Rain delays Twenty20 final

GOOD WORK: Glodwick wicketkeeper Adam Brown stumps Heyside’s Scott Bloor in the first semi-final of the Twenty20 Cup.

HEYSIDE and Uppermill will go head to head in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League’s Twenty20 Cup final on Thursday evening at Austerlands CC (start 5.30pm), writes KEVIN RICHARDSON.

The showdown was due to be staged immediately after yesterday’s last-four ties, only for rain, which had started to fall in the second semi-final, to intervene at Thorpe Lane.

In a packed pavilion, captains Mark Barnes of Heyside and Uppermill’s Matt Taylor met league chairman Eddie Bayliss and agreed on a new date, instead of holding a bowl-out to choose the winners of the competition sponsored by 20-20 Vision.

Heyside were the first team to progress into the final at the expense of Glodwick, who were targeting a first trophy since 1995.

Thanks to an unbeaten 34 from Atif Khan and Graeme Broadhead’s 27, Glodwick made 133 for eight. Key man and professional, Imran Aslam, was run out for just three.

Heyside required 28 from 18 balls, but 22 runs came off the 18th over to put them within sight of victory, which they quickly secured for the loss of four wickets.

Nick Campbell was 37 not out and paid man Roelof Hugo compiled 35.

Pakistan’s Zeeshan Khan blasted 62 from only 30 balls as Uppermill comfortably disposed of Austerlands to reach their second final of the season.

The overseas amateur, who opened the innings, struck six fours and five sixes to set the Leafields outfit on their way to an emphatic six-wicket win.

South African Mike Hayward, with 52 from 56 deliveries (three fours and three sixes), was the mainstay of Austerlands’ total of 126 for nine. Andy McVeigh took four for 19 and James Baron claimed two for 13.

But it was never going to be enough to trouble Uppermill, who lost to Bamford Fieldhouse in the Tanner Cup final earlier this month, once Khan started to smash the bowling to all parts of the ground.

Scores —

Semi-finals: Glodwick 133-8 (A Khan 34 not out, G Broadhead 27), Heyside 136-4 (N Campbell 37 not out, R Hugo 35, I Khan 2-23); Austerlands 126-9 (M Hayward 52), Uppermill 130-4 (Z Khan 62).

ZEESHAN KHAN struck his sixth century of the season as Uppermill swept aside Hollinwood in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League on Saturday.

The Pakistani run-machine hit a 113 and Andy McVeigh weighed in with an unbeaten 104 in a nine-wicket win at Leafields.

But Bamford Fieldhouse will have to wait one more week to be confirmed as champions after their game at home to Friarmere was washed out.

Saddleworth are up to second place after a 34-run defeat of Moorside, while Austerlands dropped to third after they succumbed to Shaw.

Scores -

Division one: Shaw 154-8 (J Khan 5-61, W Fynn 41), Austerlands 106 (R Harrington 5-25); Bamford Fieldhouse v Friarmere - no play, rain; Droylsden 146-7 (A Uppal 63, N Stock 5-48), Glodwick 149-3 (M Parkinson 52 not out, I Aslam 53 not out); Stayley 142-7 (A Pearson 5-38), Greenfield 145-4 (L Diggle 48 not out); Saddleworth 163-5 (P Skuse 58, B Willis 40), Moorside 129-8 (S Holmes 5-59); Uppermill 257-1 (A McVeigh 104 not out, Z Khan 113), Hollinwood 124.

Division two: Bamford Fieldhouse 91, Friarmere 94-4; Droylsden 169-5 (G Barnett 89), Glodwick 170-6; Uppermill 103, Hollinwood 104-6 (S Meredith 52); Moorside 111, Shaw 187-9 (G Lindon 59); Stayley 35, Greenfield 36-0.