Amazing Smit conducts all-round masterclass

CROMPTON batsman Steven Wright flashes one past the wicket-keeper off the bowling of Middleton’s Phil Tomlinson during his side’s defeat.

CLL round-up

ROYTON secured their first victory of the Lake Garage CLL season, but were also victims of a Daryn Smit cricketing masterclass during a weekend of mixed fortunes.

After losing their first two fixtures of the new campaign, Royton went to Ashton on Saturday with high hopes of putting matters right — and did so in style with a 37-runs victory.

John Punchard hit 42 and Barry Woodward scored his 5,000th run in the CLL during a knock of 35 as Royton made 153 all out after taking first guard.

Punchard then took three for 25 and professional Luke Procter six for 43 as Ashton were skittled for 116.

The following day’s game at home to Littleborough saw the visitors’ South African professional Smit hit an unbeaten 124 in Boro’s 215 for five.

It could have been all so different for Royton had Procter snaffled a caught and bowled chance before Smit had scored.

The South African had a second life in the 80s, allowing Boro to go beyond 200 and post a target which ultimately proved beyond Royton.

After acting as wicket-keeper for the first 30 overs of Royton’s innings, Smit shed the pads and gloves to provide his side with a bowling stint which saw his leg spin net seven wickets for only 34 as Royton were dismissed for 194.


WERNETH lost their unbeaten record when they went down by 33 runs at champions Heywood.

Heywood’s overseas amateur Royce Blight blasted 77 and Alan Durose took five for 71 as the Crimble outfit made 186 for nine despite being without a professional for the match.

That total proved beyond Werneth, who were restricted to 153 for nine, Durose hitting 43.

Werneth returned to winning ways the following day with a 60-runs dismissal of Radcliffe.
Reaching 177 for seven on a tricky wicket, Radcliffe in reply were bowled out for a paltry 117.


OLDHAM must have fancied their chances after they took first guard against Milnrow – another team without a professional – at the Pollards on Saturday. 

Paul Thompson hit 61, skipper Chris McDonnell 52 and Rod Moran an unbeaten 40 as Oldham amassed 212 for seven.

But Max Power’s unbeaten 84 proved to be a match-winning knock as Milnrow reached their target with a couple of wickets to spare.

Oldham were also out of luck at Unsworth, going down by eight wickets after making 169 for eight.

CROMPTON were soundly beaten by Middleton at Glebe Street on Saturday and Norden at Woodhouse Lane the following day.

Middleton’s Danny Core took five for 21 as Crompton were dismissed for only 96, a score which the visitors passed for the loss of only two wickets, Scott Stanworth hitting 51.

And Norden rattled up 287 for five at Woodhouse Lane, Nick Brierley smashing an unbeaten 96, Hasham Malik 66 and Bhalil Khilji, Delph’s overseas player, 49.

Simon Wright scored 47 and Daniel Taylor 44, but Crompton’s innings ended on 218 for eight.


Saturday scores:

Ashton 116 (Procter 6-43, J Punchard 3-25), Royton 153 ( J Punchard 42, Woodward 35); Crompton 96 (Core 5-21), Middleton 97-2 (Stanworth 51); Heywood 186-9 (Blight 77, Durose 5-71), Werneth 153-9 (Durose 43, Kaye 3-21); Littleborough 135-3 (Thewlis 43, Smit 38), Clifton 134 (Deakin 4-14); Monton and Weaste 135-9 (Green 60, Priyadarshana 5-30), Walsden 148-9 (Hanson 40, Brandwood 32, Hamilton 4-19); Oldham 212-7 (Thompson 61, McDonnell 52, Moran 40 n.o.), Milnrow 213-8 (Power 84 n.o., Inkpen 5-93); Rochdale 84-1 (Ayres 52 n.o.), Unsworth 83 (Clough 5-26); Radcliffe 122 (Tariq 47, Fitton 5-32, Makin 5-41), Norden 124-3 (Farrow 51 n.o.).


Sunday scores:

Clifton 176-9 (Nisar 34, Kirwin 3-43, Scott 3-44), Monton and Weaste 180-4 (Scott 56 n.o., Green 42 n.o., Kirwin 40); Middleton 114-3 (Skewes 57 n.o.), Ashton 113 (Selby 36, Tomlinson 6-49, Skewes 3-19); Milnrow 206 (Brown 49, Brierley 37, Hulme 33, Carter 5-68), Rochdale 107 (Doyle 3-12, J Storey 3-29, Jennings 3-32); Royton 194 (Carters 47, Procter 39, A Punchard 36, Smit 7-34), Littleborough 215-5 (Smit 124 n.o.); Norden 289-5 (Brierley 96 n.o., Malik 66, Khiljee 49, Z Khan 3-101), Crompton 218-8 (Si Wright 47, Taylor 44); Unsworth 172-2 (Love 75 n.o., Madsen 63 n.o.), Oldham 169-8 (Thompson 49); Walsden 206-7 (Gilford 59, Rawlinson 43, Ur-Rehman 6-96), Heywood 139 (Ur-Rehman 58, Priyadarshana 5-41); Werneth 177-7 (Joubert 61, Taylor 55, Saeed 4-40), Radcliffe 117 (Maboob 43, Joubert 3-15, Wilson 3-20, Rogerson 3-49).