Hussain help for spotless Stayley

CRICKET: THREE games in and only Stayley can boast a 100 per cent record in Division One of the Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The men from Millbrook, this season boosted by the return of professional Kamran Hussain and the acquisition of overseas amateur Oral Rankine, sit proudly at the top of the embryonic table.

Stayley required Hussain’s guile with the ball after his side were dismissed for 120 at home to Greenfield. The Pakistani claimed seven for 13 from 15 overs in securing a 47-run success.

Saddleworth saw their perfect record wrecked at Whalley Range.

Requiring 165, Danny Hesford‚’s team crashed to 108 all out. Sajid Mahmood, with five for 29, and skipper Waqas Malik, with four for 30, did the damage.

The only other side aiming from ‘three-out-of-three’, Glodwick, were no match for Uppermill at Warren Lane. The hosts were missing Mark Whitehead, Shahid Mahmood, Mark Parkinson and Imran Asghar, while Franco Lenhardt played with a hand injury from the Greenfield game 24 hours earlier.

But the visitors showed no mercy in amassing 245. Alex Griffiths, with 65 from 51 balls, Chris McDonnell (43), skipper Dave Roberts (39), Cloete Buitendag (33) and Paul Thompson weighed in with the runs. Paid man Rehan Rafiq picked up six for 64.

Glodwick slipped to 102 all out in reply and are level on points with Moorside in fourth place. Uppermill are third.

Droylsden are second after sweeping side Micklehurst by nine wickets at Castle Lane. Mohammed Shakir and Mohammed Habib, after bagging six and four wickets respectively, left their team-mates chasing a victory target of 85.

In only his second game in the competition, Tyler Lortan smashed 162 as Wythenshawe beat Austerlands by 53 runs at Longley Lane. The South African pro spurred his side to 231 for nine and a first success of the season.

Glen McFadyean took his wickets tally for the weekend to 11 after his haul of seven for 24 paved the way for Moorside’s eight-wicket win at Shaw. Paid man Grant Hodnett struck an unbeaten 50 for the victors.

Hollinwood registered their second victory of the campaign — they overcame South West Manchester by 100 runs — while Scott Bloor’s five for 52 helped Heyside beat Friarmere by five wickets.