Hugo leads Heyside assault

STUNNED by Glodwick seven days earlier, normal service was resumed for a Roelof Hugo-inspired Heyside in the Armstrong Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League on Saturday.

While his fellow countryman were floundering at Lord’s, the South African professional was piling up the runs against Friarmere at Little Hey Street.

Hugo hit a club-best 185 not out — it was also the highest individual score in the league this season — as Heyside, the leaders, amassed a mammoth 304 for five in a match reduced to 40 overs per side after rain.

But it could have been so different for the 25-year-old, from Johannesburg.

After surviving a run-out chance on nought, he was then dropped on 10 before smashing 17 sixes in a belligerent display of batting. At one stage, four balls were lost out of the ground.

Nicky Campbell helped himself to 68 and Ryan Barnes struck 40. Paul Jewitt took four of the five wickets to fall — three in the final over — for 115 runs.

Sohail Mahmood (45), captain Andrew Walker (38) and paid man Liam Sebastien (31) all got starts as Friarmere slumped to 176. Campbell completed a fine afternoon’s work with five for 22 from 4.5 overs.

That man Zeeshan Khan can do very little wrong at the moment for Heyside’s nearest challengers, Uppermill, who remain 21 points adrift in second place.

The overseas amateur from Pakistan scored 84 for the second week running in a nine-wicket win over Droylsden at Leefields.

With veteran Gary Crossley chipping in with an unbeaten 50, Uppermill had no trouble in chasing down 153 for eight.

Paddy McKeown and Lincoln Roberts both came close to recording centuries for Bamford Fieldhouse.

They fell for 97 and 93 respectively — as third-placed Bamford accumulated 247 for eight at Austerlands.

The home side managed a more than respectable 203 all out in reply, thank to Pubudu Seneviratne’s 62. Max Power picked up four for 51.

Imran Aslam was the star of the show as Glodwick, three-wicket winners over Moorside, claimed another notable scalp at Warren Lane.

The Pakistani professional took five for 45 and was unbeaten on 92 for Mark Parkinson’s in-form outfit.

With 11 in two games, Aslam has become the first player to reach a half-century of wickets (54) this season.

For Moorside, who were restricted to 176 for nine, it was their third consecutive defeat after losing twice in the league and to Heyside in the last-eight of the Tanner Cup.

Saddleworth bounced back from their disappointment in losing to Heyside in the semi-finals of the Tanner Cup.

Steven Holmes collected six for 20 — club-best figures for the medium-pace bowler — as opponents Shaw were skittled out for 103 at Well-i-Hole.

Peter Skuse’s side reached their goal and in doing so made it back-to-back wins for the first time this season for the loss of three wickets.

The match between Hollinwood and Greenfield at Lime Lane was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain.

Scores —
Division one: Bamford Fieldhouse 247-8 (P McKeown 97, L Roberts 93), Austerlands 203 (P Seneviratne 62, M Power 4-51); Moorside 176-9 (I Aslam 5-45), Glodwick 177-7 (I Aslam 92 not out); Heyside 304-5 (R Hugo 185 not out, N Campbell 68, R Barnes 40, P Jewitt 4-115), Friarmere 176 (S Mahmood 45, N Campbell 5-22); Hollinwood v Greenfield — no play, rain; Shaw 103 (S Holmes 6-20), Saddleworth 104-3; Droylsden 153-8, Uppermill 156-1 (Z Khan 84, G Crossley 50 not out).

Division two: Bamford Fieldhouse 123, Austerlands 124-2; Heyside 215-8 (B Holt 55, S Rowbotham 50), Friarmere 132 (W Munir 61); Greenfield 146 (J Higgins 52), Hollinwood 147-6; Moorside 133 (J Khan 59), Glodwick 138-8; Shaw 140-6, Saddleworth 145-6.