Replay rivals bid for final solution

CHRIS GILL . . . 95 not out in the ‘first’ semi-final.

CRICKET: ALL eyes will be on a packed Leefields on Sunday in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

Uppermill host Greenfield in the Tanner Cup semi-final replay (1.45pm), with double-seeking Bamford Fieldhouse awaiting the winners on Sunday week.

Greenfield, with deputy professional Bilal Khiljee in their line-up, came out on top in the initial meeting on July 18.

But the league’s executive committee ordered the last-four tie to be played again after evidence provided by Uppermill identified what they claimed were irregularities on paid man Kamran Hussain’s sicknotes dispatched from Pakistan.

For Uppermill it is a second bite of the cherry after they squandered a match-winning position in the first showdown.

In reply to Greenfield’s 228, Alex Griffiths’ men collapsed from 185 for three to 210 all out.

Greenfield are not allowed to field a deputy pro on Sunday, but rival captain Jonathan Ainley can take heart that Khiljee made little impact in the previous semi-final encounter and they still won.

Thirteen runs and one for 36 from nine overs from Delph’s overseas player were not match-changing figures.

Instead, Ainley will be looking to the likes of Chris Gill, Alex Peters and Adam Hayes to make an impression.




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