Crompton search for Sunday best

SIMON WRIGHT . . . key player in Crompton’s cup challenge.

Dawson’s cup hopefuls aiming to end long wait for final place

CROMPTON will aim to end a 29-year drought when they entertain Rochdale in the semi-finals of the John Willie Lees Wood Cup on Sunday.

You have to go back to 1980 to find Crompton’s last appearance in the Lake Garage CLL’s showpiece final and on that occasion the Glebe Street men lifted the trophy after a 60-runs victory over Stockport.

Crompton’s fate this weekend depends on which team turns up for action.

The only consistent thing about them this season has been their inconsistency but, when they get it right, Glen Dawson’s men are a formidable force.

They booked their place with a quarter-final victory over Clifton in which professional Mohammed Zaman Khan hit a match-winning 102 as Crompton won by three wickets.

Crompton’s opponents are an improving outfit who have been bolstered by the recent signing of Sri Lankan professional Kash Weeraratna.

The all-rounder played a starring role in Rochdale’s 10-runs quarter-final defeat of Heywood and will pose a huge threat.

Like Crompton, Rochdale can blow hot and cold as they showed last weekend with a 127-runs victory over Royton which was followed by an horrific 222-runs reverse against Norden.

Opening batsman Dominic Ayres has been in good form of late along with number three Ian Helliwell, Weeraratna and Daz Cryer.

On the bowling front, Weeraratna is likely to lead the attack alongside Scott Butterworth, but it was the spin bowling of 15-year-old Greg Butterworth and Neil Avery (47) which proved decisive in last weekend’s win at Royton.

The pair picked up five wickets apiece and the recent hot spell is likely to produce a Glebe Street wicket which will turn.

As for Crompton, they will be looking to Zaman Khan to repeat his quarter-final heroics, while key all-rounder Simon Wright and overseas amateur Chris Boschoff are others who will be keen to hold their hands up on the big day.

Darren Lee, who was recently promoted from the second team, is likely to open the innings and his aggressive style could give Crompton a flier when they bat.

Carl Taylor, another player from the seconds, is expected to secure a place in the line-up as his bowling will bolster an attack which also comprises Zaman Khan, Wright, Aqib Zulfiqar, Boschoff, Ryan Mayes and Majid Khan.

Mayes is a slight doubt with an Achilles problem, while skipper Glen Dawson will test his calf strain in the league match at home to Radcliffe tomorrow. Should he suffer a reaction, he will miss the cup-tie and Wright will take over the captaincy.

Dawson is hoping the real Crompton turn up on Sunday.

“It’s a very winnable game, but we have to play to our potential,” he said.

Should they do that, a Wood Cup final date beckons on Sunday, August 2.

SUNDAY (1.30pm): Crompton v Rochdale; Monton and Weaste v Unsworth.