23rd August 2025 - HBCC 2nd XI vs Glasshoughton CC (H)
In what has been a rather tumultuous few weeks for the second team we headed into the game against Glasshoughton hoping to get back to some normality and rhythm and take some points to put ourselves back on track for the season and consolidate our position in the league table.
On a warm and muggy day captain Daniel Allatt walked out to do the toss with the Glasshoughton captain JB and a very eager and twitch fingered Imran. Having looked at the deck for a good 10 minutes prior to the toss the Glasshoughton won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that could turn out to be pivotal in the context of the game.
1st Innings
Out strode Leo Marshall and Mick Mountain, two of the premier openers in Division 4 but unfortunately it was not to be their day. Leo Marshall took guard for the first ball of the day and it was to be the only one he would face. A slightly short of a length ball didn’t get up past his shoe laces and cannoned into middle stump. Not and ideal start.
Mick Mountain didn’t fare much better in the second over and chipped a ball straight back to the other opening bowler and it left the bridge in the lurch at 1-2.
Luckily for the Bridge Andy Simpson and Alex Heald are the exact men for a crisis and the rebuild commenced. A steady partnership saw us to 26 until Andy Simpson snicked off. This saw George Heald to the crease and he battled well with his brother to see the Bridge until he fell to the star man for Glasshoughton for an LBW. Dale Bedford was to be the days game changer and George’s wicket was just the start of an amazing days cricket.
Out stepped Daniel Allatt to the crease feeling good with the bat in his hand and ready to go and make a big score to help the side complete the rebuild. Dan and Alex both look assured at the crease, looking solid and rotating strike well with some quick singles, both looking like cheetahs in the savannah between the wickets.
It was at this point that the game firmly titled into Glasshoughton’s favour, Dale Bedford the off-spinner producing two moments of cricketing quality. First he took the wicket of Alex taking an unbelievable caught and bowled diving to his right even with Dan Allatt doing his best to get into the way and prevent the catch from being taken. Then came the ball of the century. Dan Allatt had looked every part the brick wall the Bridge needed and then a ball pitched on leg stump, turned in the opposite direction to all of the previous deliveries and apparently grazed the bail of the off stump. Harry Hibbins at the non strikers end was unaware the ball had clipped the bails and called for a quick single but Dan had to depart now knowing how Andrew Strauss felt in the ashes when facing Shane Warne.
This left HBCC struggling at 49-6. Fortunately there were some good cameos from Mick Rozanski, Neil Marshall (who reliably informs me that this is 3 consecutive games where he has outscored Leo) and Ryan Joyce who all managed to hit a boundary apiece with some glorious strokes but alas the innings ended with Tim Heald stranded as the not out batsmen with HBCC amassing a poultry 69.
2nd Innings
After a stunning tea the lads walked out into the field knowing that everybody would have to bring their A-game with them or the game would not last very long. You could see in the eyes of everyone that they wanted to make a game of it and go down fighting. And fight we did.
Harry Hibbins took the new ball hoping that his mystery back foot leg spin pace bowling would bamboozle the Glasshoughton openers. Unfortunately it was not to be Harry Hibbins day with the ball and he may have been put on to bowl from the wrong end by his captain, something that I’m sure will be learnt from this game by the skipper.
Alex Heald kept it tight from the other end with a sublime opening spell, forcing the openers to play and miss until they finally managed to snick off with Leo taking a good catch behind the stumps to leave Glasshoughton 17-1. A glimmer of hope for the boys and you sensed if we could get a couple more wickets maybe, just maybe there was a chance.
The skipper decided to bring himself on for Harry from the top end to try and support the excellent bowling from Alex at the bottom end. This could turn out to be a great decision as he was about to embark on one of the best bowling spells of his life.
After Dan’s first ball was played and missed you could tell the ball was leaving his hand beautifully and with his very next ball the opener was lulled into playing a false shot and chipped one high up to Andy Simpson. You could see that Andy’s backside was twitching like a rabbits nose but he managed to hold onto the catch and reduce Glasshoughton to 17-2. Get a second quick wicket was mission accomplished.
This left the Glasshoughton captain and Dale Bedford at the crease. This was a partnership that had the chance to take the game away from the Bridge as both are very accomplished batters. Luckily Daniel Allatt was in the midst of the spell of his life and produced an absolute seed to remove his opposite skipper with a ball pitching just outside off, nipping back through the gate and sending the off stump cartwheeling. Glasshoughton 18-3 and the western terrace was in full voice, what a game we have on our hands.
