Colts in tie thriller

CRICKET: PLAYERS and spectators alike were left scratching their heads after the Colts Inter-League Trophy clash between the Saddleworth and District Cricket League and the Bolton Association ended in a tie.

Both sides were bowled out for 138 in the under-18s group match at Austerlands CC.

A read through the competition rules suggested that the Saddleworth League had won by virtue of a superior scoring rate in the first 10 overs.

However, before officially declaring the result, Saddleworth League team manager Jim Bradbury checked with Inter-League officials, who said the rules were set out for the senior competition.

With no such provision for the juniors, the match was declared a tie with one point awarded to both sides.

This means the Saddleworth League must win their remaining group match against the Ribblesdale League on August 14 and hope that the CLL lose to the Bolton Association in order to reach the final.

The difference between the Saddleworth League and victory over the Bolton Association was Saif Bhojani.

A member of the Northants Academy, the teenager scored a superb 83 in his side’s total.

Andrew Cadd, playing on his home ground, claimed four for 24 from his seven overs, while Greenfield’s Josh Higgins picked up three for 43.

Captain Michael Bird (Uppermill) scored 43 in reply, but the Saddleworth League were heading for defeat with only the last pair at the wicket.

But Callum Jones, of Shaw, and Aaron Barnes (Moorside) dug in to bring the scores level, only for the former, who was on 34, to direct a catch to that boy Bhojani fielding in the covers.


THE Saddleworth League’s under-13s side were taught a lesson by their Bolton Association counterparts at Flixton CC.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the visitors slipped to 31 for seven after 14 overs, which included 16 from Saddleworth’s James Howard at the top of the order, and five ducks.

A stand of 26 between Glodwick’s Jamie Symonds (21) and captain Jake Manton (11) held up the Bolton onslaught.

The last-wicket pair of Greenfield’s Luke Rhodes (12) and Lewis Daniel from Micklehurst (five not out) also displayed plenty of character to forge a partnership of 19 to lift the total to 83 all out from 27.1 overs.

Defending a low score, the Saddleworth League needed to take their chances, but instead they spilled five catches, which allowed the Bolton Association to reach their target for the loss of one wicket in 22.2 overs. The sole wicket went to Greenfield’s Callum Faulkner.

The Saddleworth League’s next game is against the Ribblesdale League on August 14.


A KEY date is looming large for the Saddleworth League’s under-15s team.

If they avoid defeat to the Ribblesdale League on August 14 they will progress to the last-four stage of the Inter-League competition.

Greenfield’s Liam Parfitt (75) and Friarmere’s Zakhran Arshad (two for eight from four overs) helped the Saddleworth League (113 for four) defeat the Bolton Association (86 for five) in a match reduced to a 20 overs thrash at Friarmere CC.