Skipper Young in rallying cry

CRICKET: AUSTERLANDS skipper Adam Young wants his side to use the superb victory at Saddleworth as a springboard to greater things in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District League.

Dave Oldfield and Humayun Farhat shared 10 wickets — and a fantastic ninth-wicket stand — to see off their previously in-form opponents, who had won 10 consecutive matches.

The duo made 106 between them to push Young’s team to 194 for nine, having stuttered on 127 for eight.

Oldfield (five for 51) and Farhat (five for 77) helped dismiss the home outfit for 140.

Young said: “We were absolutely delighted with the win.

“The way we are playing this season, we seem to get wickets in patches and it is all about momentum, which worked for us at Saddleworth.

“We are sixth in the table now and hopefully we can take this form into the weekend games against Hollinwood and Uppermill.”

Young is the first to admit his frustration at Austerlands’ inconsistency, with losses very often coming against teams near the bottom of the table, while their best work is done when handed the role of underdog against the high-flyers.

“From my point of view it is disappointing to see us lose matches we probably should not be losing,” he added.

“We have beaten Saddleworth twice this season, yet we were beaten by Stayley, Droylsden, Glodwick, Friarmere and Greenfield.

“If we can break that habit we have a good chance of closing the gap on the teams above us.”