Waterhead shock aids Star’s title bid

AJK missed the chance to make up ground in the Ashton and Oldham Cricket Alliance title race.

With Saturday’s match between Star Eleven, the runaway leaders, and Foresters abandoned because of rain, they had an ideal opportunity to narrow the gap when they visited lowly Waterhead Methodists.

However, the home side — third from bottom at the start of day — had a shock in store for the championship hopefuls, who were bowled out for just 99 in reply to 134 for eight.

Branham, who was unbeaten on 42, and Lees 36, were among the runs for Waterhead while Jasim, four for 25 and 38, had a good game for AJK.

Friends’ total of 131 at Greengate did not look enough — Waseem and Rasheed scored 39 and 25 respectively — but a fine display in the field saw them edge home by eight runs.

Waseem completed a afternoon’s work with figures of four for 18.

With AJK slipping up, the win moved Friends into second place.

Jay Hind were denied maximum points by Europa Exiles, who were clinging on at 131 for nine at the death.

Riskesh led the way with 75 and Parth made 44 in Hind’s total of 169 for nine.

Hodgson, with 43 not out, held Exiles’ reply together.

It was a similar story at Copthorne, where the home side made 152 against Newtonhurst.

Abbass repelled the likes of Boyle (three for 33) and Courtney (3-37) long enough to make 48.

Copthorne collected four points in after being held up by Boyle’s 63 in Newtonhurst’s total of 137 for nine.

Two matches went ahead on Sunday, with Radclyffe enjoying a comfortable seven-wicket win over St Mary’s HC.

Despite 56 from Lawrence, Saints crashed to 117 all out. There were four wickets apiece for Chambers and Wright. Chambers hit 50 in reply.

Copthorne made it a 10-point weekend after sweeping aside Foresters by 75 runs.

Assim helped himself to 83 and Ahmed hit 37 as the visitors made 185 for five. Bailey bagged three for 40.

Yates, with 55, scored exactly half of Foresters’ reply.

Scores are —

Saturday: Waterhead Methodists 134-8 (M Branham 42, A Lees 36, Jasim 4-25), AJK 99 (Jasim 38); Friends 131 (Waseem 39, Rasheed 25), Greengate 123 (Simpson 21, Waseem 4-18); Jay Hind 169-9 (Riskesh 75, Parth 44, T Finn 4-35, Hodgson 3-22), Europa Exiles 131-9 (Hodgson 43 not out, N Jarvey 41, S Bradbury 37, Parth 4-35, James 3-28); Copthorne 152 (Abbass 48, Assim 28, Boyle 3-33, Courtney 3-37), Newtonhurst 137-9 (Boyle 63, Z Raza 4-10).

Sunday: St Mary’s HC 117 (K Lawrence 56, M Chambers 4-17, S Wright 4-19), Radclyffe 123-3 (Chambers 50, Johnson 39, White 21); Copthorne 185-5 (Assim 83, Ahmed 37, I Bailey 3-40), Foresters 110 (J Yates 55, Nakeel 3-37).