In-form Shaw riding the crest of a wave

PERFECT records are put on the line in the JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League tomorrow.

Holebottom Clough is the venue as Shaw and Middleton - each with three wins out of three in the Championship - go head to head in a top-of-the-table clash.

Shaw, despite all their problems trying to recruit players over the winter months, have proved the surprise package in 2017.

While they had ex-Lancashire and England paceman Sajid Mahmood signed up as a professional well in advance of the new season getting under way, they were struggling to fill the other first XI spots up until a couple of weeks before the season started.

Captain Steve Whiston managed to pull together a team, though, and results have so far been terrific.

Tharshan Thayalan, bagging 12 wickets at an average of 8.25, opens the bowling with Mahmood, while overseas amateur Jameel Stuart has struck more than 250 runs, which includes an unbeaten 117.

Whiston said: "We're effectively a brand new team and are playing with a lot of confidence.

"Everyone is enjoying each other's company - the camaraderie is good.

"In fact, there is a positive vibe about the place.

'CHASING DOWN'

"From the under-15s, who beat Greenfield chasing down 136 in midweek, to the seconds who beat Hollinwood in the Burton Cup last Saturday, the club are on a high and long may it continue."

Although, Mahmood has yet to hit the heights in taking wickets - he only has a couple to his name - the 35-year-old has kept things tight.

Whiston is not concerned and with the back injury which kept Mahmood out of the first game of the season cleared up, he expects the right-armer to make his presence felt.

The skipper added: "Saj would be the first to say that his performances could be a little bit better, but they will come once he is back to full fitness.

"It's not all about him, though, or Jameel. We haven't been reliant on those two.

"We were 100 odd for five against Hollinwood in the league the other week, but we got to 240, thanks to Joe Whitehead and Rak Mahmood.

"Taz (Tharshan) has also been excellent, so it's all about the team, rather than a couple of individuals."

This weekend's fixtures (matches start 1.30pm):

TOMORROW - Premiership: Austerlands v Stayley; Crompton v Rochdale; Glodwick v Norden; Heyside v Monton and Weaste; Littleborough v Greenfield; Saddleworth v Walsden.

Championship: Friarmere v Ashton; Oldham v Moorside; Royton v Moorside; Shaw v Middleton; Uppermill v Micklehurst; Werneth v Milnrow.

SUNDAY - Premiership: Greenfield v Saddleworth; Monton and Weaste v Littleborough; Norden v Heyside; Rochdale v Glodwick; Stayley v Crompton; Walsden v Austerlands.

Championship: Ashton v Werneth; Hollinwood v Royton; Micklehurst v Shaw; Middleton v Oldham; Milnrow v Uppermill; Moorside v Friarmere.