Hollinwood prevail despite Ayaz's ton

FOCUSED . . . Hollinwood captain Abid Hussain

IT was hats off to Hollinwood, who defied a stubborn knock from Uppermill's Ayaz Tasawwar, to record a sixth win of the season in the JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League Championship.

The Pakistani professional scored a terrific 102 not out - he reached his ton with a four off the last ball - in the visitors' total of 167 for nine.

Hollinwood lost seven wickets before crossing the line with 10 balls to spare at Lime Lane.

Pro Sajid Mahmood continued his good form with the bat, hitting 55 out of Shaw's 165 for nine at Moorside.

Imran Khan took three for 39, while Lee Warburton and Drew Fullalove, playing against his former club, claimed two wickets apiece.

Khan was also among the runs - he scored an unbeaten 46 - as the team in third eased to seven-wicket victory in the 33rd over.

Opener Ruan Havenga struck 50 off 39 balls, which included nine fours.

Leaders Middleton swept aside Werneth by 130 runs at Towncroft - but only after an indifferent start to their innings.

They were eight for two, until Grant Jones (65) and opener Harry Gee (61) put on 118 for the third wicket.

Middleton then faltered to 158 for eight, before important late-order runs from Danny Royle (21) and Mohammad Shahid (15) lifted the total to 199. Ali Muzaffar claimed four for 31.

Any hope Werneth had soon evaporated as they slipped to 32 for four. They were eventually all out for 69. Matthew Taylor, with 34, made almost half of the runs.

James Maurice-Scott was in superb form with the bat as Royton proved too good for Oldham.

The captain scored 119, which featured 19 fours and one six, and paid Chirag Khurana added 44 out of 205 for seven at The Paddock.

The match was reduced to 41 overs per side because of a mopping up operation, but Oldham only managed to bat 31.1 as they were skittled for 68. Khurana took four of the wickets to fall for 15 runs.

At Ladyhouse, home side Milnrow dismissed Friarmere for 106 to a earn a 91-run victory.

Scores -

Championship: Milnrow 197-7, Friarmere 106; Shaw 165-9 (S Mahmood 55), Moorside 169-3 (R Havenga 50, I Khan 46 n.o); Uppermill 167-9, Hollinwood 168-7; Middleton 199 (G Jones 65, H Gee 61, A Muzaffar 4-31), Werneth 69 (M Taylor 34); Royton 205-7 (J Maurice-Scott 119, C Khurana 44), Oldham 68 (C Khurana 4-15); Micklehurst v Ashton - result no received.