Hargreaves takes seven but Glossop lose to Brooksbottom

Glossop's promotion challenge was brought to an abrupt end with a disappointing defeat away to Brooksbottom.

While playing in the Premier League is out of the question with two fixtures remaining, the 1XI still have control over their own destiny for 2020, knowing that two wins will secure a place in Premier 2.

After 4 hours of waiting around, Brooksbottom made an explosive start with the bat through Muhammad Rao; the opener taking a particular liking to the pace on the ball offered by Cameron Ball.

Ball (2/37) eventually got his man, though, dismissing Rao for 34 and removing Moshin Iqbal shortly after as the visitors began to restrict Brooksbottom after a dangerous opening period.

As has so often the case this season, Glossop did an excellent job through the middle overs, with Will Hargreaves following up last week’s five-wicket-haul with another exceptional effort.

The spinner claimed a remarkable 7/22 from his allocation of 7 overs and Alex Coates picked up 1/34 from the other end, as the hosts slipped from 80/2 to 118/10, losing 8 wickets in less than 10 overs.

Unfortunately for Glossop, their chase of Brooksbottom’s target began in an all too familiar fashion; the hosts battling their way to 26/4 inside 11 overs with Rao and Sam Emberton (1/27) doing the early damage.

Alex Coates and George Dyson staged a brief recovery, but when the latter was caught behind off Ash Gowers and James Eyre was out stumped to the same man in the next over, things looked bleak once more at 56/6.

Coates, to his credit, continued to bat positively at the other end, but the run out of Hargreaves only worsened the visitor’s situation, 48 required from 5 overs but now with only 3 wickets in-hand.

A flurry of boundaries in the 20th over briefly brought Glossop back into the game, but when Coates was bowled by Rao (4/14) for an excellent 44 from 40 balls, any hopes of a victory slipped away.

Despite the efforts of the lower order, the scoring rate proved too much and Glossop were bowled out for 102/10 in 23.0 overs.