HUDDERSFIELD Sleepers arrived at Salem Fields with one member of their side perhaps taking the name too literally - Hebden Bridge lending the visitors a fielder to cover for a late arrival after losing the toss and being put in to bat.
Hebden's to
p four has been struggling for runs this season and this fixture was not to prove their redemption.
Morgan and Ward did look assured and would have scored more if it were not for the impressive fielding by Hebden's "loanee" Appleby, in the end however, they were both clean bowled due to poor shot selection. Tranmer then gave a top edge to the wicketkeeper and Vince, promoted above captain, Anderson 4 made a scratchy eight before being bowled by Bowen.
It had been commented on that club captain Jeff Anderson had not managed a decent total for a while and he set out to remedy that by striking a cracking 67, albeit offering a couple of chances to the fieldsmen that they really should have taken.
Match rules said that batsmen would retire at the end of the over in which they reached 50, Anderson did this on the second ball and went on to plunder 20 from the over.
He enjoyed a 50 partnership with Pickup who scored a decent 27 before being bowled by Purkis.
Appleby came in and scored an unbeaten 18 and Ken Hall was run out attempting a single on the last ball of the innings, Hebden having batted their allotted 35 over for the first time this season and scoring 178 for 6.
Pickup and Morgan opened the bowling but inn truth the home side didn't perform well enough with the ball.
Pickup claimed a wicket, and continued to stake his claim as one of Hebden's best bowlers, but nobody else could really match him. Opener Bowen retired on 56 , having had an earlier extremely loud appeal turned down off Ward earlier in the batsman's last over.
Insult was added to injury for Ward when the umpire failed to spot a seven-ball over with the extra number being dispatched for six.
Ward was to hit back though and in his third over took two wickets. Good fielding by the two youngsters playing, saved a fair few runs, Daniel Bladon who turned out despite an injured finger was impressive as was Noah Tranmer who took a nice catch to dismiss Holdsworth who had just passed his 50.
The opposition made the target with six wickets and six overs still remaining.
Hebden Bridge have two games next weekend, at home on Saturday to the 1 in 12 Club and away on Sunday to Wakefield Penguins, play starts 2pm for both matches
HEBDEN BRIDGE 178-6
H. Morganb Brake9
J. Ward b Amey11
R Tranmer c Warwick b.
