Matt welcomes open challenge

Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth League

MATT TAYLOR is leading from the front at Uppermill in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The Leafields skipper has partnered star overseas amateur Zeeshan Khan at the top of the order recently — and his promotion has paid dividends.

Taylor scored his first-ever century in the Tanner Cup success over Stayley last Sunday, which completed a third win in four games for Uppermill. The only defeat during that spell came against Westhoughton in the LCB Cup.

Uppermill are up to seventh and, with Greenfield and Moorside on the horizon this weekend, Taylor is hoping his side can continue their climb.

“Maybe we’re slow starters, but we had a good run at about this stage last season,” said Taylor.

“We’ve got the best overseas amateur in the league in Zeeshan Khan, the best spinner in James Baron, have batsman in form and fielders who are fit and agile.

“We’re also good mates as well, which can make a difference.”

Two of the batsmen at the top of their game are Mark Berry, the former first-team captain, and Dave Wood. They hit 70 and 76 respectively against Stayley.

Taylor added: “Mark was scoring runs for fun in the seconds, so he was worthy of a recall to the firsts.

“He has a lot of experience and is comfortable at the crease. He can also play his shots.

“Dave’s 50 against Stayley came off 20-odd balls. I thought he might beat me to a century at one stage, but he can also play the anchor role as well.”

Explaining his decision to open, Taylor – whose previous best score was 65 in the CLL – said: “I’d done it before at Oldham and I feel comfortable in the role.

“I don’t have a set way of playing. I’ll see what Zeeshan Khan is doing at the other end.

“If he’s going bonkers, then I’m happy to give him the strike.

“But if he gets out early, which he did against Stayley, then I’m happy to take the lead.”

Bamford Fieldhouse, the leaders, go to basement boys Droylsden tomorrow and entertain Greenfield 24 hours later.

Andy Barton’s boys beat Greenfield in the quarter-finals of the Tanner Cup last Sunday, but Bamford will be without a host of first-team players as they also play an ECB Knockout Cup regional final at Bootle on the same day.

But whether Greenfield are good enough to take advantage of a depleted Bamford is another matter.

Austerlands and Saddleworth, who are second and third, meet at Thorpe Lane on Sunday.

But the positions may be reversed by the time they take to the field as Austerlands have an open date tomorrow while Saddleworth welcome Heyside to Well-i-Hole.

Glodwick are going great guns in fourth, but they will need to be on their ‘A’ game to beat Moorside tomorrow while Sunday’s opponents Shaw are on a recovery mission after being skittled out for just 77 in their previous game.

Tanner Cup semi-finalists Hollinwood and Friarmere meet at Lime Lane tomorrow while the latter are at home to Droylsden on Sunday.

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

Sunday: Austerlands v Saddleworth; Bamford Fieldhouse v Greenfield; Friarmere v Droylsden; Heyside v Stayley; Shaw v Glodwick; Uppermill v Moorside.