Ton-up Cross paves the way
Reporter: KEITH McHUGH
Date published: 29 June 2009
CLL Saturday
NEW Werneth professional Humayun Farhat made an instant impact, but was unable to prevent the Coppice outfit from suffering a 25-runs defeat at the hands of reigning Lake Garage CLL champions Heywood on Saturday.
Farhat arrived at Werneth with the reputation as a batsman/wicketkeeper.
But it was his bowling which caught the eye, his 18 overs of medium pace claiming six Heywood wickets for 82.
The one that got away, however, was visiting captain Bobby Cross, who guided his side through choppy waters with a superb 113 at the top of the order as Heywood made a highly-competitive 217 for nine from their 50 overs.
Cross’s only real back-up came from professional Brendan Taylor (32) and Lee Grogan (20). Alan Durose’s 21 overs of spin netted him two for 83.
Against a Heywood side lacking injured opening bowler Tom Hardman, that was a total Werneth should have fancied chasing down.
After the early loss of Matt Taylor for four, John Slater (36) and Alan Durose (48) looked to be steering Werneth into a winning position.
But a clatter of wickets scuppered their chances and despite some spirited batting from Joe Taylor (24) and Michael Wilson (17), a home side lacking in confidence after some poor recent results were bowled out for 192.
Pick of the Heywood bowlers was Will Purser with four for 68.
It was a bleak day for our area’s other three teams, too.
CROMPTON lost by eight wickets at Middleton after being bowled out for 141.
Ironically, their chief destroyer was their former spinner, Dale Highton, who took four for 32.
And Steve Davey hit an unbeaten 83 as Middleton cruised to their target for the loss of only two wickets.
ROYTON went down by 127 runs to in-form Rochdale at the Paddock.
The visitors took first guard and made 259 for seven thanks to 77 from Dominic Ayres, 46 from Ian Halliwell and 45 from professional Kash Weeraratne.
Royton were always on the back foot in reply, being dismissed for 132 as Greg Butterworth (five for 30) and the evergreen Neil Avery (five for 55) ran amok.
OLDHAM’s woes continued at Milnrow, who batted first and made 267 for five thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 137 by stand-in professional, West Indian Test batsman Brendan Parchment.
Greg Jennings chipped in with an unbeaten 40, while Mel Whittle toiled in the heat for his three for 123.
Oldham were bowled out for 124, Steven Lane taking three for 24.
Saturday scores:
Clifton 181-4 (Nisar 69, Alex Rodzoch 31), Littleborough 195-9 (Smit 45, Hough 4-51, Nisar 3-33) rsp, match drawn; Middleton 145-2 (Davey 83 n.o.), Crompton 141 (Highton 4-32); Milnrow 267-5 (Parchment 137 n.o., Jennings 40 n.o., Whittle 3-123), Oldham 124 (Lane 3-24); Norden 159 (Tattersall 32, Scott 4-35, Bandara 4-36), Monton and Weaste 160-3 (Green 54, Costa 33); Royton 132 (G Butterworth 5-30, Avery 5-55), Rochdale 259-7 (Ayres 77, Halliwell 46, Weeraratne 45); Unsworth 131-2 (Madsen 75 n.o., Long 37), Ashton 130 (Hodge 31, O’Brien 6-11); Walsden 252-7 (Rawlinson 106), Radcliffe 205 (Tariq 44, Gilford 5-31); Heywood 217-9 (Cross 113, Farhat 6-82), Werneth 192 (Durose 48, Slater 36, Purser 4-68).
