Paddock pair star in colts’ thriller

CRICKET: ROYTON’S Callum Porteous and Khurram Hussain made telling contributions as the CLL colts beat their Lancashire County League counterparts in dramatic fashion in the final of the Readers Inter-League Competition held at Middleton CC.

Paddock bowler Porteous took two wickets for 24 runs from nine testing overs as the LCL were restricted to 186 for five off their 45 overs.

And Hussain, so impressive at the top of the Royton batting order in recent weeks, chipped in with a valuable 32 as the CLL reached their target for the loss of six wickets.

Captain and man-of-the-match Jake Hooson (Walsden) hit 66 and Dean Morris (Clifton) scored 35.

However, it was Rochdale’s Joe Smith-Butler who was the real hero for the CLL.

After being slowed in their run chase, the CLL arrived at the final ball of their 45 overs needing a six to win and lift the trophy.

Smith-Butler and Heywood’s Humza Naeem had a conference in the middle of the pitch for what seemed like an eternity, but whatever was said certainly worked; the former dispatched the bowler over long-off to clinch it for the CLL.