Star Eleven are raining champions

Alliance cricket

STAR Eleven clinched the Ashton and Oldham Cricket Alliance title on a weekend in which only two games were completed.

Their game at Newtonhurst was abandoned because of rain with Star Eleven on 26 for no wicket.

Both teams received two points and that was enough for Star to be crowned league champions going into the last round of fixtures.

The games between St Mary’s HC and Greengate, Waterhead Methodist and Jay Hind and Radclyffe and Copthorne did not get under away.

St Mary’s will finish bottom of the table as they are eight points behind nearest rivals Radclyffe.

Elsewhere, AJK climbed into second place with a maximum points win over Europa Exiles.

Some great batting performances, including a strong 107 not out from Nazir, saw them reach a commanding 185 for four.

They then sent Europa crashing to 54 all out, with Arif claiming five for 22 to set up what should be an exciting final weekend as they are three points clear of third-placed Friends.

Friends were in action on Sunday, away at their Shield semi-final opponents Foresters.

Batting first, the home side finished on 178 for eight thanks to an excellent 78 from Bailey.
Bailey was in top form with the ball as well, recording superb figures of four for five as Friends were dismissed for 53.