Order switch key as Glodwick march on

NEVER-SAY-DIE Glodwick are simply unstoppable in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

Nigel Stock’s team made it seven wins from their last seven league games with a three-wicket defeat of Droylsden at Warren Lane — but it required all their fighting spirit to pull off the win.

Requiring 153 — professional Imran Aslam grabbed six for 54 in Droylsden’s total — Glodwick had no answer to the pace attack of Mohammed Shakir and Wasim Quasim and appeared down and out at 10 for four.

Worse was to follow when they lost their fifth wicket with only 19 on the board.

However, the wickets of key batsmen Stuart Fitton and Aslam were intact. They had been moved down the order for protection from the dangerous opening bowlers, and the ploy worked as they put on more than 50 for the sixth wicket. They made 37 and 39 respectively.

At 76 for six Droylsden were still favourites, but an unbeaten 46 from Shahid Mahmood which included a 27-run stand with Chris Longley (15 not out) for the eighth wicket steered Glodwick to an improbable victory.

Moorside are on a roll as well. Unbeaten since the end of June, they are closing in on a top-five finish and place in next season’s LCB Cup.

Moorside’s latest victims were Hollinwood, limited to 123 for eight, JP Lee claiming six for 27.

Openers Richard Baines (62) and Danny Anchor (59) were immovable as the Turf Pit Lane outfit strolled to victory.

Mark Peters seems to hold the ‘Indian Sign’ over Friarmere.

The Austerlands batsman struck a century when the two teams met in May, and he again got stuck into the Friarmere attack with a superb 90 in the reverse fixture at West View.

Skipper Kevin Du Feu hit 58 and Zafar Iqbal took five for 50 in Austerlands’ total of 198 for six.

Peters then stepped aside for Zaheer Khan, the diminutive left-arm spinner picking up six for 49 to leave the home side floundering on 159 all out.

The game was reduced to 34-overs-per-side after a wet outfield delayed the start for more than 60 minutes.

High-flying Bamford Fieldhouse had a bit of a scare at lowly Saddleworth as captain Steven Howard collected five for 34 to dismiss Bamford for 166.

But the home side’s hopes of producing a shock quickly disappeared once Mel Austin got to work. The wily ex-Heyside professional bagged five for 24 as Saddleworth crashed to 73 all out.

Bamford’s nearest rivals, Heyside, bounced back from their surprise defeat at Saddleworth a week ago with a comfortable six-wicket success over Stayley.

Liam Garnett did the damage with the ball — he grabbed five for 57 — while Mark Barnes proved a hit with the bat, scoring 56 for the second-placed side.

Meanwhile, Shaw slipped one place to fourth after no play was possible at Holebottom Clough. The fixture, against Greenfield, was abandoned at 3.30pm because of a wet outfield.