Glodwick on a mission

WITH Heyside succumbing to new leaders Bamford Fieldhouse, Glodwick are closing in on second place in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

Starting life without leading seam bowler Imran Asghar who has signed for Shelley in the Huddersfield competition, Nigel Stock’s side made it eight wins from their last nine league games at home to Uppermill.

The visitors, who last weekend booked their spot in this season’s Tanner Cup final, posted 198 for nine from 45 overs, Paul Thompson top-scoring with 55.

For Glodwick, professional Rehan Rafiq and Mark Whitehead grabbed three wickets apiece, while the former added 63 with the bat in a four-wicket victory, completed with 10 balls to spare.

The Warren Lane outfit are six points adrift of Heyside in second and 25 in front of fourth-placed Greenfield, who recovered from back-to-back defeats to overcome Micklehurst by 87 runs at Castle Lane.

Michael Bird scored a vital 80 in Greenfield’s 235 for nine. Ben Johnson claimed five of the wickets to fall for 55 runs.

Peter Gill took four for 38 in Micklehurst’s reply of 148 all out.

Saddleworth pulled off a stunning win over Friarmere at Well-i-Hole.

James Howard, who earlier in this season became the youngest centurion in the league’s history at the age of 14, made a fine 72 in the hosts’ total of 224 for six. Aussie paid man Peter Skuse recorded his highest score of the campaign so far, 92.

After reducing Friarmere to 89 for five, Saddleworth appeared set for a straightforward win, but a superb stand of 121 between Mohammed Habib (61) and Arshad Mahmood (56) turned the match on its head.

However, after losing their sixth wicket on 210, the other four fell for the addition of only four runs and Saddleworth scraped home in dramatic fashion.

Abdul Chand was agonisingly out on 99, but his terrific effort was enough to clinch Droylsden a six-wicket victory at Austerlands, who were seeking a fourth league on the trot.

For the home side, Dave Oldfield scored 41 in a total of 147 and pro Imran Aslam collected four for 41.

Despite an unbeaten 56 from Abdul Fazil, Shaw were 15 runs short of

overhauling Moorside’s 167 at Turf Pit Lane.

That they didn’t get their noses over the line – they still had two wickets in the shed – was much to do with South African overseas amateur Francois Mostert, who claimed six for 37.

Richard Doherty also picked up six wickets for 65 runs in Moorside’s innings.

Stayley captain Ronnie Cameron, with five for 26, helped reduce Hollinwood to 141 all out at Millbrook.

Mudassar Butt compiled 53 not out in a comfortable eight-wicket success.