Werneth in pole position

Sunday CLL

WERNETH and Crompton are alive and kicking in the quarter-finals of the John Willie Lees Wood Cup after yesterday’s rain-affected play.

Werneth, entertaining a Monton and Weaste side who beat them by eight wickets in the league 24 hours earlier, are in pole position after winning the toss and asking the visitors to the Coppice to take first guard.

Monton are 113 for six with just 10 of their 50 overs remaining and most of their frontline batsmen back in the pavilion.

Craig Duxbury grafted his way to 45, but most of the Monton batsmen found it tough going on a damp track against some disciplined Werneth bowling.

The pick of the home attack was young Matthew Taylor, whose 10 overs yielded three wickets for only 19 runs.

Michael Wilson’s 10 overs cost only 26 runs, while skipper Andy Walker clean bowled two opposition batsmen and stand-in professional Sajith Fernando took a blinding catch at short extra-cover to dismiss Monton paid man Brendon Nash.

It was a case of irony loaded on irony as Nash was the Werneth professional in 2000, Fernando succeeded him as paid man at the Coppice, and the Sri Lankan is standing in for fellow countryman Loku, who dislocated a finger against Monton the previous day.

Fernando, enjoying a fine season with Egerton in the Bolton League, has a huge part to play in the rest of this match. He has five of his 10 overs remaining and is a key batsman in the Werneth push for victory.

CROMPTON also harbour high hopes of reaching the semi-finals at the expense of Walsden after ending yesterday’s rain-curtailed play on 148 for six from 32.4 overs.

After Crompton were put in to bat, Darren Graham and professional Kevin Stoute shared an opening stand of 68 before the former was dismissed for 20.

Stoute went on to make 66 off 70 deliveries faced, while Simon Wright chipped in with a run-a-ball 28.

With more than 15 overs to bat, Crompton know they could reach the relative riches of 200, but they will also be aware that a late-order collapse could seriously jeopardise their hopes of further progress in the competition.

Much, then, depends on Stephen Wright (11 not out) and Aqib Zulfiqar (5 not out) when play resumes.

Yesterday’s downpours at Ashton and Heywood had an even greater effect, Middleton reaching 55 for one after 18 overs at Rayner Lane, and not a single ball being bowled at Crimble, where Littleborough are the visitors.

All the quarter-finals will continue tonight - weather permitting - and play will go on each night this week until a conclusion.