Confusion rains!

Photo: Chris Sunderland

CRASH OF ASH: Ben Holt is bowled by Friarmere’s Abbass Ali in the first semi-final.

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Muddle in the puddles as cup final postponed
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Saddleworth were set to surrender the spoils to Heyside after rain washed out yesterday’s final at Little Hey Street.

Eddie Bayliss, chairman of the Saddleworth and District Cricket League, had rearranged the game for Friday, with a 5.30pm start.

But captain Steven Howard said five of his players who were on show in the semi-final defeat of Shaw earlier in the afternoon, including Aussie professional Peter Skuse, Danny Hesford and Ben Willis, would be unavailable because of work and family commitments.

He was reluctant to field a clutch of second-teamers to make up the numbers and was prepared instead to forfeit the match, gifting Heyside a hat-trick of victories in the competition.

Saturday, September 10, was discussed as a possible date, but Heyside said they would be without pro Roelof Hugo and overseas amateur Bromwell Godea.

The pair are due to return home to South Africa after this weekend’s matches as Heyside have an open date on the final day of the season on Sunday, September 11.

However, late last night Howard offered to play an all-amateur final on September 10, with Skuse left on the sidelines. The club’s overseas amateur Michael Jones has already gone back to Australia.

There is as yet no response from the Heyside outfit.

But, according to rule three (Page 71 of the league handbook), yesterday’s final should be decided by a bowl-out or as a last resort by the toss of a coin if no play is possible and no other suitable date is agreed by both parties.

It was a thoroughly messy end to a day which had featured a superb century from Hugo — the wicketkeeper-batsman bludgeoned an unbeaten 110 from 46 balls in the first semi-final against Friarmere — and some belligerent late-order hitting from Saddleworth’s Ryan McGrath.

Hugo lifted Heyside to 196 for five with the help of 14 fours and five sixes.

Friarmere were going along nicely-enough on 62 for one off eight overs, before Tony Heaton applied the brakes.

The wily campaigner had figures of two for 17 off his four overs, which included a wicket maiden, as Gary Kershaw’s side were limited to 154 for nine. Asif Qayyum struck 74 from 41 deliveries (10s fours and four sixes).

McGrath (17 not out) smashed two sixes and a four off consecutive balls as Saddleworth overcame Shaw (158 for eight) in the penultimate over.

Howard’s men were set a revised target of 143 from 18 overs after an interruption for rain.

Willis (30), who went on to hit three sixes after surviving a big appeal for a run-out, Skuse (30) and Brian Lord (29) got them so far, before McGrath finished the job in emphatic style.

Shaw’s overseas amateur Jawad Haq was unfortunate to end up on the losing side after claiming three wickets for 11 runs from his four overs.