Oldham savour derby-day tonic

Photo: PICTURES by GARETH LOWE.

WERNETH’S Mark Dronsfield in action with the bat at the Coppice.

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

CRICKET:

IT was a case of just what the doctor ordered as Oldham bounced back to form with a surprise, but comprehensive victory over derby rivals Werneth at the Coppice.

Oldham went into yesterday's showdown as underdogs, but you would never have guessed it as they swept away Werneth by nine wickets.

And leading the way in brilliant style was opening batsman Dr Zaffer Jatoi, known affectionately at the Pollards as "Doctor Zaffer".

Jatoi smashed three sixes and hit eight fours in a superb, unbeaten 89 as Oldham successfully chased down Royton's ultimately-disappointing 179 for eight.

He was given excellent support in an opening stand of 123 by Ian Chadwick, whose contribution of 50 was a crucial one.

As Oldham rightly celebrated their victory, Werneth were left to reflect on where it all went wrong after a bright start.

Having been put into bat by Oldham skipper Chris McDonnell, Werneth made light of a damp wicket as the in-form John Slater and Matt Taylor shared an opening stand of 84.

But the loss of Slater for 44, one of four catches for the irrepressible Jatoi and the first of four wickets for leg spinner Mohammed Niaz, signalled the start of a Werneth slump.

The wily Niaz and Oldham pro Kamran Hussain placed a stranglehold on the Werneth batsmen and, despite paid man Hasnain Abbas's 41 and Taylor's 43, the Coppice men rather crawled their way to 179 for eight on a wicklet offering seam movement and spin.

It is fair to say batting was easier when Oldham took guard, but Jatoi was simply superb, treating every home bowler with disdain and playing proper cricket shots on both sides of the wickets.

Bit it was his exquisite cover drives which took the eye.

And when the more watchful Chadwick had gone, Jatoi found a willing ally in McDonnell, whose unbeaten 30 ensured there were to be no slip-ups.

McDonnell said: "I'm over the moon as it's the first time we have beaten Werneth since I have been captain.

"They have annihilated us every time in the last three years or so, but now we have beaten them just as convincingly.

"Niaz and the pro bowled well to keep Werneth in check after a good start, then Doctor Zaffer was awesome. He has not played regularly because of his exams, but he should be back for a while now and we are really glad to have him."