James crashes superb senior ton

HE’S A CRACKER: James Howard at Saddleworth Cricket Club.

CRICKET:

SADDLEWORTH Cricket Club’s talented all-rounder James Howard smashed a Versasteel Saddleworth and District League record in a second-team clash at Heyside at the weekend.

Howard, who was 14 years, five months and 29 days old on Sunday, scored 112 not out as his side amassed 303 for two.

That meant Howard is now believed to be the youngest-ever centurion in a senior fixture, after beating Jamie Taylor’s previous effort.

The Moorside starlet was 14 years, 10 months and 17 days old when he scored a brilliant 146 in a second-team game against Droylsden in May, 2011.

Howard registered 15 fours and four sixes in his 112 and, coupled with Martin Kyle, who scored 179, the pair put together a magical second-wicket stand of 299.

Heyside were later dismissed for 187 as Saddleworth cruised to victory.

Meanwhile, Howard has again been selected into the Lancashire Cricket Board under-14s ‘A’ team squad this summer.

Their season kicks off on June 13 with an ECB Yorkshire Bank Cup fixture away at Durham.

These fixtures are 45-over matches, and they will also be playing Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Cheshire and Cumbria.

The county side then go onto the ECB North Region under-14s festival at Scarborough in late August.

James – a left-handed batsman and right-arm leg-spinner – is currently playing second and third XI cricket for Saddleworth as well as captaining the Oldham District under-15s team this season.




DELPH starlet Nathan Jones has been selected for the LCB under-14s development squad for this summer and their season starts with an away friendly fixture against Yorkshire on June 12.

The development squad go to the under-14s county festival at Taunton in August.

Nathan plays for Delph’s second XI and is also a member of the Oldham District under-15s team.

Nathan and James Howard are Year Nine pupils at Saddleworth School. They both play for Uppermill FC, who recently won the Huddersfield League under-14s division.