Smash-hit Chris flays Crompton

Photo: Chris Sunderland

RAY OF HOPE . . . Crompton professional Matthew Needham bowls Werneth all-rounder Alan Durose, but the home side went on to take a firm grip of Saturday’s fixture at the Coppice thanks to their overseas amateur Chris Erasmus.

WERNETH overseas amateur Chris Erasmus smashed a scintillating unbeaten 148 as the Coppice outfit crushed derby rivals Crompton by 184 runs on home turf in the Lake Garage CLL.

Taking first guard, Werneth raced to 291 for five as Crompton's fragile bowling attack was put to the sword once again.

Joe Taylor chipped in with a valuable 63 for Werneth, while Crompton professional Matt Needham offered some resistance with three for 89.

Facing such a daunting target, Crompton were never in the hunt and were bowled out for a meagre 107.

Mark Dronsfield led the way for Werneth with four for 29, while Alan Durose (three for seven) and Joe Taylor (three for 21) were also in fine fettle as the home side cruised to five welcome points.

OLDHAM let a winning opportunity slip through their fingers at Heywood.

Mel Whittle might be 63, but he is bowling as well as ever and his five for 53 and paid man Mohammed Hanif's five for 45 skittled Heywood for only 124 and threatened to cause a big shock.

But Oldham could not see the job through and were dismissed for a desperately-disappointing 105, home professional Rajat Bhatia taking five for 54.

ROYTON looked to have been presented with the perfect opportunity to post a home win against struggling Ashton, but were way below par in a 112-run defeat.

Mo Abid hit 56 and Mohammed Naveed 36 as Ashton reached a challenging 236 for eight from their 50 overs, Ryan Mayes returning figures of four for 95.

And Ashton finished the job by bowling out Royton for a disappointing 124. Simon Brierley scored 55, while Abid took three for 21 and Imran Yousaf three for 11.

Scores: Rochdale 179-6 (Cryer 46), Radcliffe 177 (Gibson 57, Berry 44, S Butterworth 5-40); Royton 124 (Brierley 55, Abid 3-21, Yousaf 3-11), Ashton 236-8 (Abid 56, Naveed 36, Mayes 4-95); Unsworth 199-8 (Flowers 56, Gregoriou 32, Green 4-57), Monton and Weaste 189-7 (Green 114 n.o., Fowler 3-62); Walsden 229-9 (Perera 56 Rawlinson 55, Makin 6-76), Norden 279 (H Fitton 106, Harlow 4-69, Brandwood 3-22); Clifton 266-5 (Puchert 97, Morris 43, Deakin 4-87), Littleborough 235 (Hulme 87, Williams 47, Hough 6-59); Heywood 124 (Hanif 5-45, Whittle 5-53), Oldham 105 (Bhatia 5-54); Milnrow 236-7 (Diwan 97, Butt 4-75), Middleton 231 (Roberts 61, Stanworth 58, Diwan 5-61); Werneth 291-5 (Erasmus 148 n.o., J Taylor 63, Needham 3-89), Crompton 107 (M Dronsfield 4-29, Durose 3-7, J Taylor 3-21).


Milnrow will play Unsworth in the final of the John Willie Lees Wood Cup at Walsden CC on Sunday, August 1.

Milnrow defeated Littleborough by 28 runs at Hare Hill yesterday, while Unsworth made it a day for the away teams by winning by seven wickets at Walsden.

Milnrow are also in the final of the Burton Cup for second X1 teams.

They will take on Rochdale on Sunday, August 8, with the teams tossing a coin to decide which has home advantage.