Saddleworth are Lording it!

DUEL . . . Friarmere’s Imran Khan leaves alone a delivery from Moorside’s Kyle Hodnett during the latter team’s

SADDLEWORTH have got title rivals and reigning champions Glodwick in a headlock this season and they won't let go, writes KEVIN RICHARDSON.

While the margin of victory for Brian Lord's side in the first-day clash was comprehensive (146 runs), the result of the return SWB Commercials Saddleworth and District Cricket League fixture at Warren Lane on Saturday was an absolute mauling.

Having already beaten Glodwick 24 hours earlier in the Twenty20 Competition, they kept their foot on the throttle with a crushing 209-runs victory.

With skipper Lord making 83, overseas amateur Michael Jones 77 and professional Imran Aslam 44, Saddleworth amassed 308 for six.

CRUMBLED

Mark Whitehead struck 39 in reply, but with meagre support Glodwick crumbled to 99 all out.

The success lifted Saddleworth to joint top with Moorside, who defeated Friarmere by six wickets at Turf Pit Lane.

Friarmere batted first and made 189 for eight of which Imran Khan maintained his good form with 84.

Then James Baron was 86 not out from 55 balls for the hosts and captain Danny Anchor compiled 47 in a reply of 191 for four.

Glodwick have slipped to third place, 14 points ahead of Greenfield, who dug themselves out of a hole at Micklehurst.

Defending 133, they managed to dismiss the home side for just 81. Adam Hayes took four wickets for half-a-dozen runs in the collapse at Castle Lane.

Uppermill came close to only their second league win of the season at Stayley.

Four runs separated the two sides in the end after the hosts had posted 143 for eight. Overseas amateur Daelon Campbell had impressive figures of five for 31.

Stayley's paid man Hamza Nadeem caused much of Uppermill's downfall, though, with five for 44.

Wayward Shaw conceded a multitude of extras - 55 of which 36 were wides - as they were tasked with bettering Whalley Range's total of 286 for seven at Holebottom Clough.

It was a tall order for Kane Fullalove's men, and they fell way short on 158. Overseas amateur Daniel Abel and Ejaz Din claimed four for 25 and four for 44 respectively.

Lewis Crowther's six wickets for 41 runs put the skids under South West Manchester, who slumped to 79 all out at Ellesmere Road.

Opponents Wythenshawe reached their goal with few alarms, Jason Warner compiling an unbeaten 55 in the eight-wicket triumph.

Scores —

Division One: Saddleworth 308-6 (B Lord 83, M Jones 77, I Aslam 44, D Shadford 41), Glodwick 99 (M Whitehead 39); Greenfield 133 (A McVeigh 47), Micklehurst 81 (A Hayes 4-6); Friarmere 189-8 (I Khan 84), Moorside 191-4 (J Baron 86 n.o, D Anchor 47); Whalley Range 286-7 (J Fakir 63), Shaw 158 (D Abel 4-25, E Din 4-44); South West Manchester 79 (L Crowther 6-41), Wythenshawe 80-2 (J Warner 55 n.o); Stayley 143-8 (D Campbell 5-31), Uppermill 139 (H Nadeem 5-44).

Division Two: Glodwick 165, Saddleworth 166-6 (R McGrath 72 n.o); Micklehurst 188-7, Greenfield 193-2 (J Shaw 133 n.o); Friarmere 138 (M Waqas 53), Moorside 107 (I Ahmed 5-19); Whalley Range 275-5 (A Din 111 n.o, R Doherty 6-59), Shaw 161-5 (G Harrop 55) — rain stopped play; Wythenshawe v South West Manchester — no result received; Uppermill 147 (S Barlow 59), Stayley 150-9.