Bamford tipped for top again

WITH a third of their season complete, Bamford Fieldhouse are on course for a hat-trick of Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District League titles.

While rain wiped out fixtures involving nearest rivals Austerlands (v Heyside) and Saddleworth (v Shaw), Andy Barton’s boys made it seven wins from eight games to stretch their lead to 22 points.

Bamford swept aside Hollinwood by 121 runs at Hollin Lane, thanks to an inspired spell of bowling from Simon Marshall.

The hosts made 174 for nine in a game restricted to 32 overs per side. Professional Stephen Parry and Qasar Riaz, with 56 and 51 respectively, put on 103 for second wicket.

At 45 for two, Hollinwood were going along nicely, until Marshall began to weave his magic.

The spinner, who was released by Lancashire at the end of last season, claimed six for nine from 7.5 overs as John Winterbottom’s side lost their last eight wickets for only eight runs. Darren Shadford and Parry shared the other wickets.

The only other game to defy the wet weather was at Ladhill Lane, where victory for Glodwick lifted them to fourth place in the table.

Play was reduced to 22 overs each because of rain, but Glodwick still gathered maximum bowling points after dismissing Greenfield for 106.

Captain Nigel Stock took season’s best figures of six for 28, while teenager Alex Peters stuck around long enough to score 30.

But it was a close call in the end as Glodwick past the post with one ball to spare. Pakistani professional Imran Aslam helped himself to 48.

Peter Gill almost pulled it out of the fire for Greenfield, taking four of the five wickets to fall for 27 runs.

Scores —

Division one: Austerlands v Heyside — no play, rain; Bamford Fieldhouse 174-9 (S Parry 56, Q Riaz 51), Hollinwood 53 (S Marshall 6-9); Greenfield 106 (A Peters 30, N Stock 6-28), Glodwick 107-5 (I Aslam 48, P Gill 4-27); Moorside v Stayley — no play, rain; Shaw v Saddleworth — no play, rain; Uppermill v Droylsden — no play, rain.

Division two: Droylsden v Uppermill — no play, rain; Glodwick v Greenfield — no play, rain; Heyside v Austerlands — no result telephoned in; Bamford Fieldhouse 149-6 , Hollinwood 143-9 (S Meredith 50); Shaw 135 (B Pollard 5-36), Saddleworth 136-5 (G Pemberton 54); Stayley v Moorside — no play, rain.

A LATE onslaught clinched a four-wicket win for Delph at home to Shepley in premiership one of the Drakes Huddersfield League.

Kamran Mirza blasted 28 off 10 balls — he hit four sixes — Luke Hargreaves smashed 25 from 10 deliveries (four fours and a six) and Aaron Lilley struck 36 off 29 balls (one four and three sixes) in reply to Shepley’s 157 for five.

Mirza had earlier taken four for 27 in a match reduced to 25 overs per side because of rain

Delph’s second team recorded a nine-wicket win over Paddock, who were bowled out for 111.