Super Rafiq leaves the best until last

Photo: Tim Bradley

GO FOR IT: Glodwick’s Bilal Malik sweeps a shot towards the boundary against Micklehurst.

CRICKET: GLODWICK pipped Heyside for second place on the last full weekend of action in the 2013 Saddleworth and District Cricket League season.

This is the seventh year the Warren Lane club has been in the competition and it is their best finish yet.

Beaten by Austerlands on Saturday, Glodwick proved too strong for Micklehurst yesterday.

Heyside overcame Stayley to jump to second in their penultimate league fixture, in which Gerrie Snyman struck a superb 120 not out, only to slip back after defeat at Uppermill.

Rehan Rafiq waited until the last game to record his first century of the campaign, 105, in Glodwick’s total of 321. Stuart Chamley bagged seven for 90.

After posting their biggest score of the season, Glodwick then dismissed Micklehurst for the lowest score in Division One in 2013, just 29. Mark Whitehead claimed five for 13.

Heyside made a terrific start with Joe Whitehead, especially, and John Selby in full flow.

But once the openers were dismissed, along with Campbell, in the space of four overs, it was left to dangerman Snyman to carry the hopes of Heyside.

After being dropped off his bowling by Baron, the Namibian paid man could not complete his heroics of the previous day as he holed out to Nathan Boote on the long-off boundary.

Apart from Scott Bloor’s 26, Heyside, with a clutch of regular first-team players missing, offered very little resistance from then on and were skittled for 112.

Backed up by some excellent work in the field, Baron picked up six for 26 and skipper Matt Taylor three for 33.

The victory sealed Uppermill fifth place — they denied Greenfield by two points — and with it qualification for next season’s LCB Cup.

Bamford Fieldhouse, who have Micklehurst to play at home on Saturday, cannot be caught at the top of the table after a weekend win double which saw them lose only one wicket in crushing wins over Moorside and Shaw.

Austerlands finished on a high with back to back victories over Glodwick, which featured top efforts from Adam Young (54) and Michael Lockett (four for 22), and Stayley.

Greenfield also wrapped up 2013 with consecutive wins, over Hollinwood and Droylsden, while Danny Hesford compiled an unbeaten 40 to guide Saddleworth, beaten by Uppermill on Saturday, to victory at Hollinwood.


SADDLEWORTH came with a late charge to claim the Division Two league and cup double.
Second behind Uppermill at the start of the weekend, the Well-i-Hole club’s second string went top of the table after beating the leaders by eight wickets on Saturday.

The Moore Cup winners then made sure of the title with victory over Hollinwood yesterday, also by an eight-wicket margin.