Haslingden are swept aside in Hare Hill loss

HAVING travelled to Littleborough for their ECB Premier League match, Haslingden won the toss and quite rightly decided to bat on a glorious day at glorious Hare Hill.

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Ben Williamson and Lewis Willman, Boro’s left arm duo, opened up tidily and it was young Williamson who made the breakthrough, bowling Matt Sudworth for 5 with the score on 15.

This is when the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game as Neil Brand and skipper Matt Griffin quite effortlessly took the score to 85 just before drinks when Griffin quite innocuosly chipped the ball back to Bryce Parsons for a solid 40 that included five boundaries.

It was as good as it got for the visitors as Ryan Miskella and in particular Parsons tightened the screw and never ever let Haslingden of the hook.

Parsons dismissed Lucas Bargh who went to cut and was comprehensively bowled, 93-3.

Miskella then fortunately dismissed Sean Hunsley when he was stumped by Matt Hernon when the balled bounced back on to the stumps off the keeper's pads. 94-4.

That soon became 95-5 when Leighton Friend was trapped lbw to Parsons. Next to go was Connor Reed who was adjudged lbw to Miskella - six down with 110 on the board.

Watching on from the other end was visiting professional Brand, who had effortlessly coasted to a well deserved half century.

Worse was to follow for Hassy as Joe Hayton was bowled neck and crop by Parsons, 127-7.

Brand, sensing that he could be left high and dry by his team mates’ inability to stick around with him, started to take a couple of risks and was thn dismissed by Miskella as he tried to reverse lap the home skipper. He was caught by Niall Boyle at short third man. Haslingden were 131-8 with a dozen overs left.