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Wood picks Prescot’s pocket

HSP 1st XI kept themselves in the running at the top of the table on Saturday as they came back from difficult position against Prescot & Odyssey to secure a last-over victory.

Ian Chesworth asked Prescot to bat first and, despite Mark Wood opening with two maidens and taking the first wicket, the score built up steadily with none of the HSP bowlers particularly able to make inroads. With ten overs to go the Prescot score was 123-3 but, despite a setback with the dismissal of their top scorer, a couple of useful knocks from the middle order allowed them to reach 185-6 at the end of their 50 overs.

Chasing 186 to win was going to be a challenge for HSP, even more so when they found themselves 2 for 2 before the end of the third over. Steve Hampson and Phil Moorfield made amends with a stand of 57 but wickets continued to fall until, at 95-6, it looked like there was no way back for HSP. Ian Chesworth and Andrew Tickle counterattacked with a stand of 39 in only seven overs, Chesworth hitting 28 from 22 balls before his run out put the game back into the balance. With 52 runs still required from nine overs and only three wickets in hand, Mark Wood came in and stole the show with 38 not out from only 28 balls as HSP took the points.

Seconds miss out on victory by one wicket

The table-topping 2nd XI almost managed to sneak a victory over second-placed Goose Green but had to settle in the end for a winning draw, although they did extend their lead at the top of the table to 12 points.

After a sedate start HSP started to pick up the pace thanks to some hard hitting from Jamie Sullivan with 70 from 73 balls. Josh Hartfield showed some exquisite timing with 31 from 30 balls, before the HSP captain Steve Hart stole the late headlines as he swung his bat to reach 52 not out from only 35 deliveries, his first ever league half-century. On reaching the landmark Hart promptly declared with HSP on 217-8 after 48.1 overs.

At first the Goose Green batsmen showed little intent to chase, and they were on 48-0 from 23 overs when the last hour started. That seemed to be the trigger for them to kick into gear and, although the runs had started to come more freely, there was soon an end open to give HSP a chance. A couple of big overs for the visitors kept the game interesting and the game entered its last over with Goose Green on 174 with eight wickets down. Searching for the run that would bring them their final batting point, they almost gave the match to HSP but it was not to be as the match finished as a draw.