Weekend Review: Greater Manchester Cricket League

Here's what happened in the Greater Manchester Cricket League over the weekend.

Premier Division

Greenfield travelled to Woodbank and returned with a victory which enabled them draw level with their hosts.  Both clubs now have 45 points, some 21 points adrift of runaway leaders Denton SL.  Greenfield limited Woodbank to 164-9, but might have been a little disappointed after having them at 111-7.  Brad Woolley and pro Yohan da Silva picked up 3 wickets each. The visitors then slipped to 105-6 in reply but da Silva, with an assured knock, took them home, finishing with 65*.  Woodhouses climbed away from  the basement with a good win at Roe Green where they posted 208-7, batting first.  Matty Taylor, (91), was at the heart of compiling a challenging total.  Skipper Nick Hardman, (5-47),  played a key role in the win as Roe Green fell 46 short. Royton tumbled to defeat for the 10^th time as they failed to challenge a modest target of 159, (pro Chirag Khurana 4-38), for the win set by Prestwich. Royton did reach 77-1 and hopes would have been high of a 2^nd win, but 9 wickets then fell for 42.  Whilst Royton might not be able to buy a win in the league they have progressed to the Derek Kay Cup Final after beating Woodhouses by 23 runs at the Paddock on Sunday. Khurana, (91) and some late order resistance from Regan Hadfield, (45*), saw Royton total 192.  Woodhouses fell to 31-5, but a partnership of 93 between Leighton Friend, (64), and Imran Yousaf, (37), put them well back in the game but they couldn’t keep this going, eventually finishing on 169ao.  Royton will now meet Denton SL in the final at Roe Green on 4^th August.

Stand 89ao Egerton 191-6; Clifton 157ao Flixton 257ao; Woodbank 164-9 Greenfield 165-6; Denton SL 198ao Monton 135ao; Royton 119ao Prestwich 158ao; Roe Green 162ao Woodhouses 208-7

Division 1A

Moorside went to the top of the table after beating previous leaders Denton West by 5 wickets.  West were blown away for 81, inside 22 overs, with Nimroe Latagan taking 4-34.  Moorside did lose 5 wickets reaching the target but the win now leaves them really well placed for a title push and Premiership cricket next year.  Moorside’s win also allowed Glodwick to climb into 2^nd place as they easily chased the Swinton Moorside total of 178, (Arkam Zeer starring with 6-56). A steady start saw Glodwick well on the way to the win which was hastened with a quickfire 67* from pro Mohammed Mohsin. There was a welcome win for Austerlands as they closed the gap to Switnon with a local derby win over Uppermill.  Uppermill got 188-5, with sixties for both Darren Shadford and pro Ayaz Tasawar, in a game restricted to 34 overs a side after rain delayed the start.  There was thrilling finish as Austerlands got home by 4 wickets with 3 balls to spare after a consistent display which saw all the top 5 contribute well.

Brooksbottom 217-4 Denton 101ao; Glossop 106-2 Heywood 104ao; Swinton Moorside 178ao Glodwick 181-3; Unsworth 50ao Flowery Field 185ao; Moorside 85-5 Denton West 81ao; Austerlands 189-6 Uppermill 188-5

Division 1B

Heyside led the table not so long ago but a 4^th defeat in a row saw them drop to 5^th.  They went to Edgworth and the home side ran up 197-7 in a rain restricted 34 over game. It was 33 too many for Heyside despite 54 from sub pro Mansoor Amjad.  At the top of the table, in the promotion spots are Astley & Tyldesley and Walshaw, with Heyside now 12 points adrift.

Astley & Tyldesley 226ao Droylsden 149ao; Bury 119-3 Dukinfield 115-8; Edgworth 197-7 Heyside 164-9; Greenmount 141ao Westleigh 142-9; Walshaw 121ao Stayley 96ao; Whalley Range 140-6 Thornham 139-7

Division 2A

Shaw and Elton share the top spots on 65 points each.  Shaw had yet another comprehensive win, this time over Littleborough Lakeside.  After slipping to 29-3 in a 34 over game a partnership of 118 between Graeme Simpson (48) and Jack Pilling (58*) provided the basis for 162-5. Simpson, (4-29), then led the way with the ball and, aided by 4-30 from pro Dilanka Sandakan, Shaw ran out winners by 79 runs.  Conditions at the Coppice prevented any play between Werneth and East Lancs PM.

