Malik puts on a show

Andrew Jones celebrating with his team mates after claiming a wicket

WHALLEY Range skipper Waqas Malik did everything in his powers to try to beat Uppermill and so keep up his side’s impressive run of form in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League.


Runs: He scored an unbeaten 52 after coming in at 114 for eight. Wickets: Four for 29 from 15 overs. Catches: Just one, but what a stunner to get rid of James Baron off his own bowling.

Malik used every last speck of energy, but his one-man magic show wasn’t enough as Uppermill won by four wickets to retain third place in the table.

The captain’s last couple of overs were both painful to watch and to bowl. With Michael Brooks and Matt Taylor in control in the middle, one knew all that toil would go unrewarded.

Malik’s first act was to dig his team out of big trouble.

While Uppermill bowled well early doors – Andrew Jones claimed two for 23 from his eight overs – Whalley Range were also culpable in a couple of the dismissals.

From 86 for three, the visitors crumbled to 101 for six. Paul Davies hit 48 of those, before he was held low down by Cloete Buitendag off Taylor.

With Baron running through the middle order – the left-arm spinner bagged four for 45 from his 14 overs – Whalley Range found themselves peering down the barrel of a gun.

Ninth-wicket pair Malik and wicketkeeper Paul Griffiths had a job on their hands when they came together.

Through a mixture of good fortune – Uppermill became ragged in the field – and choosy shot-making they gradually turned things around.

Griffiths was happy to acquire singles to give Malik the strike. The captain moved to 49 with a six off Taylor, while his first half-century of the season came up moments later off his opposite number, Dave Roberts.

The duo added 69, of which 50 came from the last six overs. Although Griffiths’ contribution was 16 not out, he played his part in lifting his side to a respectable 183 for eight.

When Uppermill slumped to 29 for four, Whalley Range appeared to be heading for a seventh win from their last eight matches.

Malik removed opener Andy McVeigh with a ball that cut back between bat and pad, overseas amateur Buitendag and Baron. The latter was left bewildered as Malik held a brilliant catch with his right hand.

Roberts had already departed, bowled by Ateeq Din for no score, when Paul Thompson (31) became Malik’s next victim with the total on 67.

Experienced former Stayley and Saddleworth batsman Lou Adair made 44 and, alongside Michael Brooks, put on 67 vital runs for the sixth wicket.

When Adair fell, Taylor took the attack to the top-five hopefuls. He struck 32 off just 28 balls, while in contrast the patient Brooks hit 43 from 87.

Malik’s 15 overs came in four spells, but he just couldn’t muster another breakthrough and Uppermill triumphed in the penultimate over.