Hamer Cup win could be key to double for Walkden
6:10am Saturday 31st July 2010 in Sport By Liam Chronnell
CRICKET: DAVE Smith is backing Walkden to do the double.
The Harriett Street outfit take on Farnworth today ahead of tomorrow’s Hamer Cup final showdown with Greenmount at Bradshaw.
And Smith thinks two victories would set Walkden – 15 points behind the leaders Farnworth Social Circle – up for a title charge.
“We’ve got the momentum now,” said the destructive all-rounder. “If we win both games I fancy us to win the league. We’re unbeaten in eight games now and are on a roll.
“I didn’t think Social Circle would win it last season. They’ve got a lot of good amateurs but no outstanding player. We’ve beaten them once and can beat them again.
“Farnworth are also a good team and they never know when they are beaten. But if you can get Adil Nisar out early then you’ve got a chance.”
Smith has enjoyed huge success with Walkden as Mike Bennison’s men have swept all before them over the last decade.
League titles and Lancashire Knockouts have all come the 40-year-old’s way during a glittering career, but he says winning the Hamer Cup has brought him the most pleasure.
He said: “People always assume winning the Lancs KO is the best but I always enjoyed playing in the final of the Hamer Cup more. Playing at Old Trafford is good but there’s no atmosphere. I prefer playing at one of the grounds in the Bolton League, knowing all the players you play against every weekend will be down watching. I’m always gutted if we get knocked out early.”
Smith, whose return to the side after a calf injury has coincided with Walkden’s resurgence in form, knows he will have his work cut out if he is to win a third Hamer Cup – but says the ground will suit his team more.
“It will be a tough game and Mark Stewart is a hard competitor,” he said.
“I just think the ground will suit us more. Greenmount have a spinner (Phil Heaton) who bowls 25 overs a game but Bradshaw won’t spin as much and has short boundaries.”
Greenmount skipper Stewart is anticipating a tough battle between the two sides and has pinpointed Walkden professional Usman Tariq as the dangerman.
“Usman broke our club record for most runs in a season when he was with us,” said Stewart. “I am worried about him, and he is certainly one of the best players I have played with, but we have some plans for him.
“We have got a full strength team to pick from for the match and I expect it will be a bit of a run-feast.
“We are not a one man show and we bat down to number eleven so we know we have the ability to win the match.
“We have Andy Kerr, who is in good form, and our professional Asif Iqbal, who is due a big score, and then players like Anthony Harris, Damion Keegan, Danny Hornby and Simon Woolford who can change a game.
“Finals are what we play cricket all summer for and I am looking forward to it.”
Alcohol is not permitted to be taken into the ground and there will be security at the entrances. Cars parked on the ground can not be moved until the end of the game.
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