Awesome Aslam in one-man show

Photo: Paul Sterritt

TAKING AIM . . . Michael Bird produces a delivery during a probing spell for Greenfield in their victory at Shaw on Saturday.

WHILE Saddleworth Show-goers were enjoying all the fun of the fair, Imran Aslam was treating Well-i-Hole cricket watchers to his own stunning one-man performance.

The Pakistani professional tore apart his former club Austerlands with bat and ball in the SWB Commercials Saddleworth and District Cricket League clash.

Aslam blasted an unbeaten 200 off only 99 deliveries, smashing seven fours and 23 sixes. He then claimed five for 29 as Saddleworth regained top-spot with an emphatic 183-run victory.

It was the 34 year old’s third career double century, but his first in this country.

Refusing singles to retain the strike, he sprayed sixes to all parts of the ground, with his second ton coming up in an astonishing 38 deliveries.

No bowler escaped the onslaught - Austerlands paid man Asif Zakir was absent from the attack because of a sore neck - as Saddleworth rattled up 310 for five.

Aslam required six runs off the last ball of the innings to reach 200 and promptly struck CJ Ferreira over the boundary before removing his helmet and signalling to his team-mates, who had risen to their feet outside the clubhouse.

From then on it was going to be a damage limitation exercise for an Austerlands side - without front-line batsman Adam Young, because of a broken finger suffered 24 hours earlier.

In reaching 127 they managed two batting points, but it was consolation on a humbling afternoon.

Glodwick are level with Moorside in second place – 20 points adrift of Saddleworth after a one-wicket win at Whalley Range.

Last pair Jamie Symonds and Adam Brown held their nerve as they chased down the hosts' total of 156 for nine.

Greenfield maintained their push for the title with a comprehensive 201-run defeat of lowly South West Manchester at Ladhill Lane.

Opener Andrew McVeigh carried his bat through for a superb 101 as the home side amassed 283 for six.

South-West Manchester crashed to 82 all out in reply, with Michael Bird taking four for 26.

After overcoming Saddleworth on Saturday, Stayley followed up with an eight-wicket defeat of Wythenshawe, who were dismissed for 172 at Longley Lane. James Wardle (five for 41) and paid man Hamza Nadeem (four for 31) starred with the ball for the Millbrook contingent, while Peter Skuse (71 not out) and Oral Rankine (64) enjoyed excellent afternoons with the bat.

Drew Fullalove can claim to have taken one of the catches of the season as his Shaw team edged past Friarmere (119) by three wickets at Slack Lane.

With the ball swirling in the wind, he turned and ran back before diving to grasp it two-handed to get rid of Arshad Mahmood. The bowler was particularly delighted as it was his brother, Kane!

Pro Mohammed Jamal notched his maiden ton for Droylsden - 137 not out - in a big total of 272 for eight against Micklehurst at Oakfield.

The visitors were restricted to 159 in reply, with Jamie Walker taking five for 39.

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