Alex kept it tight until the end of his 5 overs and was replaced by Mick Mountain who had a spring in his step as he approached the crease, marking out his run up to bowl from the stumps rather than the popping crease in his usual style. It was therefore inconceivable to all who were watching that the umpire could then no-ball Mick on consecutive deliveries for front foot no-balls when he was almost stood next to the umpire when he released the ball. Mick, ever the consummate professional was able to put this behind him and maintain composure and bowl a lovely tight line to support his skipper at the other end.
Unfortunately Dale Bedford was the thorn in the side that HBCC were just unable to remove and for the next 6 overs he was able to progress Glasshoughton onto 39. Eventually, after 8 consecutive play and misses the Glasshoughton No.5 was able to snick one and Leo took yet another sharp catch behind the sticks stood up to a fired up Dan Allatt who was now throwing them down with some serious wheels. 39-4 now and the pendulum was maybe thinking about swinging back towards the Bridge. There was however another little partnership that saw Glasshoughton onto 51-4 and even the most die hard western terrace supporters thought that game was up.
Luckily the boy have a never say die attitude and Mick produced yet another excellent delivery that gave Alex Heald the chance to add yet another catch to his excellent record this year. Somehow the ball escaped Alex’s clutches but super Mick Rozanski was there to fire the ball into Leo for a run out after the batter tried to take a very risky second run. All of a sudden there was renewed hope.
51-5 now and maybe the door was ajar. It was in the next over that the door was booted wide open. Allatt steamed in for his eighth over still looking fresh and he struck the No.7 on the pads and a boisterous appeal went up. Up went the finger of Imran who said the ball was hitting middle and leg although Harry Hibbins did confirm that he must have meant middle and leg on the next set. No matter, the bridge were back in it at 52-6. Two balls later this was 52-7 after Neil Marshall took one of the greatest catches Squirrel Park has seen in recent times. After a lovely shot Neil took a few steps in before realising he should have been taking a few steps back. He retreated and threw out a desperate left hand above his head and oh my word, he’s taken it. Pandemonium in the western terrace, the boys are running to Neil with looks of pure shock and joy on their faces. Even Leo said that the catch was alright so you know it must have been a worldie. Now the game was well and truly in the balance.
Like all good parties this match was swinging and Dale Bedford once again bunkered down and managed to take Glasshoughton to 63-7 and now every run was a premium. With the No.9 batter on strike the skipper decided to give the single on the final ball of Alex’s next over and the single was duly taken. A huge gamble as this left Glasshoughton now only needing 6 to win, one hit away.
Having purposefully given a single the pressure was now on the captains shoulders to produce something special in his tenth and final over with the Bridge still needing 3 wickets to win and Glasshoughton almost being over the finish line.
Allatt retreated to the top of his run up, composed himself and steamed in for the first ball of his final over. The ball pitches just outside of stump, nips back and cannons into off stump. What a ball, a carbon copy of his wicket earlier in the day 64-8, 5 balls left in the over and number 10 on his way to the crease. He couldn’t could he?
The second ball of the over was slightly wide of the off stump and left well alone, a poor delivery in the circumstances and not up to the high standards the skipper had set himself for the day. The third ball made amends though, a Yorker hitting number 10 on the toe in front of middle stump and Imran’s finger was up before the appeal could even be given. 64-9 and three balls left. It was on, the boys were going cock-a-hoop and the western terrace was dancing.
3 balls left in the over to try and pull off one of the greatest wins in the history of the Bridge. The number 11 walked out swinging his bat without a care in the world, clearly not understanding the jeopardy he and his side were in. He took centre and the western terrace held their breath, in steamed Allatt and oh no, drive for four through the covers to take them to 68-8. All the hard work of the boys potentially undone by one of the best shots produced by a number 11 in the history of the game. Not to worry, two more balls to try and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Allatt produced two Yorkers but alas there were to be no more heroics, number 11 managing to get the toe of his bat onto them leaving the skipper with figures of 7-20 off his 10 overs.
Alex needed to remove Bedford who was now 33* and with the first ball of his over it was dispatched to cow corner for 4 and the dream was not quite to be. A disappointing end to one of the best battling performances that has been seen for many a year. Everyone of the lads was able to walk off the pitch with their heads held high, what an effort and what an ovation from the western terrace as the boys walked off.
Onto next week with a long trip to Rossington away where hopefully we can get the long overdue win we deserve.