Heyside’s Tanner cup hopes rest on Snyman

Photo: Pictures by CHRIS SUNDERLAND.

SAFELY HOME: Glodwick professional Rehan Rafiq makes up his ground during his terrific knock of 91.

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CRICKET:

GLODWICK, seeking a first Tanner Cup triumph, held the upper hand over Heyside after a heavy shower brought a premature end to yesterday’s final.

Nigel Stock’s side had reduced the favourites to 93 for four, chasing 232 for victory, when the heavens opened above Moorside’s Turf Pit Lane ground. Play resumes at 6.30pm tonight with a maximum of 22 overs to be bowled.

Though the covers were on quickly, rain had seeped through on to the strip and umpires Trevor Harrison and John McGovern decided there wasn’t sufficient time for conditions to dry out for play to restart.

Targeting a sixth success in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League’s premier knock-out competition, Heyside’s hopes appear to rest on the shoulders of professional Gerrie Snyman, who is unbeaten on 21.

The Warren Lane outfit saved their biggest total of the season for the biggest day in their history.

Spearheaded by a Rehan Rafiq master class — the paid man hit a majestic 91 — Glodwick were dismissed for 231 in 45 overs.

Rafiq arrived at the crease with the innings only three balls old after Mark Whitehead had seen one of his stumps removed by the excellent Carl Newton.

He went on to bat for 40 overs. After nine fours and a couple of sixes, Rafiq was held by Nick Campbell nine runs shy of a deserved century. The Heyside skipper was relieved to get the danger man, after spilling a chance — he slipped as he moved in — before he had reached 50.

With the clouds gathering, Heyside lost Ben Holt for eight in the third over, well held by Shahid Mahmood off Whitehead.

Heyside’s gloom deepened when, for the addition of four runs, John Selby (11) hoisted a simple catch to Bilal Malik.

Campbell revels in the big occasion — he won the Tanner Cup man-of-the-match award in Heyside’s victory in the 2008 final — and he had a purposeful look about him as he set out with Snyman to put his team back on an even keel.

They were going along nicely when Campbell, on 28, got a leading edge to Khan, who gratefully held the return catch.

Advantage Glodwick.








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