Friarmere heroics shatter Heyside

CRICKET: FRIARMERE are off the bottom of the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth AND District Cricket League after producing one of the shocks of the season so far.

Andy Walker’s men denied Heyside the chance to go second in the table after recording an 18-run win at West View yesterday.

And it was Zafar Iqbal who did the damage. The long-time overseas amateur at Friarmere and former Crompton professional claimed five for 27 as Nicky Campbell’s side slumped to 148 all out in reply to 166.

The result allowed Bamford Fieldhouse to stretch 19 points clear in pursuit of a fourth straight title after a 27-run defeat of Glodwick at Warren Lane.

Ex-Lancashire player Simon Marshall took his runs tally for 2010 to beyond 500 with a fine 96 in Bamford’s total of 239 all out.

It was the first time that they had been dismissed in the league this season, Mark Whitehead weighing in with five for 72.

Despite slipping to defeat, Glodwick managed to acquire nine bonus points, adding four batting to the five they bagged with the ball.

Greenfield had a good weekend.

Progress in the Tanner Cup was followed by an emphatic nine-wicket victory at Moorside.

Delph’s overseas player Bilal Khiljee, who was standing in for the injured Kamran Hussain, claimed five for 33 to help reduce the home side to 109 all out, before scoring an unbeaten 65 in reply.

Stayley suffered a second successive defeat as they lost by 28 runs against Saddleworth at Millbrook.

Figures of five for 44 from Stayley’s Mike Jones were to no avail as his side were bowled out for 174 in reply to 202 for nine.

Hollinwood are propping up the league after a seven-wicket reverse at Austerlands, for whom Adam Young was 58 not out.

Captain and pro Aamir Bashir had made 50 for the visitors.

James Baron, with an unbeaten 74, helped Uppermill to a daunting 261 for six at home to Droylsden.

The hosts achieved victory, their fifth of the league campaign, but not before Michael Schofield‚s men had reached a more than respectable 232 for eight.

Aqib Uppal scored a defiant 78, while Mark Lees collected five wickets for 58 runs.

Division one: Hollinwood 169 (A Bashir 50), Austerlands 170-3 (Ad Young 58 not out); Bamford Fieldhouse 239 (S Marshall 96, M Whitehead 5-72), Glodwick 212-8; Friarmere 166, Heyside 148 (Z Iqbal 5-27); Moorside 109 (B Khiljee 5-33), Greenfield 112-1 (B Khiljee 65 not out); Saddleworth 202-9 (M Jones 5-44), Stayley 174; Uppermill 261-6 (J Baron 74 not out), Droylsden 232-8 (A Uppal 78, M Lees 5-58).

Division two: Glodwick 197-7, Bamford Fieldhouse 201-9 (Q Riaz 70); Uppermill 180

(I Johnson 62, J Walker 5-31), Droylsden 42; Greenfield 399-6 (J Shaw 230 not out, J Ashton 53, R Darby 67), Moorside 88; Heyside 263-8

(J Cummings 65, J Davis 64), Friarmere 190; Austerlands 158, Hollinwood 162-9; Saddleworth 236 (J Chamberlain 76), Stayley 136 (S Downend 73 not out).

Twenty20 Cup, round one: Glodwick 148-8, Hollinwood 52 (I Khan 6-2).