Play-off decider

Austerlands Cricket Club summer school, part sponsored by Community Foundation for Greater Manchester Grassroot Grants and Yorkshire Tea. Yukhshee Tariq (left) with other budding cricketers.

FOR the second season running a play-off will decide the destination of the Saddleworth and District Cricket League under-15s title.

Saddleworth ‘A’ and Heyside ‘A’ will meet on a date and venue to be arranged after they finished tied at the top of the table.

Heyside went through the season unbeaten while Saddleworth, who set up the showdown with a win over their ‘B’ team in a rearranged game, lost one of their 12 matches.

There is one outstanding fixture, between Shaw ‘A’ and Heyside ‘B’, but the former can’t trouble the top two.

AFTER scooping the title, Saddleworth under-13s ‘A’ are setting their sights on the double.

They dominated the season, winning 10 of their 11 games, with the other washed out.

Attention now turns to the cup final on Sunday, September 6, when they take on Bamford Fieldhouse at Well-i-Hole.

Bamford, who finished fifth in the table, will require top performances from bowlers Joe Smith-Butler and Ahmed Nazaw if they are to wreck their opponents’ unbeaten record.

The under-13s representative side lost their two Peak Trophy games, but had winning opportunities in both.

Farak Shagir impressed with the ball, taking five wickets, Ellis Helire and Charlie Price starred with the bat, while Callum Openshaw was tidy behind the stumps.

Other individuals to catch the eye were James Howard, who is only 10, and 11-year-old Jamie Symonds.

GREENFIELD under-17s have won the south division in the Lancashire County League with two games to go.

The Ladhill Lane outfit will meet the winners of the north division for the overall league title on Sunday, August 30, at a venue to be confirmed.

Prestwich, Cheetham Hill and Woodhouses are in contention for top honours in the northern section.

MICKLEHURST are staging an under-17s Twenty20 competition on Sunday (start noon).

Clubs involved are Micklehurst, Stayley, Greenfield and Broadbottom (Derbyshire and Cheshire League).