Hindley St. Peter’s 1st XI took to the field for the first time this season at home to Bolton Indians but had to settle for a share of the points after heavy rain brought an early finish.

Winning the toss, new captain Martin Storey opted to bat first, and his decision appeared to be vindicated as openers Shoaib Khan (17) and Paul Delargy (25) got HSP off to a flying start. They put on 41 in the first five overs but both then fell in quick succession. On a turning pitch the Bolton Indians spinners started to get the upper hand as HSP struggled to put another partnership together. Storey anchored the innings in the middle order with 24 before being ninth out as HSP eventually mustered 125 all out in the 38th over.

It wasn’t a huge total but HSP thought that they still had a decent chance if they could pick up early wickets. Mark Wood obliged with a wicket in the first over before John Wilkinson followed up with another in the next. The Indians rallied with a stand of 25 for the third wicket but Wood was on top form and soon brought HSP back into the reckoning as Bolton Indians went from 40-3 to 42-6. HSP were on top by now but the weather was closing in. The Indians were well behind on DLS but 20 overs were needed in the second innings to constitute a match. Only 17 had been bowled when the rain became too heavy to continue and forced the players from the field. The rain soon turned torrential and put paid to any chances of a resumption, leaving HSP frustrated at seeing the win washed away from them. Wood, bowling from his unaccustomed top end, returned superb figures of 4-9 from nine overs but ultimately his efforts were all in vain.

Next week HSP make the short trip to new GMCL entrants Westhoughton, while the 2nd XI start their season at home to Wythenshawe.