Crompton in victory cruise

CROMPTON maintained their title challenge in The Lake Garage CLL following an impressive seven-wicket win against Clifton at Glebe Street on Saturday.

Clifton were bowled out for 98 after impressive bowling displays from professional Kevin Stoute and overseas amateur Javon Searles.

Stoute finished with figures of four wickets for 19 and Searles five for 59 as Crompton produced an almost flawless showing in the field.

In-form opening batsman Darren Graham, with an unbeaten 35, and Stoute, also with 35, were the mainstays of the batting as Crompton cruised to victory, making 101 for three in reply.

ROYTON piled on the misery for bottom club Ashton with an 87-run victory at Rayner Lane as they kept on the shirt-tails of the leading cluster of clubs.

Professional Luke Proctor hit 76 and Dion Taljard 30 as Royton made 192, Ashton’s Zaman taking seven wickets for 59.

Taljard then claimed a five-wicket haul for 47 runs as Ashton were bowled out for 115, professional Ian Daniel top scoring with 36.

OLDHAM strengthened their hold on a top-half spot following a five-wicket home win against Milnrow.

Greg Jennings scored 42 as Milnrow were bowled out for 159, Stuart Moore taking five wickets for 52.

Oldham reached their target with ease, making 163 for five, overseas amateur Nick Maree top scoring with 45.

There also useful knocks from Abid Faisel-Mesih (39) and paid-man Chinthaka Jayasinghe (33).

WERNETH failed to build on their win at high-flying Norden in the John Willie Lees Wood Cup as the lowly Coppice club was well beaten by 91 runs at Radcliffe.

Ashraf Gorsi scored 101 not out and Usman Tariq 62 as Radcliffe racked up 211 for nine. Werneth captain Andy Walker claimed four wickets for 20 and paid-man Loku three for 84.

Werneth were bowled out for 120, having collapsed from 76 for two, Loku contributing 36 runs. Carl Sandri took a five-wicket haul for 42 for the Racecourse club.

HEYWOOD’S title hopes were dealt a setback following a 20-run defeat at Littleborough who made 205 for nine before restricting Heywood to 185 for nine.

But it was an afternoon to remember for Heywood’s Chris Kaye who had a hat trick in a haul of six wickets for 42.

There were three centuries scored on Saturday from Littleborough overseas amateur Rudi Kaiser, Alcine Holder, of Rochdale, in their victory at Middleton and from Radcliffe’s Gorsi against Werneth.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Ashton 115 (Taljard 5-47), Royton 192 (Proctor 76, Zaman 7-59); Crompton 101-3, Clifton 98 (Searles 5-59); Littleborough 205-9 (Kaiser 104, Kaye 6-42), Heywood 185-9 (Cross 57); Middleton 151-8 (Avery 6-53), Rochdale 260-9 (Holder 105, Brierley 70); Monton & Weaste 110 Love 5-54), Unsworth 201-7 (Madson 63); Norden 189-9 (Fawkes 62 no), Walsden 214-5 (Hooson 68, Gunaratne 50); Oldham 163-5, Milnrow 159 (Moore 5-52); Radcliffe 211-9 (Gorsi 101 no, Tariq 62), Werneth 120 (Sandri 5-42).

ONLY one match escaped the rain in Friday’s final round of group games in the John Willie Lees Twenty20 Competition.

Monton & Weaste triumphed by 49 runs at Radcliffe in a match restricted to 15 overs per team.

All the other matches were decided by either the toss of a coin or bowl out at the stumps.
Norden v Middleton (Middleton won toss); Rochdale v Heywood (Heywood won toss); Crompton v Milnrow (Milnrow won bowl out 3-1); Littleborough v Walsden (Walsden won bowl out 1-0); Radcliffe 70-9, Monton & Weaste 119-6; Unsworth v Clifton (Clifton won bowl out 2-1); Ashton v Werneth (Ashton won toss); Royton v Oldham (Royton won toss).

QUARTER-FINAL DRAW

Monton & Weaste v Milnrow, Royton v Unsworth, Norden v Oldham, Walsden v Heywood. Matches to be played this Friday, wickets pitched 6.15pm.

ROYTON failed to build on Saturday’s emphatic victory at Ashton as Monton & Weaste beat them yesterday by five wickets at The Paddock.

Professional Luke Proctor hit 42, overseas amateur Simon Harmer 40 and Ryan Harding 36 out of a Royton total of 153 all out, Gaurav Sharma claiming five wickets for 56.

Sharma then top scored with 58 and, along with Lee Dale’s 44, that proved the cornerstone of the visitors’ 155 for five.

CROMPTON missed a great opportunity to put further pressure on the leading clubs as they lost they five wickets at Walsden.

With Radcliffe losing at Clifton and Heywood’s home game against Middleton washed out, Crompton had a great chance to make up ground on the leading two teams.

They batted reasonably well, but a score of 173 all out was always going to be a tall order to defend on a small ground like Walsden’s.

Opener Darren Graham’s fine run continued as he and professional Kevin Stoute each scored 44, Walsden professional Janaka Gunaratne taking six wickets for 44.

Sri Lankan Gunaratne then top scored with 41 out of a total of 177 for five as Walsden won with ease.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Clifton 177-4 (Nisar 81no), Radcliffe 173 (Tariq 78, Nisar 7-53); Heywood v Middleton - no play; Milnrow 110-8, Littleborough 165-6 (Kaiser 62); Rochdale 109-8 (Arthur 5-58), Norden 113-1 (Malik 73); Royton 153 (Sharma 5-56), Monton & Weaste 155-5 (Sharma 58); Unsworth v Ashton - no play; Walsden 177-5, Crompton 173 (Gunaratne 6-44); Werneth 107-6, Oldham 106-8 (Loku 5-50).