Petersen is an all-round hit for Crompton

Photo: Tim Bradley

CJ Ferreira

CROMPTON pulled off a terrific victory against Wood Cup finalists Rochdale in the JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League Premiership.

Simon Wright's side won by eight runs in a nail-biter at Redbrook.

Taking first knock, Crompton made 158, with professional Keegan Petersen contributing 77 and the captain 41.

Rochdale, who started the afternoon eight points adrift of leaders Walsden, were dismissed for 150 in reply, with two balls of their 50-over allocation remaining.

After starring with the bat, South African Petersen was Crompton's stand-out performer with the ball, bagging six for 49.

Walsden and Saddleworth were involved in a thrilling Wood Cup semi-final tie ­- the margin of the former's success was two wickets ­- and their league clash at Scott Street was equally as close.

Skipper Brian Lord struck 48 and Danny Hesford 47 in Saddleworth's total of 202. Professional Umesh Karunaratne picked up six for 45 from his 14 overs.

Walsden stumbled over the winning line with two wickets and four balls to spare.

They were 145 for two at one stage, before losing a raft of late wickets, overseas amateur Nauman Akram claiming four for 50.

TOUCHING DISTANCE

With Rochdale losing, Saddleworth are still third in the table.

Littleborough, in second place, kept in touching distance of Walsden thanks to a straightforward win at Monton and Weaste.

Chris Schofield registered figures of five for 34 as the Welbeck Road club were reduced to 150 all out.

An opening stand of 92 set Boro on their way, who eased home for the loss of three wickets.

Austerlands, including a dashing 105 not out from overseas amateur CJ Ferreira, defeated Royton by eight wickets in a relegation tussle at The Paddock.

The hosts were restricted to 171 for nine. Chirag Khurana made 64.

Austerlands, in reply, raced to victory in the 34th over, to ease five points clear of second-bottom Royton.

Ferreira's knock was made off only 82 balls and featured 13 fours and three sixes.

Glodwick must have thought it was going to be their day after reducing Norden to one for two at Woodhouse Lane, Franco Lenhardt grabbing both wickets.

However, half-centuries from Ashley Gowers (74), Simon North (56) and Rehan Udwadia (50) saw the home side amass 238 for seven. North's knock came off only 36 deliveries and include three sixes.

Glodwick were never at the races as they folded to 125 all out. Chris Hartley and Nicholas Fairchild took three wickets apiece.

Teamwork earned Greenfield a three-wicket triumph at home to Middleton.

Australian pro James Muirhead took five and Adam Hayes four as the visitors were dismissed for 201.

Openers Alex Bychkov and Chris Gill then laid down the foundations for a successful reply with scores of 65 and 49 respectively.

Scores ­-

Premiership: Middleton 201 (H Gee 65, J Muirhead 5-57, A Hayes 4-65), Greenfield 207-7 (A Bychkov 65, C Gill 49); Monton and Weaste 150 (C Schofield 5-34), Littleborough 152-3 (C Perren 68 n.o, M Taylor 51); Crompton 158 (K Petersen 77, Si Wright 41), Rochdale 150 (M Harling 44, K Petersen 6-49); Royton 171-9 (C Khurana 64), Austerlands 174-2 (CJ Ferreira 105 n.o); Norden 238-7 (A Gowers 74, S North 56, R Udwadia 50), Glodwick 125; Saddleworth 202 (B Lord 48, D Hesford 47, U Karunaratne 6-45), Walsden 203-8 (J Hooson 79, N Akram 4-50).