Encouraging start for league’s debut-boys

OH NO . . . Saddleworth’s Daniel Hesford hits a four as Austerlands bowler Asif Zafir holds his head.

CRICKET: AS debuts go, Whalley Range couldn’t have asked for anything better in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

One of three new clubs in the competition, they beat Uppermill by seven runs at Kingsbrook Road.

Jahangir Abbas, on 58, and Ejaz Din, on 55, steered the home side to 165 for seven from their 45 overs. It was then over to the skipper, Waqas Malik, who claimed five for 34 in restricting Uppermill to 158.

Wythenshawe and South West Manchester did not fare as well, as both slipped to defeats against Greenfield and Shaw respectively.

The former were minus pro Tyler Lortan, who was due to arrive yesterday from South Africa, and opening batsman Jason Warner.

At 113 for three, Wythenshawe were poised to post a decent target, only to fall away to 161 for nine. Peter Gill, at 52 years young, picked up five for 43 from his 15 overs.

Peter’s son, Chris, finished agonisingly on 99 not out as Greenfield registered a six-wicket victory on away soil.

South West Manchester met in-form Anthony Edden (71) and Mark Woodward (67 not out) as hosts Shaw coasted to a 117-run success.

Reigning champions Heyside had to dig deep to beat Droylsden by 15 runs at Little Hey Street.

New professional Shadley van Schalkwyk and Danny Cashin bagged four wickets apiece in reducing the visitors’ to 166 all out.

After touching down less than 24 hours before the opening day of the season, pro Kamran Hussain lined up for Stayley against a Moorside XI without captains past and present, Lloyd Kingston and Danny Anchor. The bleary-eyed Pakistani was wearing a broad smile after watching his side complete a four-wicket victory.

Craig Smith and Nick Woodhead put on 20 for the seventh wicket to extinguish any lingering hopes Moorside had of running through the tail.

There were also first-day wins for Saddleworth, Glodwick and Hollinwood.