Bamford go clear at the top

BAMFORD Fieldhouse have stretched their lead at the top of the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League to 14 points.

Targeting their fourth title in the space of five years, they recorded a 68-run win at Stayley.

Former Lancashire player Paddy McKeown struck 126 and overseas amateur Lincoln Roberts 77 as Bamford amassed 312 for six — the highest score of the season so far.

Stayley made sure they picked up maximum batting points in reply — professional Rehan Rafiq made 72 — but it wasn’t enough. Qasar Riaz took five of the nine wickets to fall for 56 runs.

Saddleworth are Bamford’s nearest challengers after they defeated Friarmere by 28 runs at Well-i-Hole.

Season’s best scores of 72 and 67 from Adam Lavin and Ben Willis respectively helped the hosts to 225 for seven.

Peter Skuse, the Saddleworth captain, then proved devilish difficult to play as he collected of six for 66 to restrict Friarmere to 197 for nine.

Austerlands have slipped to third place after their two-wicket defeat at Hollinwood — see other story — while Shaw made it two wins out of two at Greenfield.

Teenage wicketkeeper-batsman Chris Gill finished on exactly 100 not out to steer the home side to 174 for seven.

But whatever Gill could do, Nick Van den Bergh could do better as the overseas amateur from South Africa smashed his maiden league ton, an unbeaten 105, in Shaw’s four-wicket victory.

Imran Aslam also hit his first ton for Glodwick in the league — his previous best of 92 not out was made last season — as the Warren Lane outfit overcame Uppermill by two wickets.

The Pakistani all-rounder made a fine 105 not out in response to the visitors’ 180 for six. Fellow countryman Zeeshan Khan top-scored with 91.

For the second week running, a wet outfield meant no play was possible at Droylsden, who were at home to Heyside.

Division one: Droylsden v Heyside — no play, unfit ground; Uppermill 181 (Z Khan 91), Glodwick 185-8 (I Aslam 105 not out); Greenfield 174-7 (C Gill 100 not out), Shaw 180-6 (N Van den Bergh 105 not out); Austerlands 109 (A Ettimadai 43, M Shazad 7-58), Hollinwood 111-8; Saddleworth 225-7 (A Lavin 72, B Willis 67), Friarmere 197-9 (P Skuse 6-66); Bamford Fieldhouse 312-6 (P McKeown 126, Lincoln Roberts 77), Stayley 244-9 (R Rafiq 72, Q Riaz 5–56).

Division two: Hollinwood 220-5 (M Kamran 70, M Sejad 53 not out), Austerlands 150; Bamford Fieldhouse 127, Stayley 100-9; Saddleworth 142-8 (S Chamberlain 47), Friarmere 98-9; Droylsden 122 (S Rowbottom 4-28), Heyside 124-1 (S Rowbottom 94 not out); Shaw 162-9 (J Higgins 5–54), Greenfield 143; Glodwick 188, Uppermill 190–9.