Rampant pair make it light work Tanner Cup semi-finals

CRICKET:
ON the hottest day of the year the Saddleworth and District Cricket League's Tanner Cup produced two lukewarm semi-finals.

While Moorside brushed past Hollinwood by 148 runs at Turf Pit Lane, Uppermill thumped Greenfield by 147 runs at Ladhill Lane.

Skipper Lloyd Kingston and professional Stephan Grobler set up Moorside's total of 247 for nine with a partnership of 88 for the fourth wicket. Such was their domination of the Hollinwood attack, the pair added their runs in just 11 overs.

It was a key part of the contest as Moorside had to rebuild after losing Francis Sutherland (nine), fellow opener Richard Baines (39) and overseas amateur Francois Mostert (13) with 107 on the board.

Kingston should have been run out early in his innings, but after a major escape went on to bludgeon a season’s best 83. Kingston had almost caught Grobler when the latter edged one to wicketkeeper Kashif Khan for 56.

The South African’s was one of two wickets for Hollinwood’s best bowler Mohammed Shazad (two for 31) who was given only eight overs rather than the nine allowed.

After facing a chase of 300 plus runs at one stage, Hollinwood did well to peg Moorside back.

Visiting captain Shakeel Saddique applied the brakes by picking up two wickets in as many balls in his only over, while Mohammed Kamran returned to the attack to bowl Kingston.

Hollinwood’s reply never got out of first gear. They quickly slumped to 39 for three and after the fourth wicket went down for 81, the remaining batman soon followed.

A final-over blitz hoisted Uppermill to 289 for five against Greenfield.

With Darren Shadford eying his first century of the season at one end, at the other batting partner Dave Roberts smashed Josh Higgins for 30, which included four sixes.

Shadford was left stranded on 89, while Roberts took his score to 44 in just 13 balls.

Greenfield, in front of a packed house, never recovered from the loss of pro Chris Gill (17), Glyn Partington (nought) and Alex Peters (three) in the space of two overs. Mike Jones already departed, they were 35 for four.

Uppermill’s work in the field was good in that Pete Roberts took a peach of a catch to get rid of a stunned Gill, while Alex Griffiths removed the bails in a blink of an eye to dismiss Peters.

Adam Hayes (32) and Mike Moore (16) offered the only resistance, but such was the serenity of the batsmen’s progress, it seemed they were playing to keep a regular flow of customers at the bar for as long as possible.