Sad end to a day rich in promise

CRICKET: 

REGRETS... the Saddleworth and District Cricket League representative side had several as they fell to a 10-run defeat at Flixton CC yesterday.

Needing 173 against the Bolton Association, Nick Campbell’s men appeared to have matters in hand.

At 59 for one and with the run rate under control, a place in the last four of the Readers Lancashire Inter-League Competition looked assured. But victory somehow eluded them.

It is hard to be critical when getting so close, and credit must go to bowlers Matt Twentyman and Matt White for their control, but this was a game the Saddleworth League should have won comfortably.

Number four batsman Cloete Buitendag, of Uppermill, tried to hit the ball over the top while facing only his third delivery — he was caught at mid-off — and Mudassar Butt played beautifully for 35 until holing out on the edge of the boundary.

There was no need to force the issue. Working the gaps for ones and two would have sufficed.

Dave Roberts, also of Uppermill, was within seven of a deserved half-century when he was stumped by wicketkeeper Danny Lomax. He had shown his intent by hitting five fours and a six in a 63-ball stay.

Francois Mostert departed in similar fashion for 13.

Openers Ben Holt and Brian Lord, along with Campbell, were already a long time back in the shed when Simon Belston galvanised his Bolton Association troops for one last push.

Stayley overseas amateur Oral Rankine, the last of the recognised batsman, became the eighth victim with the score on 160. He was also snared out of his ground.

Imran Khan was then bowled by White and Saif Ur Rehman followed off the fifth ball of the penultimate over, also stumped to end matters.

It was a rotten conclusion to a match the Saddleworth League dominated for large periods. Campbell, who had won the toss, could not have asked for anything more of his bowlers.

After first Rankine and Mostert had put the squeeze on the Bolton Association opening pair of Belston and David Flatley — the former top-scored with 37 — it was then over to Ur Rehman and Friarmere’s Khan to get among the wickets.

Rehman removed Flatley with the score on 49. He was the Droylsden seamer’s only victim in excellent figures of one for 25 from nine overs.

Khan picked up the next three wickets with his spin, including the dangerous Jamar Griffith for five. Figures of three for 37 from nine rewarded the faith of the team’s selectors.

The Saddleworth League, like their hosts later in the afternoon, had a knack of breaking partnerships before they could flourish.

Campbell, the Heyside all-rounder, handled his bowlers well and the return of Mostert to the attack kept the shackles on. The overseas amateur completed his nine-over spell with four for 23.

He took the Bolton Association’s ninth wicket with the final ball of the innings, but his efforts proved in vain.



RAIN took its toll on Saturday’s Saddleworth and District Cricket League programme.

Out of the 16 scheduled matches, only the first-team clash at South West Manchester got underway.

Reduced to 24 overs per side, visitors Whalley Range made 141 for seven, which included 50 from Faizan Ahmad Din.

South West Manchester were restricted to 98 for eight in reply. Waqas Malik was in form with ball, claiming six for 37.