Oldham stun title hopefuls

DARREN Shadford survives a leg before appeal from Milnrow’s Chris Whiteman

OLDHAM have the pleasant habit of hitting top form against the top teams in the Lake Garage CLL.

Winners at leaders Norden already this season, Chris McDonnell’s men again showed they can mix it with the best by defeating title hopefuls Littleborough at Hare Hill.

Taking first guard, Oldham fought their way to a respectable 202 for eight, Abid Fasil hitting 34 and club stalwart Rod Moran chipping in with a vital 32. Tom Culshaw took four for 68 and Matthew Collins three for 57.

Following the intervention of rain, Boro were set a revised target of 193 off 47 overs but, despite Jon Henderson’s 70, they were bowled out for 188, Mel Whittle taking four for 70 and professional Mohammed Hanif three for 56.

WERNETH were beaten in unfortunate circumstances by Milnrow.

Things looked bleak for Werneth at the Coppice when they were skittled for 124, paid man Darren Shadford top scoring with 50.

Milnrow were struggling on 110 for eight — Matthew Taylor took four for 17 — when rain ended play for the day, but their superior run rate gave them a victory they might not have achieved but for the weather.

ROYTON were readily brushed aside by Rochdale, who kept up the pressure on leaders Norden.

Tony Walsh hit 44 in Royton’s disappointing 117 all out at the Paddock, Neil Avery collecting four for 18 and Scott Butterworth three for 12.

And that total proved to be an easy ask for the visitors, who raced to 119 for one, Adam Smith hitting an unbeaten 62.

Danny Taylor hit 50 for CROMPTON, but that was not enough to prevent the Glebe Street side from slumping to 132 all out against visitors Middleton, for whom Crompton’s former player Dale Highton took four for 65 with his spin and George Walker collected four for 32.

With little bowling ammunition, Crompton could not prevent Middleton from racing to 133 for one.

Shaw-based Scott Stanworth hit an unbeaten 37, while stand-in professional Michael Smith maintained his fine record for Middleton with an unbeaten 61.

Scores —

Ashton 66-6 achieved revised target, Monton and Weaste 122 (Green 53, Zaman 5-39); Clifton 237-8 (Alex Rodzoch 57 not out, Lord 46, Flowers 4-29), Unsworth 174 (Flowers 69, Akhtar 4-54); Crompton 132 (D Taylor 50, Walker 4-32, Highton 4-65), Middleton 133-1 (Smith 61 not out, Stanworth 37 not out); Heywood 58-4 (Perera 3-17), Walsden 57 (Bhatia 8-26); Littleborough 188 (Henderson 70, Whittle 4-70, Hanif 3-56), Oldham 202-8 (Fasil 34, Moran 32, Culshaw 4-68, Collins 3-57); Norden 279-9 (Brierley 65, Price 47, H Fitton 42, Burns 4-48), Radcliffe 186-6 (Muntaza 88, Price 3-48, Humphries 3-42); Royton 117 (Walsh 44, N Avery 4-18, S Butterworth 3-12), Rochdale 119-1 (Smith 62 not out); Werneth 125 (Shadford 50), Milnrow 110-8 won on superior run rate, M Taylor 4-17).