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Awesome Hinds blasts his way to a record for Norden

16/ 9/2008

RYAN Hinds blasted records apart in an astonishing knock at Middleton’s Towncroft ground on Sunday afternoon.

The West Indian all-rounder, who will be Rochdale’s paid man next season, was stand-in professional for Norden.

Hinds, pictured, opened the batting and was out to the second ball of the 50th and final over of the innings having scored 223.

He had smashed 17 fours and 14 sixes, most of them huge sixes, and received a standing ovation from an appreciative Middleton crowd as he trudged back to the pavilion.

First to go, when Hinds reached 176, was Gus Logie’s record individual score by a Norden player since they joined the Central Lancashire League

Next to go, when Hinds reached 192, was John Holder’s all-time Norden record.

When he reached 223 Hinds equalled Brad Osborne’s highest total by an individual on the Towncroft ground.

Hinds, who seemed content to take singles on his way from the 70s to his century, reached his ton in 129 minutes, off 111 deliveries.

His second century came in 39 minutes, most of which time was taken up in looking for the ball, off 36 deliveries.

As the final over started, Middleton skipper John Punchard told his lads there were times when they just had to take it on the chin. Two in, Hinds mis-hit and skied the ball, and Punchard had the wicket he deserved for his toil, courtesy of wicket-keeper Scott Stanworth who seemed determined to take the catch.

While the first part of the match belonged to Hinds, the second belonged to Ollie Makin who took seven for 42 as Middleton were dismissed for 180 despite the best efforts of Jimmy Ryan (56) and Stanworth (44).

Makin will remember this match for a long time, spectators will remember it for the Hinds innings which saw him overshadowed somewhat in the early part as Hashum Malik played his usual cameo innings before going to a catch by Stanworth, having scored 32 out of 42 on the board.

Ollie Makin played a nice knock of 27 in support of his professional who gave intent of what was to come when he smashed a legside six off Dale Highton and followed up in the same over with a mighty knock over the pavilion.

Fours from Hinds zipped across the turf like tracer bullets or came off the turf one bounce, close to having been another six.

You had to feel sorry for Middleton who didn’t do a lot wrong but had no chance of stopping the mayhem.

Makin was out with the total on 138, and Norden then had a blip of sorts, if you could call it a blip, as Hinds went into his shell, and both Nick Brierley (0) and Greg Tattersall (12) fell to the bowling of Highton.

Hinds reached his century with a single off Punchard and out of the 179 on the board.

At that stage there were just over 12 overs left, it was time for Hinds to destroy the bowlers.

Highton bore the brunt of the brutal attack and went for five sixes in one over, plus two more runs.

It was little different for whoever was bowling at the other end. Middleton’s stand-in professional Martin Smith was introduced for a second spell and broke down injured after being slammed by Hinds over a big tree to the junction of Hollin Lane and Rochdale Road.

Hinds offered his first real chance when on 197 but was put down by Hussain. He was actually caught by Punchard soon after, but no-ball had been called.

Norden lost Daz Cryer (10) and Zane Arthur (8) along the way before Punchard enticed the end for Hinds.

Even then the torment was not over for Middleton. Jon Fawkes took a single, then Phil Collinson scored 12 off the final three balls of the innings to take Norden to 336 for seven.

It was a bit like after the Lord Mayor’s Show as Middleton started their innings in deepening gloom which meant Norden soon had to turn to their spinners or risk the light being offered to the batsmen.

Zane Arthur did pick up the wickets of openers Stanworth (44) and Steve Davey (4) before it became the Ollie Makin show.

He first had Tom Read caught by Fawkes for 11, then saw Greg Tattersall take a good running catch after Punchard had hit straight towards the sight-screen.

Jimmy Ryan was next to go. He had played a good solid innings, but then charged Makin, missed the ball, and was stumped by Nick Brierley for 56.

Fitton was bowled for five, Hussain was caught by Hinds, and at that stage Makin had figures of 8-0-31-5.

Martin Smith batted with a runner and perished for four when Tattersall took another good catch, and Makin’s seventh came when Walker was trapped leg before.

The end came when Highton skied a delivery from Collinson who took the ball as it dropped.