Junaid sparks victory dash

Droylsden’s David Lee and wicketkeeper Neil Pearson celebrate the dismissal of Saddleworth’s Adam Lavin.

TEENAGE professional Junaid Khan fired Austerlands to a rapid 10-wicket win at Greenfield in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The left-arm medium quick bowler arrived late because of a side strain — this was only his third match of the season — but the Thorpe Lane outfit’s wait has been worthwhile.

Khan, who at 19 is the youngest paid man in the league, struggled early on against Greenfield but once he had broken the first wicket stand — Chris Gill and Alex Peters put on 52 — there was no stopping the young Pakistani.

He finished with figures of six for 33 as the home side was reduced to 69 all out after a stunning collapse.

The two teams had met six days earlier in the Tanner Cup when Greenfield came out on top.

But openers Michael Schofield and Abhi Ettimadai made sure of Austerlands’ revenge, quickly putting Greenfield out of their misery, which allowed players and spectators to watch the last few minutes of the FA Cup final.

Austerlands still trail Bamford Fieldhouse by 14 points (see separate story), but they are 13 points clear of third-placed Saddleworth, who recorded a resounding 162-run success against Droylsden at Well-i-Hole.

Saddleworth captain and pro Peter Skuse notched his second century of the season, a superb 143 not out, in the home side’s total of 271 for four. Steven Howard helped himself to 83.

Pro Roelof Hugo and Ben Holt dug Heyside out of a hole at Moorside.

The visitors were 107 for five, but Hugo hit an excellent 114 and Holt struck a fine 89 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 157.

South African pro JP Lee took four of the wickets to fall for 91 runs.

Moorside, requiring 265 to win, were bowled out for 103, with Nick Campbell claiming five for 14.

Stayley slipped to a two-wicket defeat against Hollinwood at Millbrook.

Lou Adair compiled a splendid 106 and Ben Johnson made exactly 50 to lift Ronnie Cameron’s side to 212 for five.

But the duo’s efforts were in vain as Hollinwood, with Asif Iqbal making 45 and aided by other useful contributions, won with two wickets to spare.

Friarmere are up to fifth in the table after a 33-run defeat of Glodwick at Warren Lane.

Gary Kershaw’s men were dismissed for 141, but the hosts crashed to 108 all out in reply.

Scores are —

Division one: Uppermill 99 (S Marshall 5-35, Z Khan 35), Bamford Fieldhouse 100-0 (L Roberts 49 not out, P Roberts 46 not out); Friarmere 141, Glodwick 108; Greenfield 69 (J Khan 6-33), Austerlands 70-0; Heyside 264-5 (R Hugo 114 not out, B Holt 89 not out, JP Lee 4-91), Moorside 103 (N Campbell 5-14);Saddleworth 271-4 (P Skuse 143 not out, S Howard 83), Droylsden 109;Stayley 212-5 (L Adair 106, B Johnson 50), Hollinwood 214-8.

Division two: Greenfield 134 (J Khalil 57), Austerlands 98 (J Higgins 5-27); Droylsden 165, Saddleworth 171-2 (B Pollard 70); Friarmere 170-9, Glodwick 131-8 (C Rawcliffe 5-37); Heyside 316-5 (S Rowbottom 135), Moorside 133 (S Rowbottom 6-24); Hollinwood 194 (S Meredith 50), Stayley 123; Bamford Fieldhouse 188 (A Jones 5-57), Uppermill 162.


REVENGE, as the saying goes, is a dish best served cold.

Bamford Fieldhouse served up a cold and calculating display to avenge last season’s defeat by Uppermill in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The Hollin Lane side lost only two games on their way to claiming the 2008 title, one of which was against Uppermill.

Almost 12 months on, Bamford avoided a repeat result with a 10-wicket victory after they dismissed the visitors for 99.

Simon Marshall claimed five for 35 before overseas amateur Lincoln Roberts (49) and former Uppermill player Peter Roberts (46) steered unbeaten Bamford to their sixth win out of the seven in the league this season.