Oldham stunner for league leaders

Photo: Chris Sunderland

SKITTLED: Oldham batsman Rod Moran is bowled by Norden’s Chris Humphries.

OLDHAM and Crompton shared the honours on a Saturday of surprises in the Lake Garage CLL.

With fellow strugglers Ashton turning the form book upside down by winning at Middleton, the two local sides needed victories to boost their chance of avoiding the wooden spoon.

And they responded in brilliant style, Oldham completing the double over league leaders and title favourites Norden at the Pollards and Crompton winning at reigning champions Monton and Weaste.

Oldham’s clash with Norden was delayed because of rain, but once the players did get on the pitch for a 27-overs encounter it was the visitors who took the initiative, bowling out their hosts for 128.

Harvey Fitton led the way with three for 38.

Norden were hot favourites at this stage, but they had not reckoned with the threat of Oldham professional Mohammed Hanif and the evergreen Mel Whittle.

Hanif produced arguably his best spell of the season to take five wickets for 35, while Whittle supported him with three for 50 as Norden were skittled for 107.

Not many people could have predicted struggling Crompton’s success at Monton and Weaste, but win they did thanks in no small part to the efforts of Carl Taylor.

The Crompton skipper was joint top scorer with Glenn Rigby, both hitting 40, as Crompton made a respectable 196 for seven after taking first guard. And Taylor followed that up with four for 89 as Monton and Weaste were dismissed for 192 despite 87 from professional Paul Green and 32 from David Hamilton.

Aqib Zulfiqar was Crompton’s other destroyer, returning season’s-best figures of five for 33.




WERNETH returned to winning ways with a convincing success at Unsworth. Alan Durose took five for 36 and Mark Dronsfield four for 41 as Unsworth were bowled out for a disappointing 110.

And the visitors had little difficulty in reaching their target and five welcome points for the loss of three wickets.


ROYTON were the only one of our four local teams to lose.

Hosts Walsden rattled up 308 for four thanks to 121 from opening batsman James Rawlinson and 117 from pro Duminda Perera.

Rain halted play with Royton on 110 for three