Win double keeps Crompton in touch

SHAW'S Richard Keaveney carves the ball over the boundary against Middleton

CROMPTON are lying on the heels of the Premiership leaders after a weekend win double in the JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League.

Victory over Rochdale on Saturday was backed up by a hard-fought 18-run defeat of Stayley at Millbrook.

Skipper Simon Wright, with 51, and oversea amateur Denis Louis's 47 were the mainstay's of Crompton's 171 all out. Stayley professional Hamza Nadeem continued his fine form with the ball, taking five for 32 from 11.3 overs.

Australian overseas player Dylan McLachlan opened up with 56 in reply, but four wickets apiece from Adam Good and paid man Akbar Rehman curtailed the hosts' efforts in reaching their goal.

Crompton, in third, are two points adrift of leaders Norden. Walsden are in second place.

It was a case of 'After The Lord Mayor's Show' for Glodwick as they were unable to follow up their excellent defeat of Norden 24 hours earlier.

The Warren Lane club conceded 244 for three from their 50 overs at Rochdale. Henry Cooper (80 not out) and Ben Chapman (79) led the way.

DOUBLE FIGURES
Glodwick succumbed to 123 all out in reply, with pro Rehan Rafiq (46) and Anees Ur-Rehman (39) only reaching double figures. Dale Highton took five for 34.

Greenfield had a successful couple of days.

After beating Littleborough on Saturday, Chris Gill's side thumped Saddleworth by seven wickets at Ladhill Lane yesterday.

The visitors failed miserably with the bat as they were shot out for 106.

Heyside had no answer to Norden at Woodhouse Lane.

Teetering on the brink at 68 for eight, they were eventually dismissed for 116.

Norden clinched victory in the 21 over, with Naveed Zamurad making 47.

Austerlands' struggles in the league continued as they proved no match for Walsden at Scott Street.

With openers Jake Hooson and Josh Gale making 107 and 53 respectively, Andy Young's side were left chasing 280 to win. Lee Milner took four for 73.

Austerlands were never at the races, ending on 138 for seven.

Clinton Perren held the Littleborough reply together as they chased down 147 at Monton and Weaste.

The opener struck a superb 88 in the four-wicket triumph.

Scores -
Crompton 171 (Si Wright 51, D Louis 47, H Nadeem 5-32), Stayley 153 (D McLachlan 56, A Good 4-36, A Rehman 4-34); Rochdale 244-3 (H Cooper 80 n.o, B Chapman 79, J Avery 41), Glodwick 123 (R Rafiq 46, D Highton 5-34); Heyside 116, Norden 118-4 (N Zamurad 47); Walsden 279-5 (J Hooson 107, Josh Gale 53, L Milner 4-73), Austerlands 138-7; Monton and Weaste 146 (F Shafique 43, R Burl 4-38), Littleborough 147-6 (C Perren 88); Saddleworth 106, Greenfield 107-3.