Slater leads way as Werneth eye last eight

WERNETH are on course for the quarter-finals of the CLL’s John Willies Lees Twenty20 competition following a convincing 32-run victory over Royton at the Coppice.
John Slater made an excellent 79 as Werneth rattled up 166 for four after taking first guard.

And they restricted their neighbours to 134 for eight, despite a bright and breezy 55 from Paul Walsh.

OLDHAM improved their chances of qualification with a four-wicket win at Ashton.

Neil Inkpen took four for 11 as Ashton were restricted to 98 for nine and, guided by Adnan Shafiq’s unbeaten 42, the Pollards men reached their target with five balls and four wickets to spare.

CROMPTON were soundly beaten by Littleborough at Glebe Street.

Limited to 97 for nine, Crompton could not prevent Littleborough from reaching 99 for two, professional Daryn Smit hitting an unbeaten 57.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Unsworth, Middleton, Norden, Walsden and Clifton.

Results —

South-West section: Unsworth 161-5 (Long 67, Madsen 60), Monton and Weaste 160-3 (Bandara 50 n.o.); Clifton 165-7 (Lord 44), Radcliffe 137-8. South-East: Ashton 98-9 (Inkpen 4-11), Oldham 100-6 (Shafiq 42 n.o.); Werneth 166-4 (Slater 79), Royton 134-8 (Walsh 55). North-West: Middleton 114-7 (Jones 49), Heywood 110-9 (Grogan 53 n.o., Highton 4-11), Norden 199 (Brierley 70, Malik 60), Rochdale 145-9. North-East: Crompton 97-9, Littleborough 99-2 (Smit 57 n.o.); Milnrow 130-8, Walsden 131-4 (Harlow 47, Rawlinson 40).