Colts let it slip

THE Saddleworth and District Cricket League Colts completed their Inter-League Trophy group programme without a win as they went down by 41 runs at Well-i-Hole.

Steve Taylor’s side reduced the North Lancs and South Cumbria League to 111 for seven — Austerlands’ Adam Sunderland took two wickets — but they were unable to press home their advantage and allowed the visitors to make 191.

An opening stand of 50 between Stayley’s Michael Jones (32) and Droylsden’s Aquib Uppal (21) gave the Saddleworth League a good start in reply.

However, they slumped to 75 for five, and it was left to Uppermill’s Michael Bird and Jack Stanton (19), of Austerlands, to rebuild the innings.

Local hopes began to rise but when Bird was dismissed for 39, their chance of a first win in 2009 was over.

Joe Malloy (Austerlands) hit 20 late on to bring up the Saddleworth League’s 150.