Stayley cash in on Bamford dash

CRICKET: LEADERS Bamford Fieldhouse were a team going places in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League on Saturday.

Paddy McKeown’s high-flyers had a bus to catch for an overnight stay before their National Knock-out Cup semi-final away to South Northumberland at Gosforth.

To avoid delay Bamford declared against Stayley after 19 of the 45 overs.

Big-hitters Marlon Black and Simon Wright opened the innings, and the latter immediately showed his intentions by smashing a six off the very first ball.

Bamford eventually called it a day on 150 for six, leaving Stayley 71 overs to score the necessary runs for victory. And the Millbrook outfit achieved their first win since June 5 in the 26th over, thanks to Honey Garg’s 58 and a generous bowling attack.

Showered and changed, Bamford were on the bus, heading north, before ‘Final Score’ had finished on BBC One.

The defeat means Heyside can still snatch the title after their dramatic win at Moorside.

The hosts, looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches, made 203 for three at Turf Pit Lane.

But Heyside, who got the batter of Glodwick in a close encounter seven days earlier, scraped home by one wicket. Mark Barnes hit the winning runs off the penultimate ball of the match.

Saddleworth climbed to second-bottom after a fine seven-wicket victory over Shaw.

Hollinwood slipped to the basement after succumbing by 10 wickets to Uppermill, for whom openers Andy McVeigh (78) and Mark Berry (56) carried their bats in an unbroken opening stand of 150.

Uppermill’s opponents in Sunday’s Tanner Cup semi-final replay, Greenfield, also had a smile on their faces. After being reduced to 125 all out – Imran Asghar bagged five for 45 – Jonathan Ainley’s side had it all to do.

But the afternoon belonged to the bowlers as Glodwick succumbed to 105. Despite the defeat, the lads from Warren Lane remain third in the table.

Friarmere completed back-to-back wins in another low-scoring game at West View.

The home side made 158, but opponents Droylsden could only manage 98 for seven when it was their turn to bat.