Smart Alex sets fine example

Photo: PICTURE: CHRIS SUNDERLAND

THAT’S OUT: Heyside batsman Tony Heaton walks as Greenfield bowler Alex Peters and Peter Gill celebrate during their clash last weekend.

CRICKET:

MOMENTUM is building at Ladhill Lane. Four victories on the bounce have put a spring in the step of Greenfield as the Saddleworth and District Cricket League season reaches its mid-point.

They are on the fringe of the top five and one win away from the Tanner Cup final.

Next is a trip to Hollinwood - and captain Alex Peters knows it is important not to let things slip after the hard work of the previous three weeks.

Peters has led by example. He clung on to a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss of Tony Heaton in the Tanner Cup quarter-final victory over Heyside last Saturday and in the same game scored an unbeaten 63.

“Winning becomes a habit, so hopefully we can keep our run going,” he said. “We did well at Heyside. We fielded well — I don’t think we dropped a catch — and stuck to a plan when it was our turn to bat.

“Gerrie Snyman, their pro, is a good spinner, but you only get nine overs each in the Tanner Cup. We knew if we could see him off at one end, we would have 36 overs to get the other runs.”

Triumph at Heyside was followed by a 157-run drubbing of future Tanner Cup semi-final opponents Uppermill - in which opener Chris Gill scored his first century of the campaign, 109.

Hollinwood come into the game on the back of a two-wicket loss at Shaw. But they are also through to the last four of the Tanner Cup and dangerous on their day.

Leaders Heyside’s win over Austerlands last Sunday ended a run of three straight defeats, and they go to Stayley.

Bamford Fieldhouse, in second place, head to Moorside, while Glodwick will be hoping Austerlands’ poor run of form continues — they are without a win six matches — when they meet at Warren Lane.

Shaw could find themselves in mid-table tomorrow night if they beat Droylsden and other results go their way, while Saddleworth will hope to cement their place in the top five with victory at Uppermill.

Two of the bottom three teams meet at Friarmere, where a win for Micklehurst could see them move off the foot of the table.