Oldham cling on to title hopes

OLDHAM and Crompton still entertain hopes of Lake Garage CLL title glory despite setbacks over the weekend.

Oldham lost to leaders Heywood on Saturday, while Crompton were beaten by Milnrow.
Yesterday was more productive for Oldham, who defeated Werneth in a local derby at the Pollards.

Crompton, meanwhile, did not see any action against Royton as their ground at Glebe Street was saturated.

Oldham were pushed all the way by Werneth, who batted first and made 145 for nine, professional Loku hitting 72 and Stuart Moore taking three for 48.

That score looked to be well within Oldham’s compass, but Loku’s five for 47 gave them a huge fright and they lost eight wickets on the way to a narrow victory.

Abid Fasil-Masih was their top scorer with a crucial 37.

Heywood, meanwhile, suffered a 78-runs defeat at Monton and Weaste, for whom skipper Trent Scott top scored with 36 in the home side’s 153 for eight.

In reply, Heywood lost a flurry of early wickets and were finally bowled out for a paltry 75.

Sunday scores: Ashton 126-6 (Yousaf 31, Madsen 5-31), Unsworth 117 (Sharif 45, Zaman 6-50, Daniel 4-58); Littleborough 168-7 (Hussain 65 n.o., Baer 3-37), Milnrow 134 (Ahmed 46, Miskella 3-18, Deakin 3-33); Monton and Weaste 153-8 (Scott 36, Peiris 3-22), Heywood 75 (Mullaney 3-13); Oldham 146-8 (Fasil-Masih 37, Loku 5-47), Werneth 145-9 (Loku 72, Moore 3-48); Radcliffe 132-1 (Tariq 104 n.o.), Clifton 136 (Nisar 39, Tariq 4-26); Crompton v Royton, Middleton v Walsden, Norden v Rochdale - no play.

OLDHAM’S title challenge was dealt a blow when they suffered a nine-wickets defeat at Heywood on Saturday.

Starting the game five points behind the Crimble outfit, Oldham failed to find the form which had seen them win their previous eight matches.

Put in to bat, they were skittled for only 122 despite a bright and breezy 31 from makeshift opener Jason Maher, standing in for the unavailable Naveed Mohammed.

Only Liam Garnett (26) made any other contribution of note as Heywood ripped through the middle order thanks to strike bowler Steve Cheetham (four for 46) and spinner Rob Slawson (five for 29).

The key moment of the Oldham innings came when in-form professional Chinthaka Jayasinghe, on nine, attempted to drive Cheetham, only to be superbly caught low down at mid-on by Heywood’s overseas amateur Royce Blight.

Oldham had a couple of strong leg before wicket shouts against Heywood openers Tom Hardman and Ruvin Peiris, but both batsmen survived and their stand of 104 ended the game as a contest.

Peiris hit three sixes and two fours before holing out to Ryan Mayes off Jayasinghe for 35.

But Hardman remained unbeaten on 55 as Heywood reached their target for the loss of a single wicket.

CROMPTON, captained by Darren Graham in the absence of Simon Wright, whose partner gave birth this week, saw their title bid falter with a 176-runs defeat at in-form Milnrow.

Milnrow batted first and made 290 thanks to professional Karl Brown’s 101 (four sixes, 11 fours) and overseas amateur Vishal Trepathi’s 90 (two sixes, eight fours).

Crompton’s paid man Kevin Stoute took four for 82 and Aqiz Zulfiqar three for 51.

In reply, Crompton were bowled out for a disappointing 114, Steven Wright top scoring with 27 and Michael Baer taking six for 23.

A season of frustration for WERNETH continued at the Coppice where they lost to Middleton by a single run.

Middleton made 131 for nine, home professional Loku taking five for 44, but Werneth were dismissed for 130 despite John Slater’s 43. Middleton paid man Werner Coetsee took four for 27.

ROYTON were soundly beaten by Norden at the Paddock.

The visitors took first guard and made 270 for six, Hashim Malik hitting 66 and professional Jean Symes 65. Royton skipper Guy Lovell took three for 42.

In reply, Royton were bowled out for only 124 despite Dion Taljard’s unbeaten 36. Harvey Fitton took three wickets for two runs.

Saturday scores: Clifton 198-9 (Nasir 55), Monton and Weaste 150-9 (Lenihan 46 n.o., Nasir 3-32, Eccleshare 3-32) rain stopped play, match drawn; Heywood 123-1 (Hardman 55 n.o.), Oldham 122 (Slawson 5-29, Cheetham 4-46); Milnrow 290 (Brown 101, Trepathi 90, John 34, Stoute 4-82, Zulfiqar 3-51), Crompton 114 (Baer 6-23); Rochdale 38 (Zaman 4-19, Daniel 3-4, O’Connor 3-15), Ashton 39-5; Royton 124 (Taljard 36 n.o., Fitton 3-2), Norden 270-6 (Malik 66, Symes 65, Lovell 3-42); Unsworth v Littleborough - no play; Walsden 137-6 (Gunaratne 83 n.o.), Radcliffe 209-9 (Tariq 83, N Barker 5-61) rsp, match drawn; Werneth 130 (Slater 43, Coetsee 4-27), Middleton 131-9 (Loku 5-44).

Leading positions: Heywood 84 points, Oldham 78, Crompton 75, Norden 75.