Hussain stuns with seven-wicket haul

Norden ace demolishes Bacup to secure Junior Cup progression for Stags

- NEAL WILKINSON

MODESSAR Hussain underlined his potential with figures of 7-15 as Norden’s second XI travelled to Bacup in the second round of the Junior Cup.

After being put in to bat Bacup could only make 51 with Pat Hickey and Scott Thompson, both making 12, being the only batsmen to make double figures as Hussain demolished the Bacup innings, his 7-15 coming in 9.5 overs, five of which were maidens.

Bowling partner Sami Waheed picked up 3-36 to complete the job as Bacup were bowled out for just 51 inside 20 overs.

Oliver Kirkby, 32no, and Sam Butterworth, 20no, knocked off the runs in only 6.3 overs to complete a comprehensive ten wicket victory.

Bacup travelled to Blackburn Road the next day and did exactly that, coming away with an encouraging four wicket victory.

Bacup won the toss and put their hosts into bat, making an excellent start with the returning George Sumner picking up two early wickets to have Church reeling on 2 for 2. Sumner finished with 3 for 47, Iqbal 2 for 38 and with Theo Goddard and Saanval Safir both picking up a wicket and bowling good spells, Church were restricted to 169 for 9 in their 45 overs

After a short rain delay the Bacup target was amended to 159 in 39 overs. The innings was held together by veteran Andrew Knights who used all of his experience in making 39 from 93 balls allowing Tom Thompson to play a belligerent innings of 48 in only 43 balls as Bacup claimed their first victory of the season, winning by four wickets with nearly four overs to spare.

This win takes Bacup off the bottom of the table and the team will no doubt be targeting future successes in the weeks to come.