HAYNES SHINES UNDER BANK HOLIDAY SUN

New boy Nick Haynes shone as the Bank Holiday weekend and glorious weather brought a mixed bag of results.

With a number of key players unavailable, the T20 side put in a great fielding performance against Milnrow on Friday evening, restricting the visitors to just 105 all out. Wickets were shared around with Bradders, Connor and Niko picking up seven of those to fall. Unfortunately a much-depleted batting line up wasn't able to follow up; despite a positive start to 38-1, the middle and late order fell away to leave Totts some 21 runs short at 84 all out.

Saturday's matches brought another impressive all-round showing from the 1sts. From an opening stand of 38, visitors Whalley Range were blown apart by Burns, Connor and Niko who took the last ten wickets for just 46 runs to leave a less than challenging target of 85. Old boys Phill (33 from 46 balls) and Deardo led the way early on, breaking the back of the run chase, with Deardo (31*) and Nick Haynes (18*) bringing home maximum points.

Over at Bolton Indians, a much-changed 2nd XI line up put in another positive batting display, racking up 216-8 in their 45 overs. Tom and Donny put on another half century opening stand, before Mooro and Nick Marsh played their best innings of the season so far, knocking up a 75 run partnership at better than a run a ball. Nick ended as the innings top scorer with 56. Unfortunately, despite Bradders putting in a shift with 2-26 from 10 overs, the bowling line up couldn't contain the Bolton Indians middle order. Shinde cracked 90 from 76 balls as everyone was hit about, and the winning runs came with a few overs to spare. Still, a decent effort under the circumstances.

On Sunday, the 1sts faced high-flying Woodhouses in the cup. Your reporter arrived just in time to see Burns pass 50 before being somewhat controversially given out stumped. Nick Haynes was in full flow by that point and launched one blistering straight six over the pavilion, the ball ending in the lodge! He registered his maiden TSJ century and led the team through to the end of the innings, ending on an unbeaten 116. A total of 257-6 was a magnificent effort and gave the strong bowling attack plenty to defend. This looked perfectly feasible early on, with Burns striking in the first over and then claiming two more scalps to leave the visitors tottering at 30-3. Enter Heverin and Pietiewicz ... a 183 run partnership ensued, with the former emulating our own Nick Haynes by batting through the innings for an unbeaten century. The visitors just about kept up with the rate throughout, and a late flurry saw both rapid runs and a couple of quick wickets for Connor. Alas it wasn't quite enough and a magnificent high-scoring encounter was settled by Heverin striking the winning runs with just two balls to spare. Burnsy's 3-27 was the pick of the bowling on a day when bat certainly dominated.

The 2nds meanwhile were also playing in the cup at Worsley, with an almost entirely changed line up and debuts for several younger players. Former 1st XI skipper Paul Fuller was leading the side; having lost Donny and Sam early, only Nick Marsh and young Jack Schoey were able to pass 20, a final total of 91 all out looking well short of competitive. However the fighting spirit these lads displayed was exceptional. Jack Schoey struck in his first over and then removed the dangerous Patel, before Jack Kenyon and young Ruffers picked up their first 2nd XI wickets. To remove half the home side's batsmen was a terrific effort given the lack of experience, and this will stand those players in good stead for the coming months and years.

So both Saturday sides are out of the cup, but each team turned in excellent performances against clubs from higher leagues. Plenty to build on next week.

As always, a huge thanks to all those who turned out, spectated, or worked on the ground and bar, especially on Friday and Sunday with so many players absent injured or unavailable. The ground was looking magnificent as always and a credit to KC and those who put in the hours.

To view scorecards from all our games, view the TSJ fixtures and results on CricHQ or check out our fixtures page.