Elton Vale 53ao  Elton 180-6; Littleborough Lakeside 83ao Shaw 162-5; Prestwich 2^nd XI 133ao Glossop 2^nd XI 148ao; Winton 182-9 Roe Green 2^nd XI 173ao; Micklehurst 171ao Bury 2^nd XI 172-9;  Werneth v East Lancs PM – no play

Division 2B

Friarmere’s march to title continued as they romped home by 8 wickets at Denton West 2^nd XI.  Adrian du Toit starred once again for Friarmere.  He took 5-37 and together with Jamie King, (4-51), limited Wests to 166ao.  This proved no problem as Du Toit, (87*) and Sohail Mahmood, (50), took them  well on the way to a win with 11 overs to spare.

Denton West 2^nd XI 166ao Friarmere 168-2; SW Manchester v Oldham N/A; Tottington St Johns 152ao Deane & Derby 154-4; Wythenshawe v Stretford – N/A ; Ashton 60ao Edenfield 61-0; Greenfield 2^nd XI 127-8 Whalley Range 2^nd XI 131-3

Division 3 East

There is no change at the top as Saddleworth and Springhead both won to cement their position in the top two places.  Saddleworth totalled 172 visiting Heywood 2^nd XI in an innings which saw the last 9 wickets fall for 29 after a great partnership between Sam Holt, (83), and Stephen Howard, (43).  It was far too may for the hosts who managed only 110-8, (Hamza Zaffar 4-29).  Springhead made short work of Dukinfield 2^nd XI after getting 172 themselves, (Dan Mulkeen 57).  Lee Bayliss led the way with 4-35 as Dukinfield fell for 81, and defeat by 91 runs.

Denton 2^nd XI 140-5 Stand 2^nd XI 136-8; Dukinfield 2^nd XI 81ao Springhead 172ao; Flowery Field 2^nd XI 209-4 Unsworth 2^nd XI 162ao; Heywood 2^nd XI 110-8 Saddleworth 177ao; Oldham 2^nd XI 106ao Werneth 2^nd XI 108-7; Glodwick 2^nd XI 162ao Denton SL 2^nd XI 144ao

Division 4 East

There was a close game at Newton Heath as the home side chased a moderate Ashton 2^nd XI total of 108-7.  Michael Clewlow, (52*) was the only batsman to get to grips with a tight Ashton attack as Heath took 40 overs to reach the target.  Failsworth Macedonia had a disappointing weekend after failing to even challenge Thornham 2^nd XI’s 140-9 as they fell for 67 themselves.  The following day, in the Championship Cup semi final they were demolished by United Stars who had no trouble passing Macedonia’s 64ao.

Thornham 2^nd XI 140-9 Failsworth Macedonia 67ao; Woodhouses 2^nd XI 97ao Moorside 2^nd XI 101-2; Newton Heath 109-6 Ashton 2^nd XI 108-7; Heyside 2^nd XI v Royton 2^nd XI – no play ; Stayley 2^nd XI 70-5 Ashton Ladysmith 67ao; Friarmere 2^nd XI v  United Stars – no play

Cup Semi-Finals

Derek Kay Cup Roe Green 197-9 Denton SL 203-6; Royton 192ao Woodhouses 169ao

1^st XI League Cup Friarmere 128ao Shaw 262-9; Stretford 119ao Westleigh 121-6

1^st XI Championship Cup Failsworth Macedonia 64ao United Stars 65-1

2^nd XI Premier Cup Denton SL 214-6 Clifton 217-4; Prestwich 140-2 Greenfield 136ao

2^nd XI Championship Cup Heyside 212-5 Littleborough Lakeside 210ao; Austerlands 144-9 Winton 109ao