Ton-up Shadford back to his best

CRICKET: WERNETH registered their second Lake Garage CLL victory in a row with a superb display against Milnrow at Ladyhouse.

Professional Darren Shadford hit top form after a lean spell to smash Milnrow for an unbeaten 112 as Werneth racked up 205 for nine after taking first guard.

In reply, Milnrow were skittled for 110 as Alan Durose (five for 54) and Mark Dronsfield (four for 30) made the most of a helpful track.

Oldham ran into the Littleborough phenomenon called Clinton Perren, who dominated Saturday's match at the Pollards.

Perren, who reached three figures in the Twenty20 Competition the previous night, hit 120 in Boro's impressive 323 for seven declared.

Perren hit the ball along the deck, but one rare skier saw Oldham skipper Chris McDonnell dislocate a finger as he tried unsuccessfully to take a diving catch.

Fortunately for Oldham, Perren was out two balls later, attempting to switch hit opposite number Mohammed Hanif.

Earlier, Boro's overseas amateur Warron Williams hit 105 off only 72 balls.

Despite smashing everything which was bowled at him, he did not give a single chance until he had reached his century.

Faced with such a daunting task, Oldham had little chance although overseas amateur Keelan Gossayn, standing in for the injured McDonnell, shared an opening stand of 62 off 10 overs with Paul Thompson before he slashed at one and was caught behind for 38.

The wheels then began to fall off for Oldham who were bowled out for 150.

Royton were brushed aside by leaders Rochdale at Redbrook.

Professional Luke Procter made 41 of Royton's 119 all out, Neil Avery taking five for 31 and his son Tom three for 34.

That modest total posed no problems for Rochdale who cruised to victory thanks to Adam Smith (51 not out) and paid man Craig Spearman (43 not out).

Crompton were hammered by Middleton, whose stand-in professional Michael Smith hit a superb undefeated 193 in his side's total of 328 for eight.

Crompton were dismissed for 157 as Danny Royle (five for 58) and Dale Highton (three for 44) led Middleton's charge to maximum points.

Middleton 328-8 (Smith 193 n.o., Stanworth 46), Crompton 157 (Royle 5-58, Highton 3-44); Oldham 150, Littleborough 323-7 (Perren 120, Williams 104, Hanif 4-96); Rochdale 124-1 (Smith 51 n.o., Spearman 43 n.o.), Royton 119 (Procter 41, N Avery 5-31, T Avery 3-34); Milnrow 110 (Scholefield 42, Durose 5-54, M Dronsfield 4-30), Werneth 205-9 (Shadford 112 n.o., Diwan 5-77); Monton and Weaste 225-5 (Hindle 74, Garner 44), Ashton 221 (Asif 92, Naveed 42); Radcliffe 172 (Ul-Haq 79), Norden 178-7 (Poole 53, H Fitton 49 n.o., Ul-Haq 4-62); Unsworth 149 (Akhtar 5-57), Clifton 151-4 (Puchert 73 n.o., Fowler 4-63); Walsden 149 (Perera 69, Bhatia 5-56), Heywood 152-0 (Cross 105 n.o.).