May Roundup - Seniors

1st XI

Month P 5 W 2 L 3 Ab 0

Season P 7 W 3 L 4 Ab 0

May’s first fixture saw the First XI lost to Werneth in an encounter which was decided almost singlehandedly by Werneth’s Barakzai. This player had an unbelievable game, scoring 69* off 52 balls batting at number 8, and then proceeding to take 4 wickets. Heywood was the pick of Thornham’s bowlers with 4 wickets, while Canavan kept things tight conceding only 10 runs from his 6 overs. Despite an opening stand of 58, Thornham crumbled to 91 all out, with 5 batsmen failing to trouble the scorers, and getting nowhere near their target of 197.

The week after saw a similar scenario unfold, with Uppermill rallying from 119 for 5 to eventually post a challenging 262. Afzal was incredible with the ball for Thornham, taking 8 wickets, but chasing such a high score was always going to be difficult, and in reality Uppermill should never have got past 200. There wasn’t too much to write home about in the Thornham innings; a top score of 31 and the team bowled out for 137 inside 37 overs.

May 20th saw Thornham providing hospitality to Droylsden for the first time this season. The hosts were generous, providing hotdogs for tea, and Droylsden were generous in return on the field, allowing wickets to fall at regular intervals. Afzal was once again the pick with 5 wickets to his name, but everybody contributed in ensuring Droylsden could only post 151. The run chase was set up by 58 from Afzal at the top of the order, and a solid 34 from Wornes. Walsh and Heywood saw the team home for their first victory in May.

A week on from his heroics with the bat, it was time for Walsh to get married. Accordingly, the First XI was much changed, and went down fighting against Austerlands, a battling performance which was no disgrace. The team posted 124, and Austerlands chased it down for the loss of 2 wickets. The day after the wedding was to be a different story however. A somewhat hungover and tired (and in some cases lucky to have made the game) put in a serious performance at home to previously unbeaten Swinton Moorside to advance to the next round of the Cup. Afzal was the star of the batting performance with 127 runs, including 13 4’s and 8 6’s. The rest of the team chipped in with valuable contributions to see a total of 251 for 9 posted. Swinton Moorside made a serious game of it, but in the end 4 wickets each for both Afzal and Riley resulted in a brilliant and hard earned victory.


2nd XI

Month P 5 W 2 L 3 Ab 0

Season P 7 W 2 L 4 Ab 1

The second XI lost to Royton on the first weekend of May in a closely fought encounter. Royton were restricted to 192 all out with Young doing the damage, claiming 5 wickets in the first innings. In reply the top order set a steady platform and at 124 for 4 the run chase was looking well placed. However a lower order collapse saw the team bowled out for 145.

Things improved the week after with a tight win against Edgworth. Thornham amassed 148 for 4, a total underpinned by Mansfield’s 65 not out at the top of the order, carrying his bat throughout the entire innings. Wickets were shared out amongst the Thornham bowlers and the game was heading towards a tight finish until Young had the Edgworth top scorer stumped by Holdaway, and victory was achieved shortly after. A very good, close game of cricket resulted in a victory for Thornham.

The week after saw Young return to his previous club of ELPM hoping to help the team get on a run. Being bowled out for 66 wasn’t in the plan, yet this is what happened, Hall the only batsman to get into double figures. It was always going to be difficult to defend such a low total, and ELPM knocked it off for the loss of 5 wickets.

A home game against Elton followed, on the weekend of the aforementioned Walsh wedding. A severely depleted 2nd XI were crushed by Elton, and the less said about it is probably for the better. We move on.

The Cup game the day after saw a return to winning ways, aided by the return of some players not in the team the day before. The opponents were Stretford away, who were bowled out for 132. The pick of the bowlers once again was Young with 4 wickets, supported by an incredible spell from the criminally under-used Smith, who bowled 1l deliveries, one of which was a wide. In those 11 deliveries he conceded no legitimate runs and took 3 wickets – an outrageous return for a player who rarely bowls!


3rd XI

Month P 2 W 1 L 1 Ab 0

Season P 5 W 1 L 2 Ab 2

The Third XI secured their first victory of the season early on in May with the victory at home over Milnrow. Sarfraz top scored in a total of 171, aided by valuable contributions from others. Wickets were shared amongst all the bowlers, and eventually Milnrow were held to 142 off their allocated 40 overs, Thornham running out deserved victors.

The week after was a different tale, batting woes meaning the side were dismissed for only 76 in less than 30 overs, Abel’s 27 the only real resistance. A valiant effort ensued with the ball, but opponents Springhead reached their total for the loss of 5 wickets.

A scheduling opportunity (if you will) was presented and the Third XI visited Brooksbottom for a friendly fixture. In a low scoring game, Thornham struggled to 114 all out, the runs shared around fairly equally. A spirited bowling performance saw Chadwick take 4 wickets (including a hat-trick I believe!) yet in the end Brooksbottom won the game having lost 8 wickets. To take it as deep as the team did was credit to their fighting spirit.


Thunder

Month P 2 W 1 L 0 Ab 1

Season P 2 W 1 L 0 Ab 1

Disappointingly, only one fixture was completed in May with ELPM withdrawing from the Home fixture at Rochdale Road. Whether this was because they had been dealt a thrashing in the first game, who knows? That’s a joke by the way – a scheduled T20 in the middle of half term holidays was always going to be a difficult fixture to fulfil. In the first fixture, a Thunder team comprising of a fair mix between 1st XI and 2nd XI players bowled out ELPM for only 75. Canavan and Young did the damage with 3 wickets each to rip through the opponents’ batting line-up. In reply, openers Afzal and Howarth reached the target effortlessly for the loss of no wickets, Afzal compiling another half century.