Having a blast . . . all eyes on final round of T20 Cup group games

THERE is everything to play for in Group 'B' of the Pennine Cricket League's Tom Hardman Twenty20 Cup competition.

With one round of matches remaining, four of the six teams are in with a chance of qualifying for the last eight

The top two go through from each group, and Crompton kept alive their hopes by defeating leaders Royton by eight wickets.

Professional Akbar Rehman claimed four for 26 and scored 61 not out in chasing down a target of 160.

Glodwick have taken over top spot on run-rate after a comprehensive 11-run victory over Ashton, and Hollinwood are in the hunt after a one-wicket win at Milnrow.

The situation is identical in Group 'D', with Uppermill, Greenfield, Austerlands and Rochdale gunning for a place in the quarter-finals.

Without a win previously in the competition, Friarmere upset the apple cart by defeating group leaders Greenfield.

Uppermill leapt to the head of affairs after beating Austerlands.

Norden and Moorside have both qualified from Group 'A' after maintaining their 100-per-cent records in the competition.

Overseas amateur Ruan Havenga smashed 95 from 54 balls as Moorside overcame Stayley by 72 runs.

Through from Group 'C' are Littleborough and Walsden.

The former defeated Middleton by 16 runs in a low-scoring game - and the former recorded a seven-wicket victory at home to Shaw.

In the the other game, Werneth got off the mark with a six-wicket win at Saddleworth.

The last round of group games take place on Friday, July 14.

Scores -

Group 'A': Norden 157-8 (J Lenihan 4-42), Monton and Weate score not received; Moorside 194-6 (R Havenga 95), Stayley 123-9 (D McLachlan 43); Heyside v Micklehurst - score not received. Group 'B': Royton 159-7 (J Maurice-Scott 45, L Brown 62, A Rehman 4-26), Crompton 160-2 (A Rehman 61 n.o, D Louis 44, Ste Wright 42); Glodwick 183-3 (R Rafiq 54 n.o), Ashton 72 (M Ahmed 3-19); Milnrow 104-6 (M Anwar Jnr 42), Hollinwood 105-9. Group 'C': Littleborough 106-6 (E Kemm 44), Middleton 90-9 (R Miskell 5-20); Saddleworth 106 (M Hodson 3-28), Werneth 107-4 (M Taylor 37, J Taylor 32); Shaw 129-8 (U Karunaratne 3-18), Walsden 131-3. Group 'D': Friarmere 97-8, Greenfield 78-7; Austerlands 117-9 (A Jones 4-25), Uppermill 121-1 (J Shaw 50 n.o, A Tasawwar 42 n.o); Oldham 120-9, Rochdale 121-3.