Anchor seeking final port of call
Reporter: Kevin Richardson
Date published: 08 July 2011
CRICKET: DANNY Anchor’s Saddleworth and District Cricket League side are setting their sights on the Readers Lancashire Inter-League Trophy final.
The representative XI, chosen by John Patterson and Peter Gill, face the Lancashire County League in the last four at Thornham CC on Sunday (1.30pm).
The team managers have stuck with the same team which beat the Bolton League in a bowl-out at Moorside in round one.
Anchor was at the helm on the last occasion the Saddleworth League won the competition.
They defeated their Ribblesdale counterparts in 2005.
The Moorside batsman and spin bowler has a host of players in form.
Uppermill wicketkeeper Alex Griffiths was in the runs last weekend, against Glodwick in the league and in the LCB Cup tie at home to CLL outfit Heywood.
Glodwick seamer Imran Asghar claimed three wickets at Uppermill, Bamford Fieldhouse batsman Peter Roberts hit a half-century at home to Stayley and Greenfield’s Alex Peters scored 73 not out in the Tanner Cup triumph over Friarmere.
Saddleworth League: D Anchor (capt, Moorside), A Griffiths (wkt), J Baron (both Uppermill), D Roberts, P Roberts (Bamford Fieldhouse), A Peters (Greenfield), M Whitehead, I Asghar (Glodwick), N Campbell (Heyside), R Harrington (Shaw), G Dent (Droylsden). Reserves: L Garnett (Heyside), L Warburton (Moorside).
Heyside’s John Selby, who lines up against Austerlands tomorrow, has missed out on a place in the Saddleworth side.
To be fair to the selectors, though, the opener’s hot streak started after the squad for the first round game was announced.
He is one of only two amateur players to score more than 500 runs this season — he averages 48.1 — and most recently weighed in with an unbeaten 109 against Hollinwood in the Tanner Cup.
Selby also scored 77 not out and 53 in the Whit double-header with Shaw in the middle of June.
Due to the form of Selby and professional Roelof Hugo, Heyside have lost just two wickets in their last three games, scoring 484 runs in the process.
Heyside captain Nick Campbell said: “I’ve been padded up all ready, but never got the chance to go in.
“John is playing tremendously well and I’m really pleased for him. He has great experience and concentration levels.
“He also plays very straight and off the front foot and doesn’t hit across the line, which you often see in this league.”
Heyside, in second place, will be looking to narrow the gap on leaders Uppermill, who are at home to Greenfield — one of only two teams to beat Alex Griffiths’ side in the league this season.
Third versus fourth meet at Well-i-Hole where Saddleworth play host to Shaw.
