Rapid Rasheed is a Friend in deed

THE launch of the Ashton and Oldham Cricket Alliance’s Twenty20 competition saw Friends enjoy an excellent afternoon at St Mary’s HC where Rasheed’s superb 111 helped them to 226 for four (Amjad Ali 50, Biny Amin 30).

St Mary’s, despite a partnership of 53 between A Cadman (32) and M Woods (23), were dismissed for 86 as Nadeem took five for six - including a hat-trick - and Mahmood three for 14.

At Newtonhurst, visitors Greengate batted first and made 127 for eight. Shenton scored a useful 39, while Buckley took three for 23.

In reply, the home side were restricted to 95 for seven after excellent bowling from Ball (two for eight) and Simpson (two for 13).

Heyside thirds made 118 for eight at home to Radclyffe, D Hall scoring 31 and M Chambers taking four for 15.

S Ackroyd hit 50 from 22 balls as Radclyffe scored 119 for three to win comfortably.

Foresters had a maximum points win over Europa Exiles in the league.

Batting first, Europa were 109 all out, Towle top scoring with 40 and P Hodgson making 25. D Wallbank was the best of the Foresters bowlers with three for 30.

In a tight finish, Foresters reached 112 for nine thanks to M Kazi (25) and I Bailey (21). N Jarvey took four for 33 for Europa.

Greengate will play Europa Exiles and Radclyffe will take on Friends in this weekend’s Shield semi-finals.


Mocking Bird

UPPERMILL'S Chris Bird delivered the perfect present in division four of the Site Electrical North Manchester League.

The club chairman smashed a superb 170 for the third team on the day he turned 55.

He helped the Leafields outfit to a huge 314 for six against Ashton Ladysmith 2nd, who were restricted to 225 for eight in reply.

Saturday

Division 1: Ashton Ladysmith 65, Westleigh Meths 96; Blackley 83, Tott St Johns 84-4; Failsworth Macedonia 180-6, Roch Cath Club 181-2; Robinson 130-9, Fothergill & Harvey 134-8; Springhead 181, Littleborough Lakeside 183-6. Division 2: East Lancs PM II 101, Greenmount III 209-9; Fothgergill & Harvey II 157, Clifton III 157-6; Roytonians 86, Saddleworth III 119. Division 3: Westleigh Meths II 29, Swinton Moorside III 31-3. Division 4: Tott St Johns II 30-1, Blackley II 29; Uppermill III 314-6, Ashton Ladysmith II 225-8.

Sunday

Division 2: Farnworth SC III 133, Rochdale III 193-4; Greenmount III 93, Saddleworth III 93-0. Division 3: Swinton Moorside III 106, Roch Cath Club II 107. Division 4: Blackley II 166-8, Edgworth III 160; Bury III 79-2, Ashton Ladysmith II 76; Littleborough Lakeside II 53-2, Springhead II 52.


LITTLEBOROUGH are the clear leaders of the Lake Garage CLL after two comfortable victories last weekend.

Professional Daryn Smit hit 55 in Boro’s 178 for seven as the Hare Hill men beat Middleton in a top-of-the-table clash at Towncroft on Saturday.

And Milnrow were swept aside the following day, Boro scoring 197 for seven before skittling their neighbours for 72.