Young guns are match-winners
Date published: 23 May 2014
CRICKET:
TWO young cricketers are celebrating this week after steering their teams to the quarter-finals of the Wood Cup.
Royton’s Liam Mason (22) and Oldham’s Hamza Hussain made crucial contributions in the first round of the CLL’s flagship knock-out competition on Sunday.
Mason hit an unbeaten 102 in Royton’s eight-wicket win at Clifton, while Hussain’s five-wicket haul against Ashton at the Pollards made the crucial difference in a one-wicket success.
Mason’s century was his first for the senior team after two for the seconds.
“I’d made eight fifties for the first team and wanted to change the ratio to making some hundreds,” he said. “It was great to do so in the Wood Cup.
“At the start of the season I set myself a target of winning some games for the team, and now that’s one from five matches.
“I didn’t think of making a hundred until I was in the nineties. I could even have been out first ball, but survived a loud shout for lbw. I was just concentrating on the scoreboard and what we had to do.
“When Alan Durose came in we were almost there and he told me to bat for the century.
“I was on 98 and I got one on my legs which I managed to clip for four. It was a big relief.”
For teenager Hussain, it was a landmark weekend. Son of Oldham skipper Rashid, Hamza’s spin bowling netted him two maidens and five for 30 in nine overs.
Proud dad Rashid will be hoping Hamza and the rest of the Oldham team can kick on after the difficult start to the season which saw them winless before Sunday’s triumph.
WERNETH Cricket Club has set a date for the dinner to mark the club’s 150th anniversary, which will be on July 11. Mike Watkinson, Lancashire’s director of cricket, will be the main speaker. Ring Howard Dronsfield on 01706 846678 or 07759 154702 for information.
