No-show Bamford face cup expulsion

CRICKET: BAMFORD Fieldhouse face expulsion from this season's Tanner Cup.

Favourites to win the Saddleworth and District Cricket League's knock-out competition for a seventh time, they didn’t arrive for the first-round tie at Droylsden yesterday.

Instead, the Hollin Lane club played Southport and Birkdale in the ECB National Cup.

The opening stage of the Tanner Cup was due to take place on Saturday, but rain prevented play in all six games which meant the continuation day - yesterday - should have seen play instead.

Five started and finished, but Droylsden were left kicking their heels.

The matter is now in the hands of the league's executive committee, which refuses to comment until all the reports have been investigated.

In the event of Bamford's removal, which seems likely, Droylsden will go through automatically.

Bamford were unhappy at Droylsden's efforts in trying to get the match started on Saturday - any play would have resulted in the tie carrying on tonight.

Heyside faced an identical scenario yesterday as they had to play a first-round LCB Cup tie held over from last weekend.

The team managed to fulfil its Tanner Cup and Moore Cup commitments against Micklehurst, winning both games, and sent a scratch team to Wythenshawe which lost.

Meanwhile, Bamford’s ECB game saw them triumphant, setting up a tie at Westhoughton.

Babar Khan and JP Lees claimed three wickets each, restricting the hosts to 127 for nine from 45 overs.

In reply Mel Austin was unbeaten on 44 as Bamford won with 19.2 overs to spare.