Oldham chance to end barren start

RASHID KHAN

CRICKET: OLDHAM have a golden opportunity to kick-start their season on Sunday.

Rashid Hussain’s men have lost all four of their fixtures in the Championship, including a home match against Ashton. But they have home advantage when they take on the same side on Sunday in the first round of the John Willie Lees Wood Cup.

A cup-tie against their fellow strugglers is definitely winnable. For that to happen, Oldham’s two South Africans, professional Zakir Kathrada and overseas amateur Uzair Walters, need to step up to the plate.

The former has a top score of 32 so far and something more substantial is needed for a team really struggling for runs.

Our area’s three other teams each face tough away ties. Oldham’s Championship neighbours Crompton have enjoyed a bright start to their campaign and a trip to play Unsworth, a team also in the second tier, offers them a great chance of progress to the last eight.

Crompton will field their strongest team so far, with overseas amateur Denis Louis ready for action after arriving late from the West Indies.

Bamford Fieldhouse “imports” Mel Austin and Marlon Black have been among the wickets recently and, alongside skipper Simon Wright, opening bowler Carl Taylor, Aqib Zulfiqar and professional Josh Tolley, provide a strong-looking attack for a format which precludes any one player from bowling more than 10 overs.

Werneth skipper Matthew Taylor also has plenty of bowling options, but the majority of them are spin-related after the loss of Joe Taylor with a badly-damaged thumb.

Rashid Khan had a five-wicket haul in a recent game against Rochdale and will be hoping for more when he tackles Monton and Weaste on Sunday.

And professional Mohammed Zaman Khan, so prolific in the Championship last summer, will be desperate to produce the big score which has eluded him.

Royton have made a pleasing start to life in the Premier Division and will know what to expect when they visit Clifton.

Denny Hulme’s men won there on the opening day of the season in a match which swung one way and then the other.

Tie of the round is at Hare Hill, where Littleborough, second in the Premier Division, take on third-placed Walsden.