Heyside’s title race is run

IT is as you were at the top of the Saddleworth and District Cricket League after wins for the top three teams – but Heyside’s aspirations of retaining the title appear to be over.

A surprise defeat at Droylsden saw the lads from Little Hey Street slip one place to fifth in the table, a whopping 73 points adrift of leaders Glodwick.

Tanner Cup finalists Heyside were hoping their last season in the league – they are moving to the CLL in 2015 – would culminate in a seventh championship in the club’s history. Barring a miracle, that won’t happen.

Taking first knock, Droylsden made 199 for seven from their 45 overs. David Lees, more noted for taking wickets, scored an unbeaten 51. Danny Cashin claimed five for 57.

Heyside scraped one batting point in reply – they managed only 102 – as seam duo Mohammed Shakir and Saif Ur Rehman shared six victims.

Glodwick continued their relentless march at the head of the pack with a 103-runs victory at Friarmere.

The hosts restricted Nigel Stock’s men to 156 for eight. However, they were shot out for 53 – their fourth score below 100 on the spin.

Glodwick remain 49 points clear of Saddleworth, after the latter stumbled across the winning line at home to Austerlands.

The margin of victory was six runs after overseas amateur Mario Boyce’s fine 65 had helped the hosts to 198 for eight. Fellow overseas player Cameron Roxby hit 81 in reply, but the Australian’s effort was in vain.

Uppermill stay in third spot after a four-wicket success against Whalley Range – see separate story – while Moorside climbed three places to fourth after another Grant Hodnett master-class. The professional struck 102 not out in the eight-wicket triumph against Stayley at Turf Pit Lane.

Moorside were chasing 159, thanks to overseas amateur Francois Mostert’s intervention of five for 32.

It was a good day for the lower half of the table. Including Droylsden, four of the bottom seven teams emerged victorious.

Ryan Smith, the South African overseas player, grabbed four for 24 as his Wythenshawe side beat Greenfield by 75 runs at Ladhill Lane.

Shaw amassed an impressive 252 for three at South West Manchester, with paid man Ather Abid and overseas amateur Lachlan Mason compiling 82 and 77 not out respectively.

The hosts were never in the hunt and crashed to 130 all out in reply.

There was a close finish at Lime Lane, where Kashif Khan’s unbeaten 75 and Amir Afzal’s 63 lifted Hollinwood to 202 for six against Micklehurst.

Michael Blomeley’s charges made a great attempt in chasing down the target, but fell six runs short. Aussie pro Peter Skuse struck 89 and Adil Zeb scored 42.

Scores –

Division One: Droylsden 199-7 (D Lees 51 n.o, D Cashin 5-57), Heyside 102; Glodwick 156-8, Friarmere 53; Wythenshawe 181, Greenfield 106 (R Smith 4-24); Hollinwood 202-6 (K Khan 75 n.o, A Afzal 63), Micklehurst 197-6 (P Skuse 89, A Zeb 42); Stayley 151-8 (F Mostert 5-32), Moorside 155-2 (G Hodnett 102 n.o); Saddleworth 198-8 (M Boyce 65), Austerlands 192-9 (C Roxby 81); Shaw 252-3 (A Abid 82 L Mason 77 n.o), South West Manchester 130; Whalley Range 183-8 (W Malik 52 n.o, J Baron 4-45), Uppermill 184-6 (L Adair 44, M Brooks 43 n.o, W Malik 4-29).

Division Two: Heyside 115 (L Bentley 60, J Walker 5-39), Droylsden 117-4 (D Taylor 70); Glodwick 191-8 (A Qurishi 87), Friarmere 168 (U Iqbal 5-46); Greenfield 126-8, Wythenshawe 68; Hollinwood 222 (M Rafiq 72), Micklehurst 148; Moorside 91 (L Williams 5-30), Stayley 95-2 (B Patel 53); Austerlands 88, Saddleworth 89-5 (D Meehan 51 n.o); South West Manchester 86 (R Doherty 4-48, including hat-trick), Shaw 90-3; Uppermill 132-6 (M Salmon 62 n.o), Whalley Range 133-1 (S Chohan 78 n.o).