Andrea Agathangelou showed just why he is such a valuable commodity with a supreme performance at an appreciative Crimble on Saturday.
Heywood CC’s paid man entertained a big crowd with a magnificent century to inspire his side to a 18-run victory over close rivals Rochdale.
His stroke-laden 136 took Heywood to a formidable total of 243 all-out after they won the toss and elected to bat. Then he took 4-63 with his seemingly innocuous leggies to help restrict the visitors to 225-9, helping Heywood pick up four more points in their quest for a top-four finish in the Central Lancashire League.
Andreas Agathangelou celebrates a magnificent century against Rochdale
Heywood were missing three key players in Lee Grogan, Steve Wallwork and Robert Slawson. It left their bowling attack seriously depleted and thus the onus was on Aggers to set a target that the weakened Heywood attack could defend.
He certainly rose to the challenge. He dominated an opening partnership of 50 with Danny Pawson before the Heywood keeper/ batsmen was bowled for 17 and then, despite playing a major role in the run-out of Ross Zelem for a duck, took complete control.
Well supported by the determined Dale Latham, Aggers took heavy toll of anything offline. He was particularly dismissive of visiting pro Dieter Klein whenever he dropped short and on the leg side, and crashed shot after shot through the leg side.
He was dropped on 58 – a difficult chance on the leg-side boundary when he top-edged a sweep – but he dug deep and began to play all around the huge Crimble outfield before nudging the single he needed to bring up his ton to the acclaim of the Crimble cognoscenti.
He eventually fell trying one more big shot on the leg side for 136, which was scored off 132 ball and contained 13 fours and three sixes.
Heywood’s innings tailed off after he went, but his efforts ensured his side raced 243 before Humza Naeem was Heywood’s last man out.
Naeem and Hamish Paterson were charged with taking the new ball as Rochdale chased Heywood’s total, but the visitors were determined to push Heywood all the way.
Overseas amateur Greg Dawson played beautifully for his 79 and there were times when Rochdale looked like getting close to Heywood’s total.
But veteran left-armer Chris Kaye, with 3-71, and Aggers applied the brakes and, with the light dimming and the passionate home support in full flow, Rochdale were restricted to 225-9 and Heywood claimed four points and victory.
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- Andreas Athangelou celebrates a magnificent century against Rochdale
Heywood Cricket Club 