Battle joined for second place
Date published: 10 July 2009
WITH Bamford Fieldhouse just a blur in the far-off distance, focus is on the battle for runners-up spot in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League.
Austerlands and Glodwick, in second and third respectively, lock horns at Warren Lane tomorrow.
Kevin Du Feu’s Austerlands go into the game on the back of a draw at Stayley, while Glodwick suffered a last-ball defeat at the hands of Heyside.
The performances of both professionals are likely to prove key in the outcome of this weekend’s encounter.
Imran Aslam is fast-approaching 150 wickets in only his second season at Glodwick, while fellow Pakistani Junaid Khan is probably the quickest bowler in the league
Du Feu said: “If Aslam is not taking wickets, he is scoring runs.
“Glodwick have got some good players, but he’s probably responsible for where they are at the moment.
“Junaid is very pacey, but we’re trying to get him to bowl a bit more of a full length. Players can leave line and length outside the off-stump in this league, but deliveries in the block hole at his pace are a different matter.”
Du Feu was pleased with Khan’s effort with the bat against Stayley — he made 48 — and he is hoping more runs from the paid man can keep Austerlands at the right end of the table.
He said: “We’re second at the moment, which is a healthy position but it also means teams will be trying that bit harder to beat us.
“We’re looking to better last season’s finish of fifth. Second place would be great, but so would fourth because it shows we are heading in the right direction.”
Austerlands are 56 points adrift of Bamford, who visit a Shaw side struggling for runs.
The Holebotttom Clough outfit managed just 83 against Uppermill last week, which was preceded by scores of 107 (rain-affected game), 138 and 77.
Unbeaten in 12 league games — 10 wins and a draw — Bamford should extend that sequence to 13.
In contrast to Shaw, Stayley continue to pile up the runs.
They play host to Saddleworth who slipped to sixth place after an open weekend.
Professional Rehan Rafiq registered a first century of the season in Stayley’s drawn game against Austerlands, while openers Lou Adair and Oram Simms have scored more than 500 runs apiece.
Buoyed by reaching the Tanner Cup final, Uppermill head to Heyside full of confidence.
But their opponents are also on a high after holding their nerve at Glodwick.
Tony Heaton, with six wickets, and Stuart Moore, who hit an important 50 down the order, were the heroes for Mark Barnes’ side.
Gary Kershaw’s Friarmere go to Moorside.
Neither team were able to stop the Bamford juggernaut last weekend, although at least Moorside prevented Andy Barton’s boys from acquiring maximum bowling points.
Hollinwood, also in the mix for second place, visit a Greenfield side who have endured a topsy-turvy campaign so far.
After winning their first two games, they then had to wait more than a month for their next league victory. Another four weeks went by before they added a fourth win against Friarmere.
The form of Chris Gill has been a highlight of Greenfield’s season. The teenage wicketkeeper/opening batsman has notched up 500 runs, with plenty more to follow with 11 games to go.
Fixtures —
Tomorrow: Glodwick v Austerlands; Heyside v Uppermill; Hollinwood v Greenfield; Moorside v Friarmere; Shaw v Bamford Fieldhouse; Stayley v Saddleworth. Open date: Droylsden
Delph on the road
DELPH visit basement boys Meltham tomorrow in premiership one of the Drakes Huddersfield League.
After a morale-boosting 10-wicket romp over Holmfirth — Irfan Zahoor and Bruce Cruse hit unbeaten centuries — they go to Mean Lane in high spirits.
Delph, in fourth, can ill-afford any more slip ups if they are to stand any chance of clinching title glory.
