Run-chase confusion rains!

THE Lake Garage CLL’s version of the Duckworth-Lewis method came to the fore on Saturday during the first rain-affected fixtures of the season.

In Werneth’s case, the rules worked like clockwork as the Coppice outfit recorded a seven-wicket victory at Rochdale.

But there was confusion at Heywood, where Royton lost by 71 runs after a mid-innings go-slow caused by a misinterpretation of the new guidelines.

Werneth went to the top of the table when they won impressively at Redbrook, young Joe Taylor taking four for 14 as Rochdale were skittled for 116.

Showers forced Werneth to chase a revised target of 94 and they achieved this for the loss of three wickets, skipper Andy Walker hitting a quickfire unbeaten 58.

Royton took on a Heywood side without a professional for the second time this season, but the Crimble side still managed to rattled up 197 for four thanks to skipper Bobby Cross’s excellent knock of 105.

Mid-afternoon showers forced the umpires to reach for their calculators and a revised target of 183 from 45 overs was set.

However, for some time during their innings Royton were under the false impression that as long as they were not bowled out then they would draw the game and be awarded two points.

After starting well, Royton lost a couple of wickets and some defensive batting left them well behind the run rate until they realised their error.

By that stage, it was too late to make a serious assault on Heywood’s total and their innings wound up on 112 for seven.

Crompton were readily brushed aside by a Wayne Madsen-inspired Unsworth at Glebe Street.

The Unsworth professional hit an unbeaten 131 as Unsworth made 237 for six and then took seven for 38 as Crompton were skittled for 123, paid man Mohammed Zaman Khan scoring an unbeaten 61.

Oldham were also on the wrong end of a professional’s excellence when they entertained Clifton at the Pollards.

The visitors had not won a single point in four matches, but they put that right in style, paid man Adil Nisar hitting an unbeaten 112 and Adam Rodzoch 46 as Clifton made 234 for five after taking first guard. Oldham professional Paul Jewitt took four for 39.

In reply, Oldham were restricted to 137 for eight, Rodzoch completing a fine personal performance with three for 16.

The most amazing match of the day came at Monton and Weaste, who bowled out Middleton for 77 and were then dismissed themselves for only 39 after being 27 without loss.

Norden, meanwhile, surrendered their unbeaten record and top spot when they lost by 28 runs at Littleborough.

Scores are –

Saturday: Ashton 206-9 (Gaskin 43, Mellor 38), Walsden 225-4 (Priyadarshana 127 n.o., Gilford 56); Crompton 123 (Z Khan 61 n.o., Madsen 7-38), Unsworth 237-6 (Madsen 131 n.o.); Heywood 197-4 (Cross 105), Royton 112-7 (Kaye 4-24); Littleborough 185-6 (Hulme 66, Smit 55, Makin 4-45), Norden 157 (Brierley 43, Smit 6-30); Monton and Weaste 39 (Tomlinson 5-13, Valentine 4-8), Middleton 77 (Skewes 31, Afzal 6-20); Oldham 137-8 (Rodzoch 3-16), Clifton 234-5 (Nisar 112 n.o.m Rodzoch 46, Jewitt 4-39); Radcliffe 196 (Tariq 70, Milnrow 158 (Lane 67, Brierley 50, Saeed 5-36); Rochdale 116 (J Taylor 4-14), Werneth 94-3 (Walker 58 n.o.).

Sunday: Clifton 144-9 (Nisar 47, Kremmer 4-40), Ashton 125 (Eccleshare 4-21, Hough 3-25); Middleton 107-2 (Davies 50 n.o.), Heywood 106 (Shankar 42, Skewes 4-37, Valentine 3-25); Werneth 171-4 (Joubert 71 n.o., Walker 33), Oldham 168-5 (Maree 78); Milnrow 138 (Z Khan 4-20), Crompton 135 (Khan 56, Doyle 5-55, Lane 4-33); Norden 207 (H Fitton 64, Khiljee 47, S Butterworth 4-34), Rochdale 181 (M Butterworth 32, Makin 7-64); Royton 178 (Procter 73, Hettiarachchi 5-49), Monton and Weaste 179-1 (Green 73 n.o., Din 60); Unsworth 111-1 (Wiggans 50 n.o., Madsen 33 n.o.), Radcliffe 110 (Madsen 4-59, Manawar 4-34); Walsden 145-8 (Sbizzirri 62 n.o., Tomlinson 5-25), Littleborough 188 (Smit 82).