New-look Shaw off to a perfect start

A BUNCH of strangers turned into first-day match-winners as Shaw made a perfect start to the 2017 JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League season.

The Holebottom Clough outfit featured seven debutants - eight if you count captain Steve Whiston's second bow after several years away - in the seven-wicket defeat of Royton.

Overseas amateur Jameel Stuart certainly got tongues wagging, smashing 117 not out off only 76 balls in the Championship showdown, while Tharshan Thayalan, a former Cheshire second XI player, took three wickets.

It was left-hander Stuart, though, who caught the eye, with the Barbadian hitting nine sixes and nine fours in a dynamic display with the bat.

Skipper Whiston: "One six landed on top of Royton's clubhouse, while another was last seen heading towards Royton town centre.

"It was a fantastic knock. He isn't very big, but he can hit the ball a long way.

"He's been netting and we did think a couple of times 'how far did that go?'.

"Tim Brimelow and Jameel put on 100 and it was good to watch. Tim batted really well and made sure he didn't give his wicket away cheaply."

Whiston couldn't have been more pleased with the performance ­- and he was quick to emphasise it was not all about Stuart's big-hitting show.

He added: "Everyone contributed in some shape or form.

"Jon Partington, who plays for Lancashire over-50s, did well behind the stumps and Taz (Tharshan Thayalan) bowled well.

"I was delighted and hopefully we can surprise a few people this season.

"A lot of the players hadn't even met before the game. It was a quick case of getting to know you . . . very quickly.

"Only three players from last season were in the first XI ­- Rick Doherty, Richard Keaveney and Ethan Chiappe ­- the rest were new faces."

SUFFERING

One player who didn't feature for Shaw was professional Sajid Mahmood, who was suffering from a back spasm. Ernest Kemm deputised.

Mahmood, the former Lancashire and England bowler, remains a doubt for this weekend's double-header against at home to Moorside on Saturday and at Hollinwood.