Glodwick calm title nerves with vital win

Photo: PAUL STERRITT-

CRASH OF ASH . . . the bails go flying as Heyside’s Ben Holt is bowled.

CRICKET: 

AFTER back-to-back defeats Glodwick knew a third loss in a row would have a severe impact on their Saddleworth and District Cricket League title ambitions.

So with a gritty performance the Warren Lane club picked up the winning thread at home to Heyside.

Glodwick restricted this season’s Tanner Cup heroes to 187 all out — professional Shadley van Schalkwyk hit exactly 50 — before reaching their target with seven wickets to spare.

Saddleworth remain in close pursuit after a 49-runs victory over Stayley at Well-i-Hole.

Skipper Brian Lord and Darren Shadford, with 66 and 52 respectively, helped the hosts to 191 all out. Paid man Kamran Hussain and Oral Rankine collected four wickets apiece.

Stayley were dismissed for 142 in reply. Pro Imran Aslam claimed five for 38, which took his tally for the season to 93 league and Tanner Cup victims.

The results leave Saddleworth 17 points adrift of leaders Glodwick with five matches remaining.

Not a ball was bowled at Slack Lane as Moorside were awarded a walk-over win at Friarmere.

The fixture was apparently called off at 1.30pm — 30 minutes after play was due to start, because the hosts didn’t have enough players in attendance. Moorside were handed 21 points, 12 for the win plus another nine for the average number of bonus points accrued per game in Division One on the day.

Captain Dave Roberts and Paul Thompson were the stand-out performers in Uppermill’s 39-runs success over South-West Manchester.

Roberts, with 59, and Thompson’s 54 saw the home side to 229 for seven declared at Leefields.

South-West Manchester were going along nicely on 184 for five, but then lost their last five wickets for only six runs.

Roberts and Thompson instigated the big turnaround, bagging three for no runs and three for seven respectively.

Adam Robinson, with five for 24, and Alex Peters’ haul of four for 38 inspired Greenfield to an improbable 15-runs victory over Droylsden, who were only chasing 96 at Ladhill Lane.

With paid man Asif Zakir hitting 70 and Mohammed Naveed 57, Austerlands rattled up 260 for five against Hollinwood at Thorpe Lane. The visitors managed just 88 in reply, Mohammed Irfan snaffling six for 25.

Whalley Range beat Micklehurst by seven wickets at Kingsbrook Road, and Wythenshawe overcame Shaw by 54 runs at Longley Lane.