For the amount of sun and dry weather that we have experienced over the past few weeks, the Bollington outfield looked greener than expected. The wicket itself had a greenish tinge to it but was hard as rock underneath. This made it an easy decision for Bollington’s skipper who chose to bat when the coin fell his way.

Bollington got off to a flyer, assisted in no short part by the lighting quick outfield. However, it only took until the 3rd over before Whittaker got Hough to drive at one, snicking through to the capable hands of Duffy. Ward only managed to stick around for a couple of overs, when he received an absolute pearler from Whittaker, coming back off the surface to bowl him. Longhorn managed to deal with the opening onslaught relatively well, dodging Wightman’s shorter ball, until he misjudged one and was hit square in the helmet. A ball shaped dent meant that a spare was called for. He only used the spare lid for a few overs when he too snicked through to Duffy, Wightman the bowler. Bollington were in a spot of bother at 26/3. Yaksender and Cross were the pair at the crease and they batted like chalk and cheese. Yaksender looking to drive and punch and Cross throwing his bat at the ball. The pair were effective and added 60 for the 4th wicket. The partnership was broken when Cross hit a hip high full toss from Dawber straight down Fitzsimmons throat. Mackinnon was the next to go, in Dawber’s very next over, caught in the slips by Berry. Henshall was sent back to the shed first ball, Dabwer once more the bowler, Wightman with the catch. Dawber wasn’t to be denied for long, when Binder was trapped LBW in his next over, giving him his 4th. By now, Yaksender had passed his 50 but was quickly running out of partners as the wickets continued to fall, Whitehouse being one of them, with a thin tickle through to Allcock. Yaksender finally perished for 68, completing Dawbers 5fer, caught by Whittaker. Phipps and Forbes offered some stubborn resistance for the last wicket, though not adding many runs. Dawber was the man to wrap it up, with Phipps caught by Whittaker, to give Dawber figures of 6/27 and see Bollington 130 all out.

Hyde opened up with the familiar pair of Berry and Partridge, and the pair looked at ease on the Bollington wicket, finding the fence at regular intervals. Berry departed for 26 when he was caught by Phipps off Binder. Duffy came to the crease, and he played a rapid innings, clearly wanting to get the game over with in a hurry. He hit 3 consecutive fours and was caught in the covers on the 4th ball, Binder with the wicket once again. Fitzsimmons departed soon after, caught by Yaksender with Binder being the wicket taker. When Whittaker was trapped LBW first ball, again by Binder, Hyde were looking in a spot of bother at 68/4. From there, Hyde didn’t lose another wicket, with Young, returning from injury, helping Partridge in taking Hyde to the required total. Partridge reaching 48 and Young hit 34, which included a huge straight six onto the clubhouse roof. Another straight six from Young saw Hyde win.

After failing to win the previous 2, such an emphatic victory will have done Hyde a world of good. And with Upton losing at Oxton, we saw ourselves topping the table. This game proved the quality and depth that Hyde have in the squad, with the 2nd and 3rd choice spinners having taken 5fers. We travel to Stockport next week, which sees the start of the second half of the season, in which Hyde will be looking to continue their good form.

James Howe