Jackson Stars As Hyde Hammer Widnes

ECB CCL Premier: Hyde 216-2, Widnes 215-ao

Two new signings stole the headlines as Hyde made the perfect start to the new cricket season with a comfortable eight wicket victory over Widnes on Saturday.

New Hyde captain Danny Cranmer won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the visitors to bat first on a cold, yet sunny afternoon on the Low.

Hyde would have been looking for early wickets but it was Widnes who got off to an excellent start, bringing up their 50 in just the 11th over. Both Chris Kirby and Ali Chughtai looked relatively untroubled as they set about the Hyde attack.

With the score on 72 Cranmer’s team finally got their breakthrough when debutant Andrew Jackson clean bowled Chughtai for 44. The very next ball Jackson, who joined Hyde from Toft during the winter, had Fergus McKenna trapped leg before wicket.

Kirby and Matt Burns moved the score on to 103 before Cranmer claimed the first of his four wickets when he removed Kirby for 42.

At 103-3the visitors were still in a relatively strong position and both Burns and James McCoy continued to build as Widnes looked to post a challenging total.

McCoy in particular was brutal as he scored at quicker than a run a ball.

With Widnes well set on 161-3 Hyde needed a lift and they got just that with Cranmer taking three quick wickets, including that of McCoy for 47 (37balls).

Youngster Charlie Barnard also got in on the act taking the wicket of Aaron Soni and the home side had gained control with the visitors now 169-7.

Qamar Hafiz hit a quickfire 26 but Jackson had come back in to the attack and when he bowled Burns for 46 Widnes had amassed 215 all out.

New signing Jackson finished with the splendid figures of 5-42, whilst Cranmer claimed 4-49.

In reply Hyde’s openers, Tom Partridge and Luke Young made light work of the run chase as they scored at five runs an over.

Former skipper Partridge played superbly, while Young, back at the club after a season away, also looked comfortable on his return.

The pair reached 50 at the end of 10th over and Patridge reached his own half-century off just 56 balls.

Young’s return is a great addition to the Hyde ranks and he seemed more than happy to play second fiddle as the duo chased down the total.

The hundred came up off 103 balls and Hyde were in complete control. It was a refreshing sight, especially as they had so many problems at the top of the order last season, but the two openers batted superbly, giving great hope for the new campaign.

They put on 160 for the first wicket before Partridge went for a superb 86. Despite losing Barnard for eight Hyde cruised home with Young finishing an excellent 77no.

There will be tougher tests ahead but this will be a major boost for the Werneth Low side.

This weekend they travel to Didsbury, who finished second last season and got off to a great start last Saturday with a 102 run victory at Toft.