8:43am Tuesday 7th July 2009
By Matt Donlan
Todmorden won through to face Ramsbottom in the final of the Lancashire League’s showpiece Worsley Cup after breezing past Haslingden at Bentgate last night.
Resuming 55 short of Haslingden’s 242 after rain and bad light curtailed the game on Sunday, hero Henderson steered his men home with a fine 46 not out.
Ramsbottom beat Church on Sunday and both ties were badly affected by the rain.
Bentgate hosted a cup cracker between Graham Knowles’ Haslingden and a Todmorden side in third place in the table.
And in glorious sunshine, Haslingden won the toss and chose to bat.
But within 22 minutes of the first ball being sent down, umpires Duncan Warburton and Ken Fergusson had no choice other than to take the players off as the heaven’s opened spectacularly.
For a while it appeared the rain would mean a return next Saturday – but after an hour the players were back out and Haslingden could resume at 10–0 in the sixth over.
Their innings was one of contrasts as they started patiently in the face of tight Todmorden bowling.
Pro Phil Hayes top scored with 83 before falling to a catch off a tired shot in the 45th over, while Chris Read was much breezier on his way to a half century.
Read was dropped at mid–on off the bowling of Andrew Sutcliffe when on two and it was a costly miss as the all–rounder soon reached parity with Hayes in a lovely knock, including a combination of the sublime to the ridiculous of an audacious attempted reverse sweep.
But that fact they made 242 all out was down largely to Mohsin Imtiaz, who made a rapid 27, and Lee Dearden, whose 19 included three sixes.
Steve Barker claimed three wickets for Tod, while James Morgan and pro Chinta Jayasinghe both picked up two.
Todmorden started like a house on fire with Simon Newbitt and Ben Sutcliffe taking the Haslinden bowling apart in the early stages.
And Steve Dearden, who earlier made 19 with the bat, didn’t help the cause with a succession of wides and no balls.
Tod made it to 158–4 with 14 overs to go when the rain started looming – and the players were eventually forced off with 11 overs left and Todmorden needing another 55.
They went back last night and Henderson stepped up to the mark.
Resuming on 22, the skipper Henderson steered his side to the showpiece.
It means Todmorden will get the chance to defend their trophy in the final on Sunday, August 9.
The final will be held at Ramsbottom’s Acre Bottom.
Haslingden innings
Hayes c A Sutcliffe b Jayasinghe 83
GA Knowles c N Barker b Morgan 17
SE Dearden c Jayasinghe b Bux 19
CP Read c S Barker b Morgan 53
J Pemberton run out 8
LG Ingham c N Barker b S Barker 19
A Coleman lbw b Jayasinghe 0
M Imtiaz run out 27
JJ Marcroft not out 5
J Sudworth b S Barker 0
S Shah b S Barker 0
Extras 11
Total (10 wickets) 242
Jayasinghe 10 2 67 2, S Barker 9.5 1 49 3, Morgan 10 0 43 2, Bux 10 1 39 1, A Sutcliffe 10 0 39 0
Todmorden innings
SD Newbitt lbw b Shah 40
BD Sutcliffe b Shah 17
Jayasinghe c Sudworth b Read 22
N Barkerc Dearden b Read 47
A Sutcliffe b Knowles 21
JAL Henderson not out 46
A Harrison not out 20
Extras 30
Total (for 5) 243
Dearden 9.4 0 60 0, Sudworth 5 0 38 0, Shah 10 2 25 2, Read 10 0 48 2, Knowles 9 0 35 1, Coleman 2 0 15 0, Imtiaz 2 0 14 0
Todmorden won by five wickets
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