Oldham caught at Cross purposes

CRICKET:

OLDHAM travelled to Heywood more in hope than expectation, but even the most ardent of the Pollards club's supporters must have been alarmed by their capitulation in Saturday's Lake Garage CLL fixture against the unbeaten league leaders.

Having taken first guard on a belter of a track and with a fast outfield to boot, Heywood made hay in the sunshine.

And no-one enjoyed himself more than skipper Bobby Cross, who batted throughout for a superb unbeaten 154 in a commanding total of 261 for two.

Oldham needed a solid start to their reply, but started disastrously, Michael Birkett being bowled by Heywood's overseas amateur Hamish Patterson for a single.

Skipper Zafar Jatoi briefly threatened to make a game of it but, after a couple of fluent boundaries, attempted a suicidal single behind square and was run out for 12.

Jatoi’s helmet landed on the turf in sheer frustration - and any chance Oldham had of making a game of it had gone.

Tthe final ignominy for the visitors came when Cross, only a part-time bowler at best, removed Wasif with his only delivery - the last one of the match as Oldham were dismissed for a paltry 92, a dismal effort on what should have been a batsman's paradise.



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