Step aboard the Friarmere rollercoaster

CRICKET:

YOU never know what to expect from Friarmere in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

Dismissed for 86 against Uppermill on Saturday — they were 83 for three — Gary Kershaw’s side turned the tables on the high-flyers in dramatic style on Sunday.

At 22 for three, Friarmere were looking down the barrel of a gun.

Step forward Asif Qayyum and Darren Shadford.

The former walloped his way to a league best of 155 from just 83 balls — he was out for a golden duck 24 hours earlier — and his partner hit an unbeaten 70 to take Friarmere up to 234 for four.

Uppermill were bowled out for 221 in reply — only their second defeat of the season, while it was Friarmere’s fourth win from 11 attempts.

Skipper Kershaw said: “We are a bit up and down I’m afraid.

“We can beat anybody on our day, but also lose to anybody as well. That’s how we are.

“One of our problems is that we struggle to field the same team week-in, week-out.

“Darren Graham can only play certain weekends, while wicketkeeper Andy Walker is out for the season with a recurring shoulder injury.

“We were also missing Atiq Ur Rehman last weekend and had to bring in a 15-year-old and three players from the seconds.”

Qayyum’s innings brought rich praise from Kershaw, although it was not entirely unexpected.

He said: “For me it was a better knock than Grant Hodnett’s 200 for Bamford Fieldhouse against us on the opening day of the season.

“Asif never gave a single chance until he was out off the penultimate ball of the game.

“Yes, he can be out for a duck, but once he gets into his stride, he can take the game away from opponents in an instant.

“He’s scored in the region of 400 runs, but has also had his share of ducks.

“He’s a very destructive batsmen on his day and I’m surprised he hasn’t made the league team, because he can change a game in an instant.”

Meanwhile, Friarmere have an overseas amateur in their ranks.

The West View outfit have turned to Husnain Haider, team-mate of Shaw professional Khurram Shehzad in Faislabad, after Zafar Iqbal was refused a visa.

A batsman, who bowls off-spin, he made his debut in the Whit double-header against Uppermill.




PRESTWICH CC is the venue for the Saddleworth and District Cricket League’s semi-final clash in the Readers Inter-League Lancashire Trophy.



Danny Anchor’s side, who beat the Bolton League courtesy of a bowl-out in round one, play the Lancashire County League on Sunday, July 10 (1.30pm).

The other last-four clash features the North Lancs and Cumbria League against Manchester and District Association, at Furness.

On the same afternoon, Austerlands CC will host the Saddleworth League’s Colts Trophy group game versus the Bolton Association.