Werneth exit as paid man loses his head

WERNETH bowed out of the John Willie Lees Wood Cup without as much as a whimper.
After taking an early advantage against cup holders Middleton at Towncroft, they capitulated in deeply-disappointing fashion and succumbed by 112 runs.

That scenario looked unlikely when they reduced Middleton to 54 for four, removing dangerous pro Michael Smith in the process.

But a brilliant century from Tom Hardman changed the whole complexion of the match.

From scratching around for runs on a wicket which offered help, but not dramatic deviation for the bowlers, Middleton somehow managed to pass the 200 mark for the loss of only two more wickets.

Hardman's superbly-paced knock of exactly 100 came off 119 deliveries. He was given fine middle-order support by Matthew Lee (33) and George Walker (20), while the pick of the Werneth bowlers once again was Joe Taylor, who took three for 45 from 10 overs.

Skipper Matt Taylor might have wished he had bowled more than the seven overs which yielded two for 24, but pro Hasnain Abbas (none for 37) rarely threatened during a match he will want to forget.

Werneth should have been chasing something around 170, but even the 206 needed for victory ought to have been manageable.

However, the batting line-up which was bowled out for 77 against Milnrow the previous day, folded in alarming style again and was dismissed for just 93.

After the loss of opening batsman John Slater for a duck, it needed a solid show from Abbas.

But instead spectators were treated to a gung-ho display which featured two sixes and an ugly dismissal.

The last time he played at Towncroft, Abbas hit a double hundred off 100 balls for Little Hulton in a Lancashire Cup game. Armed with that memory, he clearly fancied a repeat.

But the charge down the wicket at Zaffer Zaman and subsequent stumping was the stuff of nightmares. His skipper, at the other end, was less than impressed as the side's key batsmen trudged off for a run-a-ball 21.

None of the other Werneth batsmen could muster anything resembling a significant knock as Hardman completed a superb all-round display with four for 19 from nine excellent overs.

He was given fine support by tall spinner Danny Core (four for 15), while the only middle order contribution of note came from Mahmood Ul-Hasan who showed some spirit with an unbeaten 27.

This was an abject batting display from Werneth and if they are to achieve their goal of a top-eight league placing and spot in next year's CLL Premier Division, they are going to have to apply themselves properly.

And their professional needs to find some discipline and set a better example.