Aslam smashes super ton

CLOSE THING: Moorside batsman Lee Warburton narrowly evades a caught-and-bowled dismissal to Shadley van Schalkwyk, as Craig Taylor scampers back to his crease.

CRICKET: IMRAN Aslam bettered his previous best score in the competition as his new club Saddleworth trounced Hollinwood by 188 runs at Well-i-Hole on Saturday.

The Pakistani professional smashed a superb 132 and young James Howard made 44 in the home side’s total of 276 for nine.

Aslam improved on his 126 for Uppermill in 2011 — the same season as the Leefields outfit went onto win the Saddleworth and District Cricket League title. He bludgeoned 16 fours and eight sixes in his 72-ball stay at the crease, and went from 92 to 132 in nine deliveries!

The 33 year old completed a fine afternoon’s work by claiming three for nine as Hollinwood were skittled for 88.

Glodwick reached a revised target of 141 for the loss of eight wickets after a rain delay at Greenfield.

Anees Ur Rehman hit 52 while the hosts’ Peter Gill followed up his five-wicket haul of the previous week with four for 35.

There was drama before the game for Glodwick, however. All-rounder Shahid Mahmood was rushed to hospital from home and later had his appendix removed. Team-mates Mark Whitehead and Franco Lenhardt picked up hand injuries during the game which restricted their batting.

Absent for the opening-day loss at Stayley, Glen McFadyean came back with a bang as Moorside beat Heyside by 88 runs at Turf Pit Lane. McFadyean bagged four for 24 to help send the visitors spiralling to 100 all out. Overseas amateur Francois Mostert had earlier compiled 56 for the home side.

Stayley, with a six-wicket defeat of Friarmere at Slack Lane, made it two wins out of two.

There were first victories for Austerlands, Droylsden, South West Manchester and Uppermill, who raced to 329 for nine, thanks to decent knocks from captain Dave Roberts (75), Alex Griffiths (46 not out) and overseas amateur Cloete Buitendag (45), who faced only 23 balls.