Oldham put an end to poor run

NORDEN batsman Nick Brierley waits anxiously for the verdict as Crompton bowler Mohammed Zaman Khan and wicketkeeper Dane Fletcher appeal. Brierley was given out, leg before.

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OLDHAM ended a miserable sequence of results in the Lake Garage CLL with a fine nine-runs victory over high-flying Walsden at the Pollards on Saturday.
Chris McDonnell hit the top score of 33 as Oldham scored 164 for nine from their 50 overs.

Several other batsmen chipped in with useful runs, notably Adnan Shafiq (24), Neil Inkpen (21 not out), Craig Joy (19) and Nick Maree (17).

And despite a knock of 66 from dangerous opener James Rawlinson, Walsden were dismissed for 155 after they appeared to be coasting on 95 for one.

Abid Fasil-Masih produced figures of four for 37, while professional Mel Whittle took three for 68 from 24.5 overs and Inkpen grabbed three for 17.


ROYTON also returned to winning ways with a three-wickets win at bottom club Radcliffe.

Home professional Usman Tariq hit 42 and Martin Coates and Chris Berry 34 apiece as Radcliffe were dimissed for 153.

Royton paid man Luke Procter was the star man with the ball, grabbing six for 47.

Royton made heavy weather of making the runs they needed for the loss of seven wickets.

And they were indebted to the efforts of Tony Walsh, who held the innings together with an unbeaten 59.


CROMPTON went into their game against second-placed Norden on the back of four successive victories.

But they were no match for the Woodhouse Lane club, who won by 99 runs.

Professional Jean Symes hit 59 and Steven Firth 35 as Norden scored 185 for seven, Crompton pro Mohammed Zaman Khan taking five for 48 from 22 overs which included eight maidens.

And the hosts were skittled for a dismal 86, Symes taking four for 22 and Oliver Makin three for 14.


WERNETH’S disappointing form continued at Littleborough, who registered a 38-runs victory thanks to the efforts of Chris Schofield, standing in for Daryn Smit, who has had to return to South Africa to play for his country’s emerging team against Australia.

Schofield, capped by England while on Lancashire’s books, scored 68 of Boro’s 177 all out.

He was given good support by Phil Deakin (31), while Matt Taylor (three for 19), professional Humayun Farhat (three for 25) and Alan Durose (three for 47) were the pick of the Werneth bowlers.

Werneth looked to be heading for victory following Taylor’s fine knock of 45, but a late collapse in the face of Schofield’s leg spin saw them dismissed for 139.

Schofield ended with figures of six for 32, while the evergreen Brendan Miskella collected three for 49.




ELSEWHERE, there was a shock defeat for Heywood at home to Unsworth.

Visiting professional Wayne Madsen hit 94 and Paul Entwistle 32 as Unsworth scored a competitive 191 for nine.

And, after losing early wickets, Heywood were bowled out for 187 despite Will Purser’s 49 and a late flurry from Mark Kenny (34 not out).

Heywood’s defeat enabled Norden go top by a single point.

Saturday scores: Ashton 67 (Valentine 6-39), Middleton 69-7 (Yousaf 3-9); Crompton 86 (Symes 4-22, Makin 3-14), Norden 185-7 (Symes 59, Firth 35, Z Khan 5-48); Heywood 187 (Purser 49, Kenny 34 n.o., Love 6-71), Unsworth 191-9 (Madsen 94, Entwistle 32, Purser 3-45); Litleborough 177 (Schofield 68, Deakin 31, M Taylor 3-19, Farhat 3-25, Durose 3-47), Werneth 139 (M Taylor 45, Farhat 39, Schofield 6-32, Miskella 3-49); Monton and Weaste 215-6 (Hamilton 100 n.o., Green 67, Choudry 4-28), Clifton 98 (Gorsi 4-22); Oldham 164-9 (McDonnell 33), Walsden 155 (Fasil-Masih 4-37); Radcliffe 153 (Tariq 42, Coates 34, Berry 34, Procter 6-47), Royton 155-7 (Walsh 59 n.o., Tariq 4-53); Rochdale 166-9 (Smith 60), Milnrow 118 (Khan 56, G Butterworth 5-28, Weeraratne 5-37).

Sunday: All games rained off.