Whittle back in the old routine

INSTANT IMPACT: Mel Whittle.

MEL WHITTLE made a triumphant return to the OLDHAM ranks as the Pollards club recorded a much-needed seven-wicket victory at Ashton in the Lake Garage CLL on Saturday.

Whittle, back at Oldham as professional following a stint with Micklehurst in the Drakes Huddersfield League, took five for 53 in Ashton’s mediocre 154 all out.

And Oldham’s overseas amateur Nick Maree continued his fine form with the bat, scoring 67 as the target was reached for the loss of only three wickets.

Abid Fasil (55 not out) was also instrumental in Oldham’s victory, one which lifted them off the bottom of the table, above Ashton and Radcliffe.

WERNETH missed a golden opportunity to go to the top of the table when they lost by five wickets at Clifton.

With Littleborough (against Heywood) and Norden (at Milnrow) both losing, Werneth would have regained the top spot with a maximum-points victory.

But they were out of sorts at Clifton, making just 162 for nine after taking first guard.

Alan Durose top scored with 40, while Pierre Joubert — playing his final game as professional for Werneth — hit 33. Anthony Hough took four for 46, while professional Adil Nisar chipped in with four for 56.

Clifton made the runs they need for the loss of five wickets, Chris Lord hitting 65 and Alex Rodzoch 54.

ROYTON must have been delighted to note the absence of professional Wayne Madsen — back in South Africa for a short break — when they arrived at Unsworth.

And they made the most of the ace batsman’s absence to record a fine four-wicket victory.

Unsworth made 182 for eight after batting first, Paul Entwistle hitting 61 and deputy professional Phil Hayes 46. Royton’s paid man Luke Procter took five for 57.

And Procter was also in fine form with the bat, scoring 40 as Royton reached 185 for six to clinch victory. Overseas amateur Ryan Carters made 55, his highest score in the CLL so far.

CROMPTON suffered a disappointing six-wicket defeat at home to Rochdale.

Simon Wright was the mainstay of their innings with 73 as the Glebe Street men were bowled out for 154, Rochdale deputy professional Taufiq Umar taking four for 39.

And Umar was the star with the bat, too, hitting an unbeaten 71 in Rochdale’s 155 for four.

Ex-Werneth professional Brendan Nash, a member of the West Indies Test team, was deputy professional for another of his former clubs, Monton and Weaste, on Saturday.

And he responded by hitting 116 in his side’s 278 for two. Prolific amateur batsman Paul Green also scored 113. Opponents Radcliffe were bowled out for 166 as Monton secured maximum points.

Scores: Milnrow 199 (Power 50, Dryden 30, Symes 3-68), Norden 104 (Lane 6-47); Radcliffe 166 (Tariq 50, Ghous 37, Hamilton 3-26), Monton and Weaste 278-2 (Nash 116, Green 113); Unsworth 182-8 (Entwistle 61, Hayes 46, Procter 5-57), Royton 185-6 (Carters 55, Procter 40); Walsden 192-4 (Rawlinson 99 n.o.), Middleton 189-9 (Skewes 68); Ashton 154 (Whittle 5-53), Oldham 158-3 (Maree 67, Fasil 55 n.o.); Clifton 165-5 (Lord 65, Rodzoch 54), Werneth 162-9 (Durose 40, Joubert 33, Hough 4-46, Nisar 4-56); Crompton 154 (Si Wright 73, Umar 4-39), Rochdale 155-4 (Umar 71 n.o.); Littleborough 152 (Smit 51, Thewlis 42, Purser 3-41, Kaye 3-31), Heywood 204-8 (Taylor 44, Hardman 33, Cross 30, Smit 5-77).