Hodnett now firing on all cylinders

Cricket:

FIVE wickets in the Whit derby defeat of Austerlands was backed up by six more as Kyle Hodnett inspired Moorside to a 32-runs victory over Glodwick in the SWB Commercials Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The former Bamford Fieldhouse seamer has been something of a slow-burner this season.

Hodnett, brother of Moorside professional Grant, didn’t take his first wicket for Moorside until in the Tanner Cup defeat by Saddleworth in the middle of last month. But he has now found his feet at Turf Pit Lane judged by his two most recent performances.

In the duel between the second and fourth-placed teams, hosts Moorside were restricted to 175 for nine, which included 51 from skipper Danny Anchor.

Glodwick, chasing a seventh league and cup success on the spin, were shot out for 143 in reply, with Hodnett recording a match-winning spell of six for 38. Paid man Rehan Rafiq made 62.

With Greenfield having an open date, Moorside are clear in second place, albeit 36 points adrift of leaders Saddleworth, who swept aside Wythenshawe by 155 runs at Longley Lane.

Darren Shadford fell four runs shorts of his first century of the season as the table-toppers made 235 for five.

Wythenshawe succumbed to 80 all out as pro Imran Aslam spun his magic with six for 20.

Whalley Range are up to third after denying a spirited Uppermill side at home. A fine 104 from Zarrar Malik and Junaid Maqsood’s 50 helped the hosts to 217 for six.

Uppermill, with overseas amateur Daelon Campbell scoring 75 and Matt Taylor unbeaten on 67, had got within 12 runs of victory when their overs were up.

CJ Ferreira prepared for his inter-league competition debut – see other story – by instigating Austerlands’ seven-wicket defeat of Friarmere.

The overseas amateur took five for 33 as the home team were dismissed for 107.

Stayley paid man Hamza Nadeem bagged a hat-trick in figures of seven for 33 as Droylsden were beaten by 85 runs at Oakfield.

Micklehurst climbed into mid-table after an 89-runs defeat of basement boys South West Manchester at Castle Lane.

And it was another overseas amateur who was to the fore. Alton Beckford top scored with 51 in a total of 205 and took five for 48.

Scores —

Division One: Stayley 215-5 (JP Lee 84, O Rankine 51), Droylsden 130-8 (M Zafran 80 n.o, H Nadeem 7-33); Friarmere 107 (CJ Ferreira 5-33), Austerlands 108-3; Micklehurst 205 (A Beckford 51, N Ahmed 5-49), South West Manchester 116 (A Beckford 5-48, M Brylowski 4-39); Moorside 175-9 (D Anchor 51), Glodwick 143 (R Rafiq 62, K Hodnett 6-38); Whalley Range 217-6 (Z Malik 104, J Maqsood 50), Uppermill 206-8 (D Campbell 75, M Taylor 67 n.o); Saddleworth 235-5 (D Shadford 96), Wythenshawe 80 (I Aslam 6-20).

Division Two: Stayley 210, Droylsden 212-5 (M Tipping 105); Friarmere 144-8, Austerlands 148-5 (J Stanton 52 n.o); South West Manchester 217-6 (M Javaid 102 n.o), Micklehurst 68; Glodwick 206-6 (G Broadhead 80 n.o), Moorside 94 (M Parkinson jnr 5-23); Whalley Range 352-3 (A Din 176 n.o, A Ishaq 64, A Vohra 54), Uppermill 127 (J Bradbury 56); Wythenshawe 115 (B Bain 54), Saddleworth 118-8 (M Dean 6-34) – Wythenshawe only had eight players.