Ainley hat-trick checks Bamford

QUICK AS A FLASH: Heyside wicketkeeper Roelof Hugo removes the bails, but Stayley centurion Oram Simms is not out.

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Cricket

CAPTAIN Jonathan Ainley claimed his second career hat-trick as Greenfield held Bamford Fieldhouse to a draw in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League at Hollin Lane yesterday.

Ainley was playing for Greenfield under-13s against Glodwick in 1995 when he first achieved the feat.

On this occasion it was against Bamford, the runaway leaders, albeit a vastly depleted Bamford because of ECB National Knockout Cup commitments at Bootle.

But that won’t matter a jot to Ainley (26), who took four wickets in the space of five balls to finish with terrific figures of five for five.

Bamford were bowled out for 210, with Lincoln Roberts making 95 and Qasar Riaz scoring 61.

Neither side rushed their overs, but Greenfield probably felt both relief and a touch of regret when play ended with the Ladhill Lane lads on 194 for eight.

In all likelihood, Bamford probably had similar emotions after they had reduced the visitors to 104 for six.

It required a gutsy 61 not out from number eight Mark Lees to first stave off defeat and then put Greenfield within sight of victory. Tariq Maqsood took five of the eight wickets to fall for 63 runs.

The result still stretched Bamford’s lead to 50 points as every other game was affected by rain.

Glodwick are up to joint third place with Saddleworth after a cracking contest at Shaw, where both sides had to settle for a draw.

Play started on time, only for the heavens to open after an hour with Glodwick 42 for four.

The Shaw players worked on the ground through the rain and their persistence paid off as the match resumed at 5.25pm.

Glodwick were bowled out for 109, with Imran Khan unbeaten on 42. Adam Good and South African professional Warrick Fynn took four wickets apiece.

Shaw, who were looking to bounce back from the previous day’s defeat at Stayley, slipped to 77 for four.

They eventually required seven runs off the final over delivered by Imran Aslam and three off the last ball, but Sean Dean was stumped.

Two other matches ended in draws.

Oram Simms hit a superb 110 not out in Stayley’s total of 220 for seven at Heyside.

The hosts, with Stuart Moore unbeaten on 78, were 142 for five when time ran out.

Friarmere did their level best to force victory at home Droylsden.

Gary Kershaw’s side declared on 153 for three — overseas amateur Zafar Iqbal made 74 — in the hope they could rip through the visitors batting line-up, but Droylsden dug in and were 64 for three at the close.

The wet weather brought an early finish at Austerlands, where Saddleworth 61 for one, while Moorside were 48 for one at Uppermill when rain washed out play.

Scores —

Division one: Austerlands v Saddleworth 61-1 — rain stopped play; Bamford Fieldhouse 210 (L Roberts 95, Q Riaz 61, J Ainley 5-5), Greenfield 194-8 (M Lees 61 not out, T Maqsood 5-63); Friarmere 153-3 dec (Z Iqbal 74), Droylsden 64-3 — draw; Stayley 220-7 (O Simms 110 not out), Heyside 142-5 (S Moore 78 not out) — draw; Glodwick 109 (I Khan 42 not out, A Good 4-25, W Fynn 4-21), Shaw 107-7 (N Van den Bergh 48) — draw; Uppermill v Moorside 48-1 — rain stopped play.

Division two: Droylsden 31, Friarmere 32-1; Glodwick v Shaw — no result telephoned in; Greenfield v Bamford Fieldhouse — no result telephoned in; Moorside v Uppermill 70-6 — rain stopped play; Saddleworth v Austerlands 72-5 — rain stopped play; Stayley 297-7 (M Jones 95, S Mellor 70, S Downend 55), Heyside 195 (I Reddish 52).