Close defeat for Delph

CRICKET:  

DELPH stumbled to a 15-run defeat in their Drakes Huddersfield League Premiership match-of-the-day clash at Shepley.

The second-placed hosts took first knock, and with Jamshad Ahmad taking five for 70 and Lancashire prospect Arron Lilley three for 69, they were restricted to 161 all out.

Hopes were high for Grant Jones’s men in reply, but they could only reach 146.

Andy Gleave hit 43 and Craig Fletcher 42, but Shepley’s destroyer-in-chief was Duncan Allan, who returned superb bowling figures of seven for 77.

Delph are back in action tomorrow (6.30pm start) when they host Slaithwaite in their opening Twenty20 Trophy group fixture.