Andy picks right time to hit form

THAT’S OUT: Uppermill’s Zia Ur-Rehman bowls Suleman Ishaq.

TIMING is everything in cricket — just ask Uppermill’s Andy McVeigh.

He had scored a miserly 54 runs in 11 previous innings before yesterday’s Tanner Cup semi-final clash at home to Hollinwood.

But cometh the hour, cometh the man as McVeigh, promoted to open the batting alongside Alex Griffiths, came good to steer his side to an emphatic six-wicket win.

He finished unbeaten on 79 from 122 balls to seal a date with Bamford Fieldhouse on Sunday, August 16.

Hollinwood’s total of 197 for nine owed much to a belated onslaught, which yielded 72 runs from the last 10 overs.

Several players got starts — Zia Ur Rehman made 33 while Shahid Rizwan and Suleman Ishaq compiled 30 apiece — but none were able to make a sizeable contribution.

Stand-in captain Shahzad Sadaqat upped the tempo late on with a quickfire 27 to lift Hollinwood to a competitive total.

Opposite number Matt Taylor sent in McVeigh and Griffiths to take first guard as neither were available in midweek if the weather turned nasty.

They responded by sharing a first-wicket partnership of 52 — Griffiths had scored 46 in an identical role 24 hours earlier — to put Uppermill on a solid footing.

Rizwan gave Hollinwood hope with the wicket of Griffiths for 23 and, when the same bowler dismissed Mark Berry moments later, the visitors sensed a place in the final was at their mercy.

However, they now faced their toughest challenge — Zeeshan Khan. The overseas amateur from Pakistan averaged more than 85 in 2008 and to remove Uppermill’s main man before he inflicted too much damage would surely tilt the tie in their favour.

Hollinwood thought they had him, but a huge appeal for caught behind was turned down. Khan recovered his composure and proceeded to pick off the bowlers.

McVeigh was as calm as you like. Benefiting from a decent stay at the crease, he gradually grew in confidence to inch Uppermill closer to the finishing line.

His partner had smashed four sixes and seven fours in reaching 75 from only 62 balls when he was superbly caught by Asif Iqbal.

The pair had put on 123 for the third wicket, but more importantly Uppermill were in sight of their first final appearance since 2000 - when, coincidentally, they also beat Hollinwood in the last four.

McVeigh, with one six and 10 fours to his name, was standing at the non-striker’s end when James Baron lifted Rashid Khan back over his head for the winning runs.

Bamford remain on course for a league and cup double after they swept aside Friarmere at Hollin Lane.

It was routine stuff for Andy Barton’s outfit as they lost just one wicket in their victory parade.

Friarmere were going along nicely on 68 for two, but the departure of dangerman Zafar Iqbal for 30 — the overseas amateur from Pakistan played across the line and was bowled by Mel Austin — was a decisive moment in the match.

Andy Walker, who added 46 with the Pakistani all-rounder, was trapped leg before to Simon Marshall eight runs later — one of four wickets for the ex-Lancashire man.

Apart from an unbeaten 33 from professional Asif Qayyum, Friarmere’s resistance melted away, so too their hopes of posting a competitive score. Marshall was on a hat-trick at one stage after he bowled Mohammed Azam and Gary Kershaw.

Bamford needed only 129 to reach their second straight cup final and West Indian Lincoln Roberts, with 58 not out, saw them home.

Scores —

Tanner Cup, semi-finals: Friarmere 128 (S Marshall 4-15), Bamford Fieldhouse 131-1 (L Roberts 58 not out); Hollinwood 197-9, Uppermill 199-4 (A McVeigh 79 not out, Z Khan 75).

Moore Cup, semi-finals: Friarmere 140, Greenfield 141-3, Shaw 199, Moorside 100.