Karunaratne's superb seven fire Walsden

WALSDEN overcame a major hurdle in their pursuit of the JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League Premiership title.

The Todmorden side defeated Norden by 79 runs in yesterday's rearranged round of fixtures, after the hosts crashed to 77 all out in reply to 156 for eight.

Umesh Karunaratne produced a brilliant spell for Walsden. At one stage, he had figures of five wickets for no runs, before finishing with seven for 18. Amazingly, he twice missed out on a hat-trick in one over.

Greenfield took another significant step to securing their top-fight status with a second win in as many days over Crompton at Ladill Lane.

While a place in the Twenty20 Cup final was up for grabs on Sunday, Chris Gill's men bagged league points yesterday with a narrow two-wicket success.

Time is running out for relegation-threatened Royton, who crashed to a 115-runs defeat at Rochdale.

Mo Bux was the chief destroyer with six for 35 from his 15 overs.

The three outstanding results were ­- Littleborough v Saddleworth, Middleton v Glodwick and Monton and Weaste v Austerlands.

In the Championship, Heyside's Lee Watkinson rippd through the Micklehurst batting order, bagging six for 10 in five overs as the Castle Lane club were skittled for 78.

The leaders secured victory for the loss of two wickets, in the 11th over.

Friarmere's promotion aspirations suffered a jolt as they succumbed by five wickets at Shaw.

Drew Fullalove's haul of four for 45 saw the Slack Lane side crumble to 92 all out, of which overseas amateur Anton Lucas-Jones scored 49.

Imran Khan took five for 36 as Moorside dismissed Werneth for 90, the hosts losing two wickets before reaching their target.

Meanwhile, Ashton had a comfortable 98-run success at Hollinwood, who were skittled for 76.

Michael Brooks, with 61, and a knock of 41 from James Baron helped Uppermill post 205 for six at Oldham.

The home side were dismissed for 150 in reply, with Baron taking three for 47.

The one missing result concerned Milnrow versus Stayley.

Scores ­-

Premiership: Walsden 156-8, Norden 77 (U Karunaratne 7-18); Crompton 115, Greenfield 116-8; Rochdale 185 (K Aughey 57, C Khurana 4-51), Royton 70 (M Bux 6-35).

Championship: Ashton 174-9, Hollinwood 76; Micklehurst 78 (L Watkinson 6-10), Heyside 79-2; Friarmere 92 (A Lucas-Jones 49, D Fullalove 4-45), Shaw 94-5 (C Zhuwao 52 n.o); Werneth 90 (I Khan 5-36), Moorside 91-2; Uppermill 205-6 (M Brooks 61, J Baron 41), Oldham 150.