Royton on the rocks

CRICKET: HEYWOOD professional Rajat Bhatia produced a superb all-round display to send Royton crashing to Lake Garage CLL defeat at Crimble on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Indian, who plays for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL and is the best friend of Test star Virender Sehwag, took an impressive six for 26 as Royton were bowled out for 141 on a decent track.

And he followed up with a breezy unbeaten 49 as Heywood, for whom Bobby Cross was also unbeaten on 61, passed the Royton total with eight wickets to spare.

This is very much a learning process for a young Royton side, who are currently missing the presence at the top of the order of injured skipper Matt Ward.

With young batsmen in the side, experienced opener Simon Brierley (32) and professional Luke Procter (21) batted with more restraint than normal.

Procter was the victim of an excellent catch by wicket-keeper Danny Pawson off the bowling of Bhatia, whose accuracy wore down the Royton batsmen and netted him six victims in two spells.

Tony Walsh, who played well for his 27, was the only other Royton player to get into double figures.

Heywood, one of the league's most powerful batting sides, were never going to be seriously challenged by such a moderate target.

Cross, the league's top amateur for several seasons, set his stall out to bat through the innings and his chanceless 61 was another master class in waiting for the right ball to come along before dispatching it to the boundary.

Procter gave him plenty to think about and bowled with decent pace in his 16-over spell, but Cross's opening stand of 61 with 15-year-old Ross Zelem effectively closed the door on the visitors.

When Zelem was out, caught behind by acting skipper Gareth Lees off the persistent Procter, Heywood were well on their way to their target.

The dismissal for a duck of Danny Pawson, also caught behind off Procter after being dropped by David Wilson at first slip, gave Royton hope, but Bhatia's brisk knock snuffed out the threat and the match was effectively over by the time young leg spinner Joe Lovell and pace bowler Matthew Hodson were thrown the ball.

Perhaps both should have been given an earlier chance and if Royton are to develop these youngsters then they must be prepared to show a little more faith in them.

Like their young batsmen, they will make mistakes, but the raw talent is there and I suspect this investment in youth will pay dividends somewhere down the line.