Saddleworth suffer at hands of Abbas

CRICKET:

ON a wicket favouring bowlers over batsmen, the Saddleworth and District Cricket League fell at the first hurdle in the 2012 Readers Inter-League Competition.

More than 400 runs were hit in one innings at Denton West’s ground a couple of weeks ago, but three days of rain scuppered any chance of a repeat as the Lancashire County League won a low-scoring contest by five wickets.

The Saddleworth League found it tough going in the first-round tie, although at 41 for one, a total of 150 seemed within their reach. But Ghulam Abbas destroyed the middle order and Will Hargreaves mopped up the tail — he bagged Uppermill pair Dave Oldfield and Mark Lees in successive deliveries — to leave the Lancashire County League chasing 107 for victory.

Even allowing for the conditions, the Saddleworth League were 50 runs short of a competitive score.



GREENFIELD’S Liam Parfitt hit exactly 50 and Andrew Cadd claimed three for 12 as the Saddleworth League defeated the Lancashire County League on a superior run-rate in the Colts competition.

Skipper Cadd, playing on his home ground at Austerlands, helped to restrict the visitors to 118 for nine, in reply to 171 for nine.



HEYSIDE, from the Saddleworth and District Cricket League, moved into the last eight of the LCB Cup after an outstanding win over Netherfield at Little Hey Street.

The Northern League outfit recovered from 10 for three to post 198 all out. Carl Newton and professional Gerrie Snyman claimed three wickets apiece. Heyside were 67 for one when a heavy shower brought the players off the field.

When they resumed, Nick Campbell’s side required, after rain-related adjustments by the umpires, 29 runs off 5.4 overs — and they got them with a dozen balls to spare.

Heyside will play either Ormskirk or Elton at home in the quarter-finals.



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