Heaton Mersey humbled on home soil

SATURDAY saw Hawk Green travel the short distance to Heaton Mersey, the quintessential English cricket ground.

- JOHN RICHARDS

Upon winning the toss, skipper Dylan Heginbotham elected to bat with Sam Messih, in place of Josh Hampson, opening the innings alongside Lewis Clarke. The duo were up against the Mersey opening attack of Hassan Rashid and Irfan Nasiri.

Neither of the bowlers troubled the Greens openers and runs flowed freely with a succession of brilliant strokes from both batsmen.

However, with the score on 52, Messih was caught Nachiket Verlekar, bowled Nasiri, 52-1.

Jack Needham joined Clarke at the wicket and was immediately into his stride with some extraordinary brutal drives and pulls. The pair added 77 runs before Needham fell, caught Abba Shah bowled Clarke for an excellent 45, 129-2.

The same bowler accounted for Lewis Clarke, caught by Valaher, for a steady 37, 130-3.

This brought to the crease two of the Green's in-form batsmen in the shape of Dylan Heginbotham and Lee Hallas and in just four overs the pair plundered 40 runs with Heginbotham the main protagonist with a series of boundaries.