Greenfield’s title push stuttering

CRICKET: 

GREENFIELD’S title aspirations suffered a body blow after slipping to a 39-run defeat at Whalley Range in the SWB Commercials Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

Chris Gill’s men have a game in hand over leaders Saddleworth, but are 69 points behind in sixth place entering the final quarter of the season.

Whalley Range are up to third, but appear too far adrift by 50 points to hassle the high-fliers.

Spearheaded by Ejaz Din’s 55, the Kingsbrook Road club made 195 for nine from their 45 overs.

Despite knocks of 56 from Gill and Alex Peters with 40, Greenfield never threatened Whalley Range’s total as they closed on 156 for nine.

Clutching a healthy 40-point lead, Saddleworth look set to claim top honours. Droylsden were their

latest victims in a contest that saw the Well-i-Hole side triumph by 178 runs. Dave Roberts struck 75 as Saddleworth amassed 231, before Mohammed Shakir helped to destroy his former club with four for 22.

After two defeats on the spin, second-placed Moorside were mightily relieved to get the better of Uppermill at Leefields. It was a tight call, though, as the hosts fought right to the end.

Scores of 75 from Mark Berry, Martin Salmon’s unbeaten 47 and 44 from Lou Adair lifted second-bottom Uppermill to a challenging total of 227 for five.

Moorside crossed the line with an over to spare, thanks to professional Grant Hodnett’s 110 not out.

Austerlands climbed two places to fourth after a straightforward eight-wicket victory at home to Shaw. Pakistani paid man Asif Zakir took four for 19 in restricting the visitors to 114, and followed up with 47.

Helping the home side to 196 for nine, Jason Warner’s knock of 110 was pivotal as Wythenshawe recorded a nerve-jangling success over Friarmere at Longley Lane.

The visitors finished agonisingly short on 195 for eight, with West Indian overseas amateur Darius Cummins making 69.

Cummins’ fellow countryman Oral Rankine compiled a century — the overseas amateur struck 117 — as Stayley smashed the South West Manchester bowlers for 284 for six at Millbrook. Peter Skuse hit 53 to take his runs tally for the season beyond 500.

South West Manchester crumbled to 94 all out in reply, with Ben Downend claiming five for 30.



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