Hawkley v Broadhalfpenny Brigands: IN HAWKLEY’S final match of the year the Brigands won the toss and chose to bat.

Opening batsmen Lovett-Turner and Matthews were quickly off the mark and settled into a steady partnership. The score had reached almost 100 when Matthews chanced a second run, and Dan Clark’s bullet-like throw ran him out by a yard for 56.

The Brigands added a further 35 runs before Nick Troth trapped Harris leg before wicket for 16, and Lovett-Turner fell for 61 when Clive Hopkin took a fine low catch off the same bowler. Steve Clark also took a well-judged diving catch in the covers off Inglis to give Troth his third wicket. Tom Thomas took three wickets in the closing overs before the Brigands declared on 200-7 at tea.

Hawkley’s cause was not helped by losing both opening batsmen in the first ten overs to the accurate pace bowling of Woolvine. D Clark went on the offensive against the younger Woolvine brother, before the spinner took his revenge with D Clark on 24. Steve Clark carried on where his son left off, adding 48 runs in a partnership with Nick Hudson. Clark departed on 15 and Hudson on 28, leaving a draw the most likely outcome with Hawkley on 103-7 and only five overs to survive before the close.

Two quick wickets left Hawkley staring defeat in the face when skipper Hallam Brown took guard as the last batsman. Brown hit his first ball for six and added two further maximums as he and Thomas negotiated the final three overs to claim a draw.