Werneth claim derby honours

MILNROW’S Mark Fraser is bowled by Oldham’s Stuart Moore in Saturday’s match between the clubs.

AS WERNETH celebrated a win over their neighbours, Oldham had only themselves to blame for yesterday’s four-wicket derby defeat at The Coppice.

In a match reduced to 25 overs per team because of rain, Oldham produced a perfect example of how not to bat.

And their charity was gratefully accepted by lowly Werneth, who recorded their second win in their last three games, all of which have been against top-half teams.

Oldham, who were put in to bat on a wet track, were always up against it after posting a score of only 106 for eight from their 25 overs.

Captain Mel Whittle had been looking for a total of 120/125 which would have put pressure on Werneth, who only reached their modest target with eight balls to spare.

In what was more of a Twenty20 style match than the traditional league fixture, Oldham never recovered from an awful start.

They had been reduced to 12 for two in the fourth over, Paul Thompson trapped leg before by Werneth professional Loku and paid man Chinthaka Jayasinghe caught at mid-off by Mark Dronsfield off the bowling of Alan Wilson for nought.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ player Jayasinghe was recklessly dismissed from only his second delivery when there was no need to take such a risk.

That was also the case for overseas amateur Nick Maree who also threw away his wicket skying a catch to Werneth captain Andy Walker from his first ball as Oldham found themselves 21 for three in the sixth over.

Though there was some spirited middle order resistance from Abid Faisel-Masih, who top scored with 32, Jason Maher (18 not out) and Liam Garnett, Oldham managed a disappointing total with Whittle annoyed by some of the shots which had dismissed his batsmen.

Loku finished with a five-wicket haul for 50 runs while 21-year-old Wilson had three for 55 from 12 overs.

Werneth recovered from the third-over dismissal of Jon Slater with Matt Taylor and Loku batting sensibly to take the score from seven to 48 for the second wicket when Taylor skied a catch to Navid Mohammed at mid-on.

The only anxiety Werneth suffered was when they lost the wickets of Loku and overseas amateur Nathan Griffin in successive overs and, with Walker dismissed for a duck soon after, they were suddenly reduced to 89 for five.

After the previous day’s batting collapse in their league defeat at Radcliffe, it was always going to be a test of Werneth’s mettle as they still needed 18 runs with little over five overs remaining.

The Dronsfield brothers, Mark and Ian, and Andrew Fink helped steer Werneth to victory with some sensible play.

Oldham, despite bowling tidily, were made to pay for their woeful batting as had they managed another 20 runs there might have been a different outcome.