Happy days are back for Crompton and Oldham

CRICKET: AFTER several weeks of frustration and negative headlines, Crompton and Oldham had much to celebrate on Saturday night.

Both recorded morale-boosting Lake Garage CLL victories, Crompton defeating Ashton by eight runs at home and Oldham winning by two wickets at Radcliffe.

Steven Wright hit 83 and Danny Taylor 44 as Crompton made 237 for nine at Glebe Street.

In reply, Ashton were bowled out for 229, despite Sajid Kadodia's 44 and 42 from Mohammed Asif. Shahid Khan (four for 51) and professional Matt Needham (4-113) were the pick of the Crompton bowlers.

OLDHAM won by eight wickets at Radcliffe, who batted first and were skittled for 131. Richard Farnworth hit 32, while Mel Whittle picked up five for 47.

Oldham made heavy weather of chasing down a small target, but they got over the line for the loss of eight wickets as Mohammed Jatoi top scored with 36.

ROYTON were well beaten at home to Heywood, who made 195 after taking first guard. Danny Pawson and Ross Zelem both scored 50.

Royton were bowled out for 118 despite Joe Lovell's 52, visiting professional Rajat Bhatia taking five for 33 and Chris Kaye four for 51.

For the second time in less than a month, Werneth compiled a healthy score against Clifton only to see their opponents make a successful run chase.

Franco Lenhardt hit 73 in Werneth's 250 for six, but Clifton reached their target for the loss of eight wickets as paid man Hendro Puchert smashed an unbeaten 127 and Ian Morris chipped in with 75.

Scores:

Crompton 237-9 (Wright 83, D Taylor 44), Ashton 229 (Kadodia 44, Asif 42, S Khan 4-51, Needham 4-113); Littleborough 233-7 (Perren 112, Forden 41, Poole 3-47), Norden 234-3 (Price 100, H Fitton 69 n.o.); Monton and Weaste 214-5 (Green 66, Hamilton 60 n.o.), Middleton 193 (Smith 39, Scott 6-83); Radcliffe 131 (Farnworth 32, Whittle 5-47), Oldham 135-8 (Jatoi 36, Zada 4-35); Royton 118 (Lovell 52, Bhatia 5-33, Kaye 4-51), Heywood 195 (Pawson 50, Zelem 50); Unsworth 76 (Diwan 4-5, Scholefield 4-40), Milnrow 186; Walsden 196-7 (Rawlinson 63), Rochdale 197-6 (S Butterworth 59, Smith 52); Werneth 250-6 (Lenhardt 73), Clifton 253-8 (Puchert 127 n.o., Morris 75, M Taylor 3-35).

n ROYTON were dismissed for a paltry 36 in their John Willie Lees Twenty20 Cup group game against Oldham at the Paddock on Friday night.

Oldham professional Mohammed Hanif took four for two and Craig Joy three for 10 as the hosts capitulated.

Oldham knocked off the runs in five over for the loss of a single wicket. Both teams are through to the last eight.

Werneth are out of the competition despite beating Ashton by seven wickets at Rayner Lane.

The hosts were skittled for 75 and Werneth duly passed that score in 13 overs for the loss of three wickets.

Crompton, who were bowled out for 79, lost by 10 wickets at home to Milnrow.

Scores:

Radcliffe 145-4, Monton and Weaste 78; Unsworth 119, Clifton 120-3; Ashton 75, Werneth 81-3; Royton 36, Oldham 37-1; Norden 138-2, Middleton 137-4; Rochdale 118, Heywood 120-3; Crompton 79, Milnrow 82-0; Littleborough 199-9, Walsden 101-7.

The draw for the quarter-finals, to be played on Friday (6.15pm) is:

Heywood v Clifton; Radcliffe v Milnrow; Oldham v Norden; Littleborough v Royton.