Harrington is so sure for Shaw

Friarmere batsman Atif Khan is bowled by Saddleworth bowler Peter Skuse.

MAULED by Bamford Fieldhouse 24 hours earlier, Shaw held their nerve in a tight finish to beat Stayley by four runs and book a place in the last eight of the Saddleworth and District Cricket League’s Twenty20 Competition.

The Holebottom Clough outfit are joined by Friarmere, who made it a thoroughly-miserable weekend for Saddleworth, Moorside, Hollinwood and holders Heyside. Droylsden, Greenfield and Micklehurst were already through after they received byes.

Shaw managed to defend 128, despite gifting their opponents a large slice of help. Wides count as two in this competition and they contributed 35 to the Stayley total. Overseas amateur Dane Currency (33) was leading scorer with runs off the bat.

The hosts’ tendency to bowl down the leg side so nearly proved dear. That it did not owed much to skipper Mark Ingham’s decision to keep back Rick Harrington’s remaining two overs until the end of the innings.

In his first spell, he removed opener Steve Bird, back at Stayley after a stint at Heyside, first ball and then, with only seven on the board, he got rid of Ryan Downend.

It was not all about Harrington, though. The ever-improving Richard Keaveney, with two for 24, and young spinner Callum Jones‚ with two for 26, ensured Stayley were unable to make a mid-innings push.

The latter’s brace came in three balls and included Currency, who saw the ball ricochet off his pads, roll between his legs and on to the stumps.

Keaveney picked up Craig Smith for 18 after he had added what appeared to be a match-winning 50 with Currency.

Stayley required 15 from the last two overs and in Ben Downend they had a player who was seeing the ball clearly.

However, a swipe across a straight one from Harrington put paid to him and when his cousin Sean Downend repeated the shot, it was Shaw’s game.

The highlight of the Shaw innings was 35 from Anthony Edden, which featured a scoop shot over his shoulder for four, and Pip Taylor’s rapid 34 from 26 balls.

Leading the way for Friarmere with the bat was Imran Khan, who made 21 out of 114 at home to Saddleworth. Tom Avery claimed for four 24.

The home side held the early initiative after bagging captain Brian Lord with just a couple on the board, but then lost it after Aussie professional Peter Skuse and Lee Needham joined forces.

However, once the partnership was broken on 38, wickets fell in a hurry.

Gloveman John Patterson claimed three stumpings and a couple of catches, including that of Josh Butler, the ex-Friarmere paid man, who was the last wicket to fall with the score on 86.

Khan turned the ball a long way in claiming two for 16 and Mohammed Habib got through Skuse’s defences in figures of two for eight.

In the other ties, Heyside got the better of Uppermill, who were restricted to 99 for eight at Little Hey Street. Pro Gerrie Snyman hit 39 in his side's seven-wicket success.

Scores -

First round: Shaw 128-9, Stayley 124 (R Harrington 4-12); Friarmere 114 (T Avery 4-24), Saddleworth 86; Uppermill 99-8, Heyside 103-3 (G Snyman 39); Hollinwood 161-7, Glodwick 90; Austerlands 171-6 (I Aslam 71), Moorside 174-5 (S Grobler 97 n.o).

Second-round draw: Micklehurst v Friarmere; Heyside v Greenfield; Hollinwood v Droylsden; Shaw v Moorside. Ties to take place Sunday, July 28.