Ton-up Ali stands firm for Werneth

Photo: Picture: CHRIS SUNDERLAND.

CELEBRATION: Ashton bowling hero Naweed Ghany raises his arms after claiming the wicket of Oldham batsman Hamza Hussain at the Pollards.

CRICKET:

WERNETH maintained their Lake Garage CLL Championship challenge with an Ali Muzaffer-inspired victory at Unsworth.

In a match dominated by bowlers, Muzaffer was the only batsman to make a serious impact, hitting a superb 103 in Werneth's 178 all out.

He came in at number three and his was the ninth wicket down after he had hit eight fours and three sixes on a disintegrating track.

Werneth's total appeared only average, but such was the difficulty of the pitch that it was value for much more — as it proved when Unsworth batted.

The hosts started well with 60 for two, but Werneth pro Mohammed Zaman Khan and fellow spinner Rash Khan took command and ripped apart the middle order.

Despite late resistance from ex-Werneth player Liam Richards (23) and Jack O'Brien (29), Unsworth were dismissed for 129 and Werneth collected five points.

Earlier, Werneth had looked to be in all sorts of trouble at 20 for four and 99 for seven as home professional Chris Williams (five for 60) utilised the bowler-friendly strip.

But throughout all the turmoil, Muzaffer stood firm. Mixing patience with belligerence, Muzaffer compiled one of the best CLL centuries of the season and received precious late-order assistance from Michael Wilson (21).

Unsworth suffered the early loss of South African amateur Ryan Hawke, caught behind by Muzaffer off Zaman Khan.

And though John Wiggans (22) and Anan Arora (26) kept the score ticking over, their efforts were not without risk.

Zaman Khan took a blinding catch at first slip off Majid Khan to remove Wiggans and when Arora also edged to Zaman Khan off the impressive Rash Khan, the writing was on the wall for Unsworth.

Zaman (four for 28) and Rash (three for 32) worked their way through the middle order, while Matt Taylor's stunning throw at one stump to run out Stephen Judge highlighted Werneth's excellence.



ROYTON retained the leadership of the Championship with an excellent 44-runs victory at Monton and Weaste.

Professional Ben Dunk hit 51, Ryan Carruthers 50 and Chris Hutchinson 48 as Royton piled up 249 for eight after taking first guard.

And despite Jake Sandham's 84, Monton were bowled out for 205. Adam Good was Royton's bowling hero with eight for 101.



CROMPTON allowed a winning opportunity to slip through the hands at home to Radcliffe.

Denis Louis hit 56 and visiting pro Michael Burns took four for 57 as Crompton made 194 after taking first guard.

Radcliffe were reeling on 50 for five in reply, but a brilliant unbeaten stand between Annis Patel (71) and Burns (78) turned things round completely and left promotion-chasing Crompton further adrift of the top two, Werneth and Royton.



OLDHAM were dismantled at the Pollards by Ashton, who registered their first victory of the season.

Taking first guard, Oldham were skittled for a meagre 63 as visiting pro Naweed Ghany took six for 15 off 12 overs which contained six maidens. Ashton reached their target for the loss of a single wicket.



DESPITE a fine knock of 72 from Werneth’s Matthew Taylor, the CLL lost by two wickets in their Readers Inter-League Competition first-round tie against the North Lancs and Cumbria League at Rochdale.



ROYTON’S Khurram Hussain hit an unbeaten 118 and team-mate Callum Porteous 40 not out as the CLL colts (184-4) overcame their NLCL counterparts (183-3) at Furness.