Joubert stands out as Werneth go top

PIERRE JOUBERT may be a stand-in professional for Werneth, but the early signs suggest the South African is among the top paid men in the Lake Garage CLL.

Joubert, captain of South African champions Titans, is deputising for his team-mate Roelof van der Merwe, who is currently playing for Bangalore Royal Challengers in the Indian Premier League.

The arrival at the Coppice of van der Merwe is eagerly-awaited in view of his recent exploits for South Africa in one-day internationals, but Joubert has already proved a revelation, hitting a match-winning undefeated century against Milnrow on the opening day of the season and following up yesterday with an unbeaten 55 as Werneth overcame rivals Royton by seven wickets at the Paddock.

Werneth's maximum-points haul made it 10 out of 10 and places them proudly at the top of the CLL table after two fixtures.

Werneth bowled with discipline and skill to dismiss Royton for 135 and Joubert made sure there were no mistakes in their run chase with a measured display in which his class shone through and he took the sting out out the probing Luke Procter (three for 39).

Content to hit the ball on the ground, taking no risks, Joubert stroked the Royton bowlers to the boundary on both sides of the wicket and, even though van der Merwe promises to be more explosive, I doubt whether he will be more effective than his fellow countryman.

Joubert was given good support in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 51 by Mark Dronsfield, who had earlier claimed four for 29 as Royton wasted a good start by collapsing to 135 all out.

Overseas amateur Ryan Carters (16) and professional Luke Procter (23) promised plenty in an opening stand of 39, but failed to go on and it took a decent knock of 30 from veteran John Punchard to enable Royton to provide the total with some respectability.

Punchard, who hit Alan Durose for a splendid straight six, saw his Royton counterpart gain handsome revenge with a brilliant catch at cover off the bowling of Dronsfield.


CROMPTON got off the mark for the season with a 22-run victory over Ashton at Glebe Street.

Professional Mohammed Zaman Khan hit 66 as Crompton amassed 243 for seven after taking first guard.

And although Amar Bhatti hit an unbeaten 88, John Selby 40 and professional Montcin Hodge 33, Ashton were restricted to 221 for nine.


OLDHAM knew they had it all to do away to a powerful Monton and Weaste side so there was no disgrace in their seven-wicket defeat.

Skipper Chris McDonnell hit 32 and Trent Scott took three for 25 as Oldham were bowled out for 140, a score which Monton passed for the loss of three wickets, Paul Green scoring an unbeaten 49.

Elsewhere, Nottinghamshire's England one-day international Samit Patel was deputy professional for Norden in their 62-runs defeat of Middleton at Woodhouse Lane. Patel scored 63 and took five for 38.


Sunday scores:

Crompton 243-7 (Khan 66), Ashton 221-9 (Bhatti 88 n.o., Selby 40, Hodge 33); Milnrow 272-4 (Brierley 70, Brown 55, Hulme 54, Power 43 n.o.), Clifton 185 (Hough 43, Lord 36, Nisar 32, Jennings 7-108); Monton and Weaste 141-3 (Green 49 n.o.), Oldham 140 (McDonnell 32, Scott 3-25); Royton 135 (J Punchard 30, M Dronsfield 4-29, Rogerson 3-47), Werneth 137-3 (Joubert 55 n.o., Procter 3-39); Norden 217-9 (Patel 63, Fitton 41, Collinson 41, Tattersall 37, Highton 4-63, Skewes 3-83), Middleton 155 (Davey 47, Patel 5-38); Radcliffe 187 (Mabood 32, Deakin 5-57, Smit 3-45), Littleborough 206-7 (Smit 69, Hulme 35, Tariq 3-39, Mabood 3-81); Rochdale 175-8 (Smith 59, Chantry 4-65), Heywood 188-7 (Chantry 60 n.o., Avery 4-55); Unsworth 206-7 (Madsen 78, Long 44), Walsden 205-9 (Rawlinson 53, Muramar 3-43, Wiggans 3-40).