Heyside extend lead

ANOTHER significant weekend in the Armstrongs Office Saddleworth and District Cricket League saw Heyside assert their authority at the top of the table.

Victory over nearest rivals Uppermill stretched the Little Hey Street side’s lead to 33 points.

If that was not cause for celebration enough, with third-placed Bamford Fieldhouse’s match at Shaw being one of three fixtures to fall victim of the weather — not a ball was bowled at Holebottom Clough — Heyside can be forgiven for having one eye on the title trophy.

Uppermill, the surprise package in 2008, knew a win would put them within touching distance of Mark Barnes’ boys.

But instead they find themselves nursing the wound of their first defeat in eight league games.

The match was reduced to 21 overs-a-side after rain had delayed the start to 4.25pm, even though rules stipulate each team must face a minimum of 22 overs to constitute a match.

Uppermill, thanks to 47 from experienced opener Gary Crossley and Matt Taylor’s unbeaten 44, posted a challenging total of 160 for four.

But in Roelof Hugo, Heyside can boast the league’s form player — and the South African professional steered his side to a five-wicket win with four balls to spare.

Hugo finished on 77 not out from 42 balls — he hit eight sixes and two fours — which followed on from his unbeaten 185 seven days’ earlier.

Austerlands joined Bamford in third place, albeit 40 points adrift of Heyside, after brushing aside Greenfield at Ladhill Lane.

Lee Diggle hit 54 as the home side recorded 171 for six, but an unbeaten 105 from Sri Lankan overseas amateur Pubudu Seneviratne — his first for the Thorpe Lane outfit — clinched a comfortable eight-win.

The only other game to go ahead after a delayed start was at Turf Pit Lane.

Moorside, the hosts, required little over six runs an over to defeat Friarmere, who made 133 for eight from their 22 overs. Captain Lee Warburton claimed five for 67.

And, courtesy of a typical hard-hitting 76 from Kashif Khan, they reached their target. Peter Broadhurst was 40 not out at the death.

Scores —

Division one: Droylsden v Hollinwood — no play, rain; Greenfield 171-6 (L Diggle 54), Austerlands 172-2 (P Seneviratne 105 not out); Uppermill 160-4 (G Crossley 47, M Taylor 44 not out), Heyside 162-5 (R Hugo 77 not out, S Firth 38; Moorside 137-3 (K Khan 76, Pe Broadhurst 40 not out), Friarmere 133-8 (L Warburton 5-67); Shaw v Bamford Fieldhouse — no play, rain; Stayley v Saddleworth — no play, rain.

Division two: Greenfield 128-4 (G Partington 85 not out), Austerlands 119 (J Ashton 6-36); Bamford Fieldhouse v Shaw — no play, rain; Friarmere v Moorside — no play, rain; Hollinwood v Droylsden — no play, rain; Stayley 116 (M Jones 53, B Hadfield 4-14), Saddleworth 117-3 (S Chamberlain 94 not out); Heyside 163, Uppermill 164-4 (M Bird 60).