Mahmood in the runs for Shaw

WHILE Shaw professional Sajid Mahmood has struggled to make an impact with the ball so far this season in the Pennine Cricket League Championship, the ex-Lancashire and England seamer is starting to excel with the bat.

Following on from a half-century in the Tom Hardman Twenty20 Cup on Friday evening - see bottom story - Mahmood recorded a summer's best of 95 in the 63-run defeat of Oldham 24 hours later.

It was a case of attack being the best form of defence as the Holebottom Clough paid man faced just 49 balls, smashing eight fours and seven sixes before falling to Bahadar Khan Wasim.

Mahmood conceded 20 runs from his three overs when it was Shaw's turn to bowl at The Pollards, but Mel Whittle' four for 17 return helped dismiss Oldham for 106.

Ashton climbed off the bottom, courtesy of a first league win of the season, by a comfortable eight-wicket margin at Hollinwood.

The bowlers did the damage, skittling the hosts for a meagre 54.

Middleton continued their merry way at the top of the table with a 100-run victory at home to Milnrow.

Pro Chris Williams' 71 was the mainstay of the visitors' total of 177 for seven, while Michael Pritchard's seven for 34 was the outstanding bowling effort as the high-fliers sealed a 10th league win from 11 matches.

Royton remain 10 points adrift in second place after a 33-run defeat of Uppermill at The Paddock.

It was by no means a walk in the park for James Maurice-Scott's men in the 32-overs per side clash.

They were 127 for six, before some late resistance from Joe Greaves (36) and Chris Jewell (15) lifted them to 185 for eight.

Royton then watched Uppermill's second-wicket pair of Paul Thompson (58) and pro Ayaz Tasawwar (44) add 88, but the capture of seven wickets for nine runs saw them clinch victory. Matthew Smith bagged five for 47.

Paid man Salman Syed posted his best score of the season so far, 96, as Friarmere defeated Micklehurst by 83 runs at Castle Lane.

Ruan Havenga had a good game for Moorside in the eight-wicket defeat of Werneth.

The overseas amateur took five for 35 in restricting the visitors to 114 all out and, after a hearty tea, scored 60 in the successful run chase.

Scores -

Saturday, Championship: Shaw 169-9 (S Mahmood 95), Oldham 106 (N Ashraf 48, M Whittle 4-17); Hollinwood 54, Ashton 55-2; Middleton 177-7 (C Williams 71), Milnrow 77 (M Pritchard 7-34); Royton 185-8, Uppermill 155 (P Thompson 58, A Tasawwar 44, M Smith 5-47); Werneth 114 (Ruan Havenga 5-35), Moorside 112-2 (R Havenga 60) - revised target of 111; Friarmere 201-8 (S Syed 96), Micklehurst 118 (M Mukdas 5-32).