Red-hot Bamford hit league summit

BIG HIT . . . Heyside’s Gerrie Snyman smashes a six.

CRICKET:

IN this mood, a sixth Saddleworth League title in seven years beckons for Bamford Fieldhouse.

A resounding eight-wicket defeat of Heyside, who started the afternoon holding a one-point advantage at the top of the table, saw Paddy McKeown’s men take their place.

Though the margin of victory was massive, no blame could be attached to the hosts, who fought determinedly with the bat and refused to let their heads drop in the field.

With the likes of professional Grant Hodnett, Josh Tolley and Babar Khan, Bamford are simply too good for every team in the league.

Chasing 166 for nine on a good pitch was never going to worry the reigning champions.

With prolific duo Hodnett and Tolley adding 107 for the first wicket, that was never going to happen.

Heyside, who saw their lead whittled away with defeat at Droylsden the previous Saturday, did remove both openers, but they were their only successes with the ball.

Hodnett, who reached 1,000 runs for the season early in his innings, planted four balls into the gardens on Bullcote Green.

His other six rocketed through mid-on’s hands. His 50 (of 73) came up in only 32 deliveries.

Tolley is the slighter of the two men but no less potent and had moved to 41 when he was adjudged leg before to Gerrie Snyman, who had earlier top-scored for Heyside with 53 from 77 balls.

With half-a-dozen fours and two sixes, the Namibian pro tried his utmost to keep the scoreboard ticking over, but with Mel Austin’s six overs costing as many runs and Khan claiming four for 61, the Little Hey Street faithful had little to cheer about.

Snyman and Danny Cashin (21), with a third-wicket stand of 46, and then Snyman and Ryan Barnes (30), who added 47, denied Bamford for lengthy periods.

Another title awaits but whether it is Bamford’s last, with the possibility of being kicked out of the league hanging over them, only time will tell.