Werneth finally break their duck for season

Crompton’s Carl Taylor in action

WERNETH have finally won a Lake Garage CLL Premier Division match!

The breakthrough in this difficult season for the Coppice club came at Heywood on Saturday - and what a thriller it proved to be.

Matt Taylor’s side took first guard and were bowled out for 216, Ali Muzaffer top scoring with 55 and receiving fine support from professional Mohammed Zaman Khan (49) and Ali Shah (43).

Heywood's deputy pro, South African Cobus Pienaar, took four for 35, while the ever-reliable Chris Kaye chipped in with four for 60.

Chasing a decent total on a large Crimble ground, Heywood were given a solid start by skipper Danny Pawson (52) and Bobby Cross (49).

But they slipped behind the required run rate and lost vital wickets as Mohammed Abbas (six for 68) set about them, and Pienaar's 37 proved in vain as they fell a single run short of Werneth's total for the loss of nine wickets.

The only disappointment for Werneth was fellow strugglers Clifton's victory at Rochdale, but more performances like the one at Heywood could yet see Werneth escape the clutches of relegation.

Royton, meanwhile, were comprehensively beaten by Norden at Woodhouse Lane.

The hosts took first guard and rattled up 242 for four thanks to Simon North's 77, an unbeaten 65 from Matthew Williams and 52 by professional Daniel Salpietro.

In reply, Royton were dismissed for a disappointing 153. Plenty of batsmen got in before losing their wickets without posting a meaningful score.

Spinner Oliver Makin was Norden’s most successful bowler with four for 37.

CHAMPIONSHIP action saw a third facile success in a row for Crompton and a heartbreaking defeat for Oldham.

Crompton had swatted aside Ashton and Oldham before Saturday’s home match against Radcliffe, and it was more of the same here.

Radcliffe were skittled for a paltry 80, Aqib Zulfiqar picking up three wickets for only eight runs.

Crompton knocked off the runs they needed for the loss of a single wicket, with Andy Yates unbeaten on 36.

Oldham lost by a single wicket against Middleton at the Pollards despite making only 128 after batting first in a match delayed because of a wet pitch.

Hamza Hussain almost won the match for the hosts with four for 36, but Middleton reached their target for the loss of nine wickets

They needed a six off the last ball and professional Grant Edmeades, who made a match-winning 64 not out, duly delivered. Harvey Nicholls gave him fine suppport with 40.

Scores –

Premier Division: Heywood 215-9 (Pawson 52, Cross 49, Abbas 6-68), Werneth 216 (Muzaffer 55, Z Khan 49, Shah 43, Pienaar 4-35, Kaye 4-60); Norden 242-4 (North 77, Williams 65 n.o., Salpietro 52), Royton 153 (Makin 4-37); Rochdale 215-7 (Ayres 52, Lansdale 51), Clifton 216-4 (Masmulla 64, Griffiths 46, Parkinson 44, Chapman 32 n.o.); Walsden 183-3 (Rawlinson 83, Pathan 49 n.o.), Littleborough 182-9.

Championship: Crompton 81-1 (Yates 36 n.o.), Radcliffe 80 (Zulfiqar 3-8); Milnrow 231-7 (Second 140 n.o., Williams 4-62), Unsworth 154 (Fazil 54, Wilkinson 6-40); Oldham 128 (Abdul 40), Middleton 129-9 (Edmeades 64 n.o., Nicholls 40, H Hussain 4-36); Monton and Weaste 82-3, Ashton 80 (Khali 38, Shafiq 3-2, Hall 3-28).