Glodwick ace Rafiq reaches a grand total

CRICKET: 

REHAN Rafiq brought up his 1,000th run of the season as Glodwick climbed to third place in the SWB Commercials Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The Pakistani professional, who has signed for the Warren Lane outfit for 2016, struck 72 in his side’s total of 243 for eight against South West Manchester at Ellesmere Road. Anees Ur Rehman also made 72, but was unbeaten. The hosts were dismissed for 97 in reply, with Imran Asghar claiming five for 24.

Glodwick are two points behind Austerlands, who jumped to second place after sweeping aside Micklehurst by 88 runs at Castle Lane. Paid man Asif Zakir, like fellow countryman Rafiq, has enjoyed a fine season and he, too, reached 1,000 runs after posting 73 in the visitors’ 236 for seven.

Micklehurst were limited to 148, with Mohammed Irfan taking five for 36. The left-arm seamer has struggled with injury for part of this term, but Austerlands will hope he is fit and firing for the all-important run-in.

Saddleworth remain the side to catch and they warmed up for the Tanner Cup final 24 hours later with a comprehensive 152-run defeat of Friarmere at Slack Lane.

Darren Shadford has once more proved a rock at the top of the order for the Well-i-Hole club this season, and he put 65 on the board out of 203 for eight. His skipper, Brian Lord, contributed 40.

The hosts were blown away for a meagre 51. Dave Roberts took five of the wickets to fall for 23 runs.

Cup finalists Greenfield were also in good touch, securing an eight-wicket victory at home to Wythenshawe.

They had three main performers. Alex Peters bagged six for 54 as the visitors to Ladhill Lane were restricted to 194 for nine – Vijay Macladuram scored 72 – and then Andy McVeigh and Australian

overseas amateur Brendon Jacobs hit 83 and 61 respectively.

Azam Hussain’s haul of seven for 48 stunned Stayley at Holebottom Clough. It appeared the right-arm

fast-medium bowler was facing a losing cause after his Shaw team managed only 102. But Hussain had other ideas: he roared in and Stayley fell to 93 all out.

Droylsden recovered from their mauling at the hands of Saddleworth to beat Uppermill by 58 runs at Oakfield.

Matt Halliday’s 69 was the bedrock of the hosts’ 159 for seven, before team-mate Alex Jones weighed in with five for 33.