Austerlands chase

AUSTERLANDS bid to close the gap on runaway leaders Bamford Fieldhouse when they are at home to Shaw in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth League tomorrow.

Talented young Austerlands professional Junaid Khan took a season’s-best eight wickets for 12 runs last weekend in the comfortable win over Greenfield.

However, that still left Austerlands trailing Bamford by a massive 73 points.

Bamford, seeking a league and Tanner Cup double, suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend when going down to Uppermill so will be keen to bounce back to top form against Friarmere.

n ALL clubs will be asked to observe a minute’s silence before tomorrow’s matches as a mark of respect for long-serving umpire Maurice Buckley, who died this week after a long illness.

Tomorrow: Austerlands v Shaw, Bamford v Friarmere, Droylsden v Glodwick, Greenfield v Stayley, Moorside v Saddleworth, Uppermill v Hollinwood. (Open date: Heyside).

Sunday (at Austerlands): Twenty/20: Heyside v Glodwick (10.30am), Austerlands v Uppermill (1.30). Final at 4.30.