HAYDOCK strolled to victory over Hesketh Bank thanks to some good batting and bowling performances.

Having won the toss Haydock invited the visitors to bat and soon reaped the rewards of that decision.

Adrian Barr, now fully recovered, and Darren Mathews showed all their class with the ball as a steady stream of batsmen came and went.

T Bowden (22) and K Hosker (41) then rallied round for Hesketh Bank. However, this brief resistance just was not enough as Hesketh Bank found themselves back in the pavilion for just 89.

Adrian Barr bowled was devastating as his 14 overs spell produced 4-33. Darren Mathews was rewarded with 3-27. M Clarke 3-5 and Steve Plant both provided good support. Having done half the job it was then up to the batsmen to put the icing on the cake, and this they did in some style. Craig Gardiner continued his excellent form with the bat and once again was Haydocks star. He can do no wrong at the moment and he simply destroyed the bowlers with a marvellous 59 not out which took him past 500 runs for the season as Haydock ran out winners on 92-2.

The second string, however, came a cropper against Hesketh Bank seconds.

Batting first, Haydock made a reasonable start with Scott Pickavance and Mike Fogarty seemingly in good form. Scott looked good knocking the ball around well before coming unstuck on 28. Mike also looked good, his quick running between the wickets kept the fielders on their toes, and a big score looked on the cards for him until one kept low and ended an excellent innings in 37.

From then on Haydock struggled on a slow wicket which got worse as the day progressed. Steve Webster 14 and Gary Ormrod 10 tried late on in the innings, but good bowling from L Dickinson (5-40) restricted Haydock to 116 all out.

In reply the Hesketh Bank batsmen came out in determined mood and soon knocked off the required runs making 117-3 making it a bleak day for Haydock.

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