped by McGovern for 19.

Scores —

Semi-finals: Shaw 152-8 (R Dissanayake 35, Pe Broadhurst 3-19), Moorside 136 (J Khan 47, R Harrington 3–42, R Dissanayake 2-6); Uppermill 144–6 (Z Khan 100), Hollinwood 145-2 (A Bashir 71 not out, M Butt 56 not out).

Final: Hollinwood 146-9 (Q Riaz 50, R Harrington 3-21, S Dean 3-19), Shaw 118 (D Andrew 30, A Bashir 3-18, R Khan 3–33).