In a truncated season the penultimate weekend saw some of the Divisional champions confirmed.
Locally, Woodhouses; Mottram and Moorside now have the honour of topping their respective min-leagues, irrespective of the outcome of the last round of fixtures this coming Saturday. But in Division C it will go to the final day with Micklehurst; Saddleworth and Oldham all in with a chance of the silverware. In Division M Ashton Ladysmith sit at the top and know that a win over Friends United will give them the title also.
Division A:
Woodhouses maintained their 100% record and extended their lead at the top of the table as they convincingly beat Denton, whilst Denton SL were not in action after Flowery Field were unable to raise a team. At Medlock Road Woodhouses posted 234-5, thanks to a magnificent 5th wicket partnership of 143 between Alex Spender, (60*), and Leighton Friend, (78). It was far too many for Denton who fell to 15-4 and were never in the hunt. They eventually fell 145 short as Hashan Gunathilaka picked up 4-16, in an innings that last only 22 overs. This means that Woodhouses will now claim the title irrespective of the outcome of their game at Denton SL this coming Saturday.
Glossop finally got off the mark for the season, but must have feared the worst, given their shortcomings with the bat this year, after Denton West reached 186-6, (John Barnett 57). A sound start from David Wilde and Oliver Kenyon was consolidated by contributions throughout as Glossop got home by 6 wickets with 17 balls to spare. The win will have been a relief for all at North Road but leaves Denton West with only a single win in their last 4 games.
Flowery Field v Denton SL (Cancelled); Glossop 189-4 Denton West 186-6; Woodhouses 234-5 Denton 89ao
Division B:
It was a thrilling finish at Hadfield after Droylsden had inched to 135-7 in an innings which saw 6 batsmen get into double figures but fail to build on things. The visitors were ahead of the game when Hadfield fell to 91-6 when top scorer Ryan Murray, (37), was dismissed. It looked all over at 118-8, but Hadfield clawed their way back into the game, and levelled the scores. In a battle of nerves, it was Matt Halliday who won, bowling Dylan Johnston to leave the game tied. It was the first time this season that Droylsden had avoided defeat, whilst the shared points left Hadfield in 2nd spot.
Leaders Mottram had a comfortable win at Ashton after reaching 193-8, (Stefan Fielding unbeaten on 57). The usual Ashton collapse started early the reply and despite some hard hitting in the late order, as Mottram used 6 bowlers, it was too little too late as they fell short being dismissed for 118. The win means that Mottram have won the Division and remain unbeaten this season.
Dukinfield went down to Werneth, who recovered from their collapse against Ashton 7 days previously. A late order recovery saw Werneth to 153ao, after Trevor Hyde, (4-17), had made early inroads. Dukinfield were strolling home after reaching 127-2, with 18 overs left. But in the face of the Werneth attack which seemed to get a second wind, the remaining 8 wickets fell for 9 runs. Mehmood ul-Hassan, (4-24), Niaz Khan, (3-15) and Mateen Butt, (2-4) were the Werneth heroes in a win which saw them leapfrog Ashton into 3rd Place.
Werneth 153ao Dukinfield 136ao; Hadfield 135ao Droylsden 135-7; Ashton 118ao Mottram 193-8
Division C:
Saddleworth stand at the top of the table after a very comfortable win over Austerlands. They were ahead of the game from the start as Sam Holt, (87) and Asad Ali, (76), put on 134 for the first wicket. Michael Lockett has been in fine form with the ball recently, and stepped up to finish with 7-55, as Saddleworth reached 219-8. Lockett’s wasn’t the only 7 wicket performance in the game as Haroon Cheema picked up 7-24 as Austerlands limped to 118-8 in 40 overs.
In the local derby at Uppermill the home side struggled to 137-7 which proved little problem for visitors Micklehurst. A 4th wicket partnership of 80 between Kyle Clayton and Rizwan Hussain was the key to the winning points as they cantered home by 6 wickets with time to spare.
After a heavy defeat at the hands of Austerlands 7 days previously Oldham got back to winning ways as they disposed of Springhead. The Pollards team were indebted to Asif Hussain, (62), as they totalled a par score of 145. Wajid Khan got 4-26 for Springhead. Only Jamie Dell, (44), put up any resistance in the reply, as Springhead fell for 63ao, with Omer Shahid, (5-10), being the chief destroyer.
The winner of the Division is still open and lies between three teams, Saddleworth; Micklehurst and Oldham going into the last weekend. Saddleworth enter the game with Springhead as favourites and Micklehurst face Oldham at Richmond Hill.
Saddleworth 219-8 Austerlands 118-8; Oldham 146ao Springhead 63ao; Uppermill 137-7 Micklehurst 140-4
Moorside maintained their 100% record from completed games, and clinched the title, as Glodwick offered little resistance. Imran Khan took 4-19 as Glodwick struggled to get over the three-figure mark, eventually totalling 116. Scoring at more than a run a ball Moorside took only 16 overs to get the win with Jamie Lovell leading with way with an unbeaten 56.
Heyside cantered to victory over Shaw, who went down to their 3rd defeat in the last 4 completed games. Shaw fell to 18-3, as Tom Avery worked through their top order. There was little recovery from that, and other from some resistance from Joe Whitehead, (41), they tumbled to 97ao. Ben Holt and Ryan Barnes wasted no time as Heyside went to an 8-wicket victory inside 19 overs.
Greenfield pulled victory from the jaws of defeat in a thrilling game at Royton. The visitors set Royton an imposing target, after they reached 215-6, thanks to a century from Brad Woolley, (110), which was aided by a hard hit 36 in 18 balls from Michael Ashworth. The last six overs of the innings saw 70 added. In the Royton reply Paul Horton took them close. The former Lancashire man reached 100 but fell with 5 balls left and 17 required. Jake Caudwell took three wickets in the last over to finish with 4-40 as Greenfield came out on top by 17 runs, only their 2nd win of the truncated season.
Glodwick 116ao Moorside 118-4; Royton 198ao Greenfield 215-5; Shaw 97ao Heyside 102-2
Littleborough Lakeside 120ao Friarmere 123-8; Clifton 2nd XI v Milnrow 181-7; Thornham 180-9 Prestwich 2nd XI 91ao
Daisy Hill v Radcliffe (Cancelled); United Stars N/A Bolton Indians; Deane & Derby 158-5 East Lancs PM 156ao
Division G:
Monton 149-4 Whalley Range 146ao; Swinton Moorside 162ao Winton 77ao; Westleigh 161ao Stretford 126ao
Worsley v Irlam (Cancelled); Roe Green 2nd XI 185-7 Hindley St Peters 128ao; SW Manchester N/A Wythenshawe
Prestwich 212-6 Clifton 214-3; Stand 105ao Roe Green 108-1 (Astley & Tyldesley – bye)
Woodbank 110-2 Egerton 106ao; Edgworth 214-7 Walshaw 105ao; Bradshaw v Greenmount (Cancelled)
Tottington 136ao Heywood 137-6; Bury (won on forfeit) v Brooksbottom; (Edenfield - bye)
After losing on the opening day Ashton Ladysmith have won all seven completed games since then. Last week Richard Taylor got a century and this week it was Janak Patel. The former Ashton and Denton man took the Blackley attack to task, hitting 145, (with 20 boundaries and 6 maximums), as he reached 145 in Ladysmith’s imposing 206ao. It was all too much for the home team as they crumbled in the face of Khalil ur-Rehman, (4-15), Saeed Nazaar, (3-11), and Dharmesh Trivedi, (2-9). They tumbled to 45ao and defeat by 161 runs.
Newton Heath v Friends Sporting (cancelled); Blackley 45ao Ashton Ladysmith 206ao; Friends United N/A Failsworth Macedonia
NEXT WEEKS FIXTURES – 26TH SEPTEMBER
Div A: Denton West v Flowery Field; Denton SL v Woodhouses; Denton v Glossop
Div B: Dukinfield v Ashton; Mottram v Hadfield; Droylsden v Werneth
Div C: Micklehurst v Oldham; Springhead v Saddleworth; Austerlands v Uppermill
Div D: Heyside v Glodