Skuse aiming to add to Greenfield misery

PETER SKUSE: The Saddleworth professional is on course to be the first player to score 500 runs this season.

THERE are derby duels all the way in the Armstrong Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

It is that time of year when the traditional Whit double-headers take centre stage.

The action got under way at Greenfield this afternoon when Peter Skuse’s Saddleworth, who are third in the table, came looking to pile more misery on to Jonathan Ainley’s side.

The reverse fixture, at Well-i-Hole, takes place tomorrow.

After a couple of barren years with the bat, Skuse has hit form with a vengeance.

The Australian professional has smashed two centuries on his way to scoring 428 runs in six matches this season — already bettering his total of 412 runs in 16 games in 2007.

Putting their Tanner Cup win over Austerlands to one side, Greenfield are enduring a miserable run in the league.

It all started so promisingly for the Ladhill Lane lads as they won their first two matches, but they have lost their next four and were bowled out for a meagre 69 last Saturday after being 52 for no wicket!

With Bamford Fieldhouse enjoying two days off from league action — both their open dates fall this weekend — a new name is likely to appear at the top of the table by the time the credits roll for ‘Countryfile’ on Sunday evening.

Nearest challengers Austerlands are poised to take over the lead role.

They face Moorside, who have lost their last three league and cup fixtures.

South African pro Roelof Hugo was back in the old routine for Heyside last Saturday, scoring an unbeaten ton — his first of the season — in the win at Moorside.

Ben Holt offered excellent support with 89 not out, and captain Mark Barnes will be hoping those two can carry on the good work against an improving Shaw side.

Uppermill’s Zeeshan Khan and fellow countryman Zafar Iqbal, of Friarmere, will go head to head at Leafields and West View over the next couple of days.

Last year’s two leading amateur batsmen notched more than 1,000 runs apiece.

After a solid start, Khan is on track to reach four figures again, but a delay in obtaining a visa means Iqbal is playing catch-up and has only played two games so far this season.

Hollinwood are going along nicely in fourth place, but they should be wary of a Glodwick team who will be hurting after they failed to overhaul Friarmere’s modest total of 141 last weekend.

Meanwhile, Droylsden will be praying the rain stays away when they play host to Stayley tomorrow.

The Oakfield outfit haven’t had any luck at all with the weather and have yet to play a first-team fixture at home in 2009.

Fixtures are (start 1.45pm) —

Today: Greenfield v Saddleworth.

Tomorrow: Austerlands v Moorside; Droylsden v Stayley; Heyside v Shaw; Hollinwood v Glodwick; Uppermill v Friarmere; Saddleworth v Greenfield.

Sunday: Friarmere v Uppermill; Glodwick v Hollinwood; Moorside v Austerlands; Shaw v Heyside; Stayley v Droylsden.