Brothers put Austerlands on right track

CRICKET:

THE Young brothers stole the show at Thorpe Lane as Austerlands kept up their pursuit of a top-five finish in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

First skipper Adam, at 28 the younger of the siblings by two years, hit 76 in a total of 233 against bottom team Micklehurst.

It was then Andy’s turn to take centre-stage, the seamer ripping through the visitors’ batting order to bag eight for 32 in a meagre reply of 69.

Two of the three sides above Austerlands lost, albeit against the first and second in the table.

Uppermill succumbed by five wickets at table-toppers Bamford Fieldhouse, despite an unbeaten 55 from ex-Hollin Lane player Darren Shadford out of 166 for five.

Leading amateur batsman Josh Tolley hit 58 in the run chase which also included 27 wides!

Following on from his 83 the previous week, Anees Ur Rehman struck 70 as second-placed Glodwick defeated Greenfield by a five-wicket margin at Ladhill Lane.

Earlier, Franco Lenhardt claimed five for 56 to help dismiss the hosts for 169. Captain Alex Peters top scored with 48.

Moorside replaced Greenfield in the LCB Cup qualifying places by steamrollering Heyside at Turf Pit Lane, thanks to another fine all-round display from Francois Mostert.

The overseas amateur from South Africa compiled a vital 46 in the home side’s total of 177 for eight.

Mostert then secured four wickets for seven runs as Heyside, who bludgeoned 230 for six in the Twenty20 Cup less than 24 hours earlier (see story on Page 30), crashed to 51 all out.

Hollinwood came agonisingly close to breaking their poor run of form at Droylsden, who scraped home by the narrowest of margins thanks to a last-wicket stand of 12.

Kashif Khan, batting at number six, made 55 not out in the visitors’ total of 141.

The pendulum swung back in Hollinwood’s favour when the ninth wicket went down on 130, but the final pair held their nerve to eke out the required runs in a tense finish.

Friarmere did not get much change out of Dane Currency after Stayley’s overseas amateur weighed in with six for 38.

The away team needed 117 for victory, and reached their target for the loss of two wickets.

Josh Butler, with the aid of four stumpings from wicketkeeper Brian Lord, took six for 34 as Saddleworth bowled out Shaw for 165.

In reply, professional Peter Skuse hit 76 not out to steer his side to a four-wicket triumph, half a dozen points short of third-placed Heyside.