Moorside hit by Hodnett blow

Photo: Tim Bradley

HEYSIDE opener Ben Holt clips the ball away

GRANT Hodnett is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a serious leg injury in the JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League on Saturday.

The Moorside professional suffered a hairline fracture and ligament damage to an ankle in the Championship clash at Heyside.

The incident occurred in the first innings when Hodnett took an awkward step while on duty on the deep mid-on boundary at the dressing rooms end of the Little Hey Street ground.

An ambulance was called and play was held up for about an hour, with Hodnett eventually taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital.

"The ball was nowhere near him," said Moorside skipper Danny Anchor. "It was a complete accident."

Thy injury marred a match in which Heyside pair Bilal Khiljee and Jon-Ross Campbell added 199 for the second wicket.

Professional Khiljee blasted a superb 155 from 107 balls ­- the Pakistani hit 14s fours and nine sixes ­- while overseas amateur Campbell scored a brilliant 145, the West Indian notching 20 fours and four sixes from 131 deliveries.

They were season's best knocks for both men and helped lift Heyside to a daunting 387 for six. Jamie Taylor took four of the wickets to fall for 120 runs.

Moorside got off to a decent-enough start in reply ­- they were 57 without loss and 112 for one ­- but after the departure of Thomas Mashiane (45) and skipper Danny Anchor (39) and with thoughts concentrated on Hodnett's well-being, their innings fell away.

Heyside remain third in the table, eight points behind leaders Milnrow, who defeated Hollinwood by nine wickets at Lime Lane.

The hosts were dismissed for exactly 100, with Aaron Brown claiming six for 35.

Stayley, in second place, piled up the runs at home to Oldham.

Captain Peter Skuse was unbeaten on 94 and paid man Hamza Nadeem hit 80, which included eight sixes in a score of 293 for six.

Oldham were dismissed for 135, of which Talha Tufail made 51. Nadeem, with five for 69, was also among the wickets.

Hot on the heels of the top three are Friarmere, who overcame 10-man Uppermill by three wickets at Leefields.

The home started well as Girvacques De Jager compiled 40 and skipper Michael Brooks 38, but the last six batsmen managed only 15 runs between them. Pro Adil Mustafa, with four for 11, swept up the lower order.

Friarmere were made to work hard for their runs and it needed belligerent knocks from Saj Akhtar (38 not out) and

Waseem Imtiaz (31) to steer them home.

Werneth did well to restrict Shaw to 164 for eight at The Coppice.

However, the home side crashed to 82 all out in reply.It was a similar story at Rayner Lane, where Ashton successfully defended 149 against Micklehurst 87.

Scores ­-

Championship: Heyside 387-6 (B Khiljee 155, JR Campbell 145, J Taylor 4-120), Moorside 167-9 (T Mashiane 45, D Anchor 39, D Cashin 5-16); Hollinwood 100 (A Brown 6-35), Milnrow 101-1 (I Helliwell 58); Stayley 293-6 (P Skuse 94 n.o, H Nadeem 80), Oldham 135 (T Tufail 51, H Nadeem 5-69); Uppermill 143 (G De Jager 40, A Mustafa 4-11), Friarmere 147-7 (A Jones 5-54); Shaw 164-8 (A Fazil 42), Werneth 82 (K Fullalove 4-12); Ashton 149, Micklehurst 87.