Heywood next up for Crompton

CRICKET: CROMPTON haven’t enjoyed the best of luck in the John Willie Lees Wood Cup in recent seasons.

But all that changed at Towncroft yesterday when Carl Taylor's men overcame Middleton by 23 runs to book a quarter-final in the Lake Garage CLL knock-out competition on June 16.

It wasn’t looking good for Crompton when they were bowled out for 136 after electing to bat first.

But an inspired spell of bowling by Ryan Mayes, who took five for 22 in 10 overs, turned things round.

Andy Yates (22), overseas amateur Denis Louis (24) and Darren Graham (26) were the mainstays of the Crompton innings, but each will have been disappointed not to make the most of the foundations they had laid.

Professional Michael Pote was caught low down at gully by Steve Holmes off Paul Bennett for just a single and when Ryan Mayes was last man out, bowled by deputy professional Colin Ackerman, the hosts must have thought they had one foot in the next round of the competition.

But Crompton opening bowler Carl Taylor struck two blows for his team with the dismissal of prolific opener Scott Stanworth, caught by Pote, for seven, and Ackerman for five.

The latter was a significant victim given Middleton's struggles with the bat in the recent absence of their regular paid man, George Linde.

Grant Jones played well for his 36, but was one of five victims for Mayes, who changed the game after Middleton looked to be in control at 55 for two.

On a wicket offering assistance for both seamers and spinners, Mayes produced the stand-out bowling performance of the day and was a well deserved man of the match.

He ripped apart the Middleton middle order, snaring Reece Jones, Paul Bennett, Matt Foden and Saj Mahmood - not to be confused with the former Lancashire player - as the hosts staggered to 82 for eight, still needing 55 runs for victory.

But Middleton still had one card left to play in the shape of hugely-experienced skipper Davey, who farmed the strike in stands of 16 and 15 with tailenders Steve Holmes and John McMahon.

Crompton breathed a sigh of relief when Holmes was run out for five, but Davey kept his cool and it took the reintroduction of Carl Taylor from the pavilion end – where most of the wickets fell - to settle the issue, Davey edging to Steven Wright at backward point.