Pressure on leaders as Zafar nears landmark

ALL eyes will be on Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League leaders Heyside this weekend.

After last weekend’s shock nine-wicket defeat at lowly Glodwick, their rivals will be looking to see if further cracks appear in their title challenge.

Heyside have a home fixture against mid-table Friarmere, who are always liable to be dangerous opponents.

Heyside must find a way of halting in-form Friarmere batsman Zafar Iqbal, who needs only 12 runs to complete 1,000 for the campaign which is only just past its halfway stage.

If Heyside slip up, second-placed Uppermill will be looking to make up further ground as they are at home to second-from-bottom Droylsden.

Bamford visit Austerlands as third play fourth in another key fixture.

Glodwick, having claimed the scalp of Heyside last weekend, will be looking to build on that success at home to Moorside.

And in the two other fixtures, Hollinwood entertain Greenfield and Saddleworth are at home to Shaw. Stayley have no game.

Sunday sees the Saddleworth League under-18s play the Bolton Association at Moorside in the John Willie Lees Lancashire Inter-League Trophy. Wickets are pitched at 1.30pm.

The under-18s beat the Manchester Association by 53 runs in their opening group game and will be aiming to maintain their 100-per-cent record.