Double joy for Crompton

CROMPTON completed a successful weekend with victory in their local derby against Royton as rain proved to be the deciding factor in all but one of yesterday’s Lake Garage CLL matches.

Simon Wright hit 85 and Chris Boschoff 31 as Crompton made 227 for eight after taking first guard at Glebe Street.

Royton were 71 for five in reply when the rain came down and a revised target of 150 left them way short.

Oldham and Werneth were cursing their luck after dominating matches against Unsworth and Radcliffe respectively.

Nick Maree hit 99 and Paul Thompson 59 as Oldham scored 230 for eight, Liam Richards taking seven for 52, and although they reduced Unsworth to 72 for three (Wayne Madsen 41 not out), the visitors to the Pollards had received six overs short of the 20 needed to produce a positive result so the points were shared.

Werneth suffered a similar fate after dominating their match at bottom club Radcliffe.

Deputy pro Sajith Fernando hit 66 in their 232 for eight and, when the showers started, Radcliffe had faced nowhere near enough overs despite being reduced to 30 for four.

The big game of the day was won by second-placed Monton and Weaste, who beat leaders Norden in yet another rain-affected encounter.

Run machine Paul Green hit 54 and Ashraf Gorsi 55 as Monton made 192 for six.

And Norden, on 122 for five, were 21 runs short of their revised target of 143 when rain washed out any chance of further play.

Sunday scores: Ashton 137 (Doyle 4-40, Tremlett 3-5), Milnrow 127-3 (Brierley 54 n.o., Power 31), rsp, Ashton 0pts, Milnrow 5 pts; Crompton 227-8 (Si Wright 85, Boschoff 31), Royton 71-5, rsp, Crompton 4 pts, Royton 0pts; Heywood 230-6 (Pawson 98), Walsden 67-2, rsp, Heywood 4 pts, Walsden 0pts; Littleborough 195-8 (Smit 51, Hulme 40, Core 3-31), Middleton 116-1 (Stanworth 54 n.o.) rsp, Littleborough 4 pts, Middleton 1 pt; Monton and Weaste 192-6 (Gorsi 55, Green 54), Norden 122-5 (Symes 46) rsp, Monton 4pts, Norden 1 pt; Oldham 230-8 (Maree 99, Thompson 59, Richards 7-52), Unsworth 72-3 (Madsen 41 n.o.), rsp, two pts each; Radcliffe 30-4, Werneth 232-8 (Fernando 66); Rochdale 298-5 (Weeraratne 88), Clifton 85.

n PROFESSIONAL Mohammed Zaman Khan hit a superb 154 as Crompton won by 131 runs at Clifton on Saturday.

Khan’s century came in Crompton’s formidable total of 290 for seven, Clifton being bowled out for 159 in reply.

Royton suffered at the hands of Ashton’s 19-year-old Imran Yousaf, whose efforts with bat and ball at the Paddock proved decisive.

Yousaf (62) shared an opening stand of 138 with West Indian professional Montcin Hodge (80) as Ashton made 175 for seven.

Yousaf then took six for 63 with his off spin as Royton were dismissed for 166. Home pro Luke Procter hit 42 and Tony Walsh 41.

Werneth suffered a 49-runs defeat at home to Littleborough, whose South African professional Daryn Smit was in top form.

Smit made 110 and Mark Forden 57 as Boro accumulated 229 for five.

Werneth were always behind the required run rate despite Matthew Taylor’s 45 and were restricted to 181 for eight. Phil Deakin took four for 47 and Smit four for 59.

Oldham were always going to be second favourites at leaders Norden, but few could have predicted their 215-run margin of defeat.

Norden pro Jean Symes cracked 126, Dexter Fitton an unbeaten 53, Steve Firth 41, and Greg Tattersall 38 not out as Norden raced to 306 for five before declaring. Oldham paid man Mel Whittle bowled throughout for his four for 121.

Oldham had no chance of getting anywhere near that total and collapsed to 91 all out, spinner Oliver Makin collecting five for 20.

Saturday scores: Clifton 159, Crompton 290-7 (Z Khan 154); Middleton 194-2 (Davey 60 n.o., Stanworth 50), Radcliffe 193-9 (Farnworth 63, Core 6-60); Milnrow 110 (Purser 4-26), Heywood 255-7 (Blight 60, Cross 50, Pawson 43, Doyle 5-71); Norden 306-5 dec (Symes 126, D Fitton 53 n.o., Firth 41, Tattersall 38 n.o., Whittle 4-121), Oldham 91 (Makin 5-20); Royton 166 (Procter 42, Walsh 41, Yousaf 6-63), Ashton 175-7 (Hodge 80, Yousaf 62, Procter 3-53); Unsworth 287-2 (Madsen 166 n.o., Gregoriou 54), Rochdale 200 (Dawson 44, Love 3-54); Walsden 189-7 (Gilford 49, Gorsi 4-32), Monton and Weaste 190-2 (Green 64, Hamilton 52); Werneth 181-8 (M Taylor 45, Deakin 4-47, Smit 4-59), Littleborough 229-5 (Smit 110, Forden 57, Durose 3-108).