Glodwick through as Rafiq sparkles

IN-FORM Glodwick clinched a home victory over Uppermill in the Tanner Cup first round.

The Warren Lane outfit prevailed in the second round of the competition against the same opponents last year and the visitors were once again rueing defeat to what is quickly becoming their jinx team.

Glodwick posted 193 for eight before dismissing Uppermill – who made a late charge through the impressive Dave Oldfield – for 156.

This time they found Glodwick pro Rehan Rafiq in fine form, clocking up 87 runs after the away side won the toss and put their opponents in to bat.

Opener Shahid Mahmood sent out a statement of intent with an early six, but his momentum was cut short when he was caught by bowler Darren Shadford for 28.

Rafique entered the fray to partner skipper Nigel Stock and the two knocked off the runs efficiently until Stock's departure on 20, caught behind by Shadford off Oldfield's teasing delivery.

Anees Ur-rehman couldn't replicate the efforts of previous incumbents as he mustered just three before being clean bowled by Andrew Jones, taking the score to 63 for three.

Rafiq kept up the good work, spraying shots all over the ground, and was assisted by Imran Khan's 16. Khan edged the ball into the grateful hands of Shadford off Andy McVeigh.

Glodwick reached 100 in the 33rd over and showed no sign of slowing down when the ton was swiftly followed by two successive sixes from that man Rafique at the expense of James Baron.

Chris Longley had recorded 17 when he was stumped by Uppermill captain Alex Griffiths from McVeigh.

Brad Heap and Imran Asghar managed just one run apiece, with McVeigh and Shadford sending them packing.

Matt Parkinson and Bilal Malik were on seven and five not out respectively when the overs ran out.

Full of confidence, Glodwick set about their task well and had their rivals at 45 for four by the 17th over.

Michael Brooks walked with four runs to his name, caught at slip by Longley after a wicked delivery from Malik, and Jason Langshaw couldn't better his team-mate's score – he went lbw to Asghar.

This contest's best piece of fielding by a long stretch came courtesy of Khan, who earned a warm reception when he dived to his left to collect Nathan Boote's powerful drive off Matt Parkinson.

Uppermill were in real trouble when Baron, fooled by Khan, was stumped by Adam Brown and it was 68 for five when Shadford, who clocked up 28, was clean bowled by counterpart Rafiq.

Griffith's side had added just four runs when Dave Wood departed, and the pro repeated the feat in the 30th over at the expense of Griffiths.

McVeigh was caught by Brown for 12 after Asghar's good work, but Oldfield's arrival gave the hosts a scare with his gutsy performance which took in five sixes and one four off 27 balls.

Had he been accompanied by more accomplished partners, Uppermill might have nicked an unlikely win after such a shaky start to their innings.

But Lees managed just five prior to his dismissal, caught by Malik off Rafiq, and Jones had a couple under his belt when Khan collected his shot from Asghar's ball.

As they trudged off Uppermill were afforded universal applause for their resilience, in particular Oldfield, who boasted an unbeaten 51.