Cec still has Wright stuff

SILVERWARE DELIGHT . . . Uppermill, the winners of the Moore Cup at Friarmere, with Cec front, far right.

CRICKET: CEC Wright has achieved many things in a local cricket league career which has spanned more than six decades.

The 80 year old added two more to his tally with victory over Friarmere in the Moore Cup final at Slack Lane.

For ever-popular Cec, it was his first success in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League’s second XI knock-out competition, and in another first for the octogenarian, he was also named man of the match.

He did his bit for Uppermill’s cause by claiming two wickets for 10 runs off his nine overs. . . “and one of those was a four”, he was quick to point out.

“It was a fantastic effort and a wonderful performance,” commented man-of-the-match adjudicator and league chairman Eddie Bayliss.

“It was as though the batsman were intimidated by his presence.”

Cec’s spell – he bowled nine overs straight through – set Uppermill on their way to a first Moore Cup triumph since 1987.

Lou Adair ran his team-mate close by taking three for nine, while Scott Barlow picked up one for 11.

There were also two run-outs, by Dave Thomas and Michael Salmon, as Friarmere were skittled for 66 in the final which was played at the third attempt after two previous wash-outs.

Danny Harrop, who opened the innings, top scored with 14 and was one of only three Friarmere batsmen to reach double figures.

Uppermill got off to a shaky start in reply.

They were reduced to 26 for three, before Martin Salmon and Jim Bradbury steadied the ship with a stand of 17. The former was then run out with the final’s highest individual score of 15 next to his name.

Bradbury, another Uppermill stalwart, was still at the crease when victory was sealed in the 24th over. His nine runs came off 58 balls in the face of some accurate Friarmere bowling.

Nathan Boote clinched the five-wicket win with a two to long-off.

Mohammed Waqas was the stand-out Friarmere bowler, with his five tidy overs costing a miserly one run.

The majority of finals that Cec has played in over the years, be it Tanner Cup or Wood Cup (Central Lancashire League), he has been his side’s professional. This excluded him from the MOM running.

He added: “I really enjoyed it. The wicket did a bit, which was good for me, and I managed to prise a couple out.

“I said that if we won the toss we should bowl, because I was unavailable from midweek onwards if we got any more rain and the match had to be carried over. Fortunately, we did.

“It was a nice surprise when I heard my name called out by Eddie (Bayliss) for man-of-the-match. I couldn’t believe it.”