Howard shows way to route 66

Mohammed Irfan joins the attack

SADDLEWORTH LEAGUE SATURDAY

STEVE Howard rolled up his sleeves and dug leaders Saddleworth out of a hole at home to Whalley Range.

Although the all-rounder has reached the mid to late order of a club cricketer's career, his enthusiasm for the game has far from diminished.

In fact, Howard seems more determined than ever to prove that there is still life in the old dog and his match-winning figures of six for 22 maintained his side’s unbeaten record in the SWB Commercials Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The high-fliers, without influential batsman Darren Shadford, were staring down the barrel after being restricted to 149 for eight at Well-i-Hole.

However, with chest pumped out, up stepped spinner Howard to help skittle the visitors for a paltry 66 runs.

Saddleworth’s lead is 36 points from Moorside and Greenfield, who both have a match in hand.

Greenfield were too strong for still winless Uppermill, who managed 118 in pursuit of 197 for victory at Leefields.

Moorside professional Grant Hodnett hasn’t enjoyed the best of starts to the season, averaging just above 32 for his first five innings, but he was more like the player everyone has come to know at Stayley.

Scoring an unbeaten 87, he guided his team-mates over the line with seven wickets to spare, in reply to the hosts’ 165.

Glodwick’s paid man, Rehan Rafiq, has hit his straps lately.

After bagging a ton while acting as a stand-in pro for CLL outfit Werneth earlier in the month, the Pakistani repeated the feat for his regular employers. His superb 131 not out was the foundation for home side’s total of 243 for eight against Micklehurst.

To complete a fine afternoon’s work, Rafiq then took five for 24 and claimed two catches to seal a comfortable 88-run triumph.

Steamrollered by Greenfield six days previously, Shaw, needing only 62, bounced back to beat South West Manchester by three wickets at Ellesmere Road.

Scores —

Division One: Austerlands 255-4 (A Zakir 88, Adam Young 78), Droylsden 43-9 (M Irfan 6-18); Glodwick 243-8 (R Rafiq 131 n.o), Micklehurst 155 (R Rafiq 5-24); Saddleworth 149-8 (D Roberts42, D Abel 4-26), Whalley Range 66 (S Howard 6-22); South West Manchester 61, Shaw 65-7; Stayley 165 (H Naeem 71 n.o, L Warburton 5-43), Moorside 168-3 (G Hodnett 87 n.o); Greenfield 196-9 (C Gill 40, D Campbell 4-53), Uppermill 118.

Division Two: Droylsden 122-8 (N Inkpen 5-22), Austerlands 100; Glodwick 143, Micklehurst 95 (Z Lohdi 5-27); Shaw 28, South West Manchester 30-2 — Shaw had 10 players; Moorside 177-7 (I Johnston 50), Stayley 170; Uppermill 58 (J Wood 4-6), Greenfield 61-0 (B Willis 40 n.o); Saddleworth 159-7 (B Pollard 65), Whalley Range 160-7 (R McGrath 5-33, S Ishaq 58).