Defeat ends bid for trophy glory

STEVE TAYLOR’S Saddleworth and District Cricket League Colts side can reflect on a wasted chance as their Inter-League Trophy dream disappeared at Denton West Cricket Club.

Victory over the Lancashire County League would have kept alive their hopes of reaching the final, but they instead went down to a 29-run defeat.

The hosts were 16 for two — Dominic Gill removed cousin Chris Gill for only five — but a stand of 70 between man-of-the-match Sam Holden, who made 65, and Alex Peters (36) steadied the ship.

The Saddleworth League spilled a series of difficult chances, which enabled their opponents to amass a challenging total of 224 for nine.

Uppermill’s Michael Bird and Chris Burn, of Bamford Fieldhouse, were the the pick of the bowlers with two for 32 and two for 44 respectively.

The pair also made runs — Bird was unbeaten on 22 and Burn scored 31 — in the Saddleworth League’s reply of 195 for six.

Jack Stanton was dismissed in the third over, but Stayley’s Michael Jones (26) and Burns kept the Lancashire County League bowlers at bay.

Adam Sunderland, of Austerlands, weighed in with a splendid 50, before a cavalier partnership between Bird and Liam Du Feu (21 not out), also of Austerlands, lifted the Saddleworth League to a respectable total.

Holden, from Prestwich, built on his fine effort with the bat by claiming three for 34 from seven overs.

The Saddleworth League complete their Trophy campaign against North Lancs/South Cumbria at Saddleworth on Sunday, August 9.


Scores



Lancashire County League: C Gill lbw D Gill 5; J McIlwain c c Burn b S Taylor 8; A Peters b C Burn 36; S Holden c A Sunderland b C Burn 65; J Patel c J Stanton b A Uppal 36; N Bridgford c B Ingham b M Bird 20; T Gibson c J Malloy b M Bird 11; J Williams run out 0; M Batty not out 4, W Hargreaves not out 8. Extras: 22. Total: 224-9.

Bowling: D Gill 9-2-30-1; S Taylor 6-0-20-1; M Bird 9-1-32-2; C Burn 8-0-44-2; B Ingham 5-0-34-0; A Sunderland 1-0-7-0; A Uppal 6-0-20-1.

Saddleworth League: J Stanton c and b M Batty 0; M Jones b S Holden 26; A Uppal c T Gibson b S Holden 13; C Burn b N Bridgford 31; A Sunderland c J Patel b S Holden 50; S Taylor st J McIlwain v N Bridgford 4; M Bird not out 22, L Du Feu not out 21. Extras: 16. Total: 195-6.

Bowling: M Batty 7-1-25-1; J Williams 8-1-34-0; S Holden 7-1-34-3; A Peters 8-1-33-0; W Hargreaves 9-0-49-0; N Bridgford 5-0-29-2.