Skipper’s tribute to special Sidney

CRICKET: AUSTERLANDS captain Kevin Du Feu has saluted the impact of professional Sidney De Silva on the eve of their Saddleworth and District Cricket League clash at home to Greenfield.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder recorded his maiden century for the Thorpe Lane outfit last weekend, a superb 156 at Droylsden, and followed up with 95 in the excellent win over Heyside.

But it is not just his performances with the bat that has impressed officials at Austerlands - former Tonge player De Silva has proved a positive influence off the field as well.

Du Feu, who will hand over the captaincy to Adam Young next season, said: “Sid is a great motivator and is good for the team. I can’t speak highly enough of his contribution.

“I’ve been struggling at the top of the order recently and he offered to step in at Droylsden, even though he usually bats at number four.

“He went on to get a big hundred and made another decent score the day after.

“He has got well over 500 runs already this season and we would have been happy with between 600 and 700 for the whole year, so you could say he has exceeded our expectations.”

Austerlands are going through a transitional period — front-line bowler Dave Oldfield will miss the summer because of exams, all-rounder Andy Young has joined Shaw and batsman Mick Schofield is out with a knee injury — which has meant several of the club’s younger players are getting a taste of first-team action.

But despite his team sitting just below mid-table, Du Feu has got a lot out of the season.

The 46-year-old added: “It has been really enjoyable so far and the atmosphere with the teenagers in the side has been good.

“I admit results have been mixed. We’ve scored in excess of 200 runs on a number of occasions, but we’ve struggled to defend totals because of the lack of a strike bowler.”

At the top of the table, leaders and reigning champions Bamford Fieldhouse are at home to Uppermill in a clash of last season’s first and second-placed teams.

Saddleworth professional Peter Skuse is back from holiday to face Friarmere at Well-i-Hole, while Hollinwood are hoping paid man Aamir Bashir has recovered from a bout of food poisoning to play against Heyside.

Tomorrow: Glodwick v Stayley; Moorside v Shaw; Saddleworth v Friarmere; Bamford Fieldhouse v Uppermill; Austerlands v Greenfield; Hollinwood v Heyside. Open date: Droylsden.