Young Afridi fails to shine

WERNETH turned to the younger brother of a world cricket star for last Saturday’s home match against Clifton.

Stand-in professional Ashfaq Afridi bore more than a passing resemblance to his brother, Shahid, the swashbuckling batsman and mesmerising spin bowler who starred in Pakistan’s Twenty20 World Cup success in June.

Alas, 21-year-old Ashfaq was out of sorts for Werneth, making only 16 and proving wicketless and expensive with the ball.

Werneth have secured Bacup professional Ryan Broad (Australia) for Saturday’s home game against Norden, while Sunday’s deputy will be Heyside paid man Roelof Hugo (South Africa).


TOM Lungley, whose knock of 123 from 140 balls and four wickets for 79 saw off the challenge of Royton last Saturday, has signed a four-week loan deal with Lancashire.

The 30-year-old Derbyshire player has been acquired primarily as a bowler following injuries to regular Lancashire first-team stars Glen Chapple, Saj Mahmood, Tom Smith and Steven Cheetham.

Lungley is currently playing for Lancashire in a four-day game against Durham at Old Trafford and took two for 36 as the visitors were bowled out for 270.

Lungley stood in for Unsworth professional Wayne Madsen in Saturday’s game at the Paddock.

Ironically, Madsen has been recruited by Lungley’s county, Derbyshire, for whom he made an unbeaten 170 on his debut.


CLIFTON lifted the Burton Cup for CLL second X1 teams when they defeated Unsworth by 68 runs in Sunday’s final.

Taking first guard, Clifton racked up a massive 271 for seven thanks to 73 from Ian Morris, 43 by his 14-year-old son, David, and 35 from Geoffrey Griffiths.

Unsworth’s Jack O’Brien took three for 67.

In reply, Unsworth were restricted to 203 for eight despite the efforts of Zeshan Anwar (46), Usman Mahmood (36 not out), Michael Beaumont (35) and Asif Saeed (32).

Steven Thorpe collected four for 36, while Oliver Dunn took three for 36 and David Morris received the man-of-the-match award.


THE CLL under-18s will play the Bolton League in the final of the J W Lees Inter-League Colts Competition.

The date and venue has yet to be fixed, but the game is likely to be played on a CLL ground early next month.

Boasting a side with many players of 1st X1 standard, the CLL clearly possesses a golden crop of youngsters who will be keen to win the prestigious trophy.