Rafiq tightens Glodwick’s grip
Date published: 14 July 2014
Photo: Pictures by TIM BRADLEY.
HITTING OUT . . . Heyside’s Ryan Barnes shows aggressive intent against the Moorside attack.
IT seems only Saddleworth can deny Glodwick a first title after rain interrupted the weekend’s Saddleworth and District Cricket League programme.
The top two teams managed to finish their respective fixtures before the heavens opened, while defeat for third-placed Uppermill put a huge dent in their hopes of mounting a challenge.
Fortunately for leaders Glodwick, they had already wrapped up an 89-run success at home to Greenfield.
The match was a personal triumph for Rehan Rafiq.
The Glodwick professional struck his first century of the season, a superb 107, but only after he was dropped in the 90s.
Rafiq is not a flamboyant batsman. He does not go out to entertain the spectators with outrageous shots. He puts his side in a position from which their bowlers have something to play with.
In this instance he had an able partner in Imran Asghar, who added 66 valuable runs with his senior partner for the eighth wicket.
The pair came together with Glodwick teetering on 127 for seven, but through determination and skill, they lifted their side to 193.
The fact that Asghar scored only 15 runs did not matter; he stuck around long enough so Rafiq could manage the innings in his usual diligent manner.
Rafiq was the last man out, bowled by Greenfield skipper Alex Peters in the final over, with the total on 216. He hit 12 fours and three sixes in his 119-ball stay.
Greenfield were three wickets down before they had reached 40 – Peters was unfortunate to be given out leg before with a ball appearing to be going over the stumps – at which stage Adam Robinson joined paid man Chris Gill at the crease.
The duo frustrated Glodwick for 42 runs before Shahid Mahmood, who made 33, trapped Robinson lbw for 14. He bowled Joe Hepworth moments later for a duck.
Adam Hayes also failed to trouble the scorers, departing to a brilliant stumping by
16-year-old Jamie Symonds off Rafiq’s left-arm spin. Greenfield were suddenly 82 for six.
That became 94 for eight – Mike Moore was also stumped with a ball which travelled down the leg-side – before Michael Bird slashed Mahmood, his fourth victim, to Franco Lenhardt with the score on 105.
overhead, dad Peter joined son Chris in the middle. After cutting the ball to the
boundary, Glodwick captain Nigel Stock told Asghar "to get us off the pitch".
The next ball he bowled Gill the senior, leaving Gill the younger unbeaten on 76.
Saddleworth remain 49 points adrift in second place after a 73-run success at Hollinwood.
The fifth wicket pair of overseas amateur Mario Boyce (79 not out) and Steve Taylor (31n.o.) blasted 101 off the final 7.3 overs, lifting the visitors to an impressive 251 for four.
Saddleworth pro Imran Asghar took four for 59 in Hollinwood's reply of 179.
Uppermill came unstuck at Wythenshawe, and now trail Glodwick by 76 runs.
Dismissed for 175 – Martin Leonard claimed five for 57 – a break for rain left 'Mill defending a revised target of 158 in 39 overs.
But Wythenshawe had few alarms, achieving victory with five wickets to spare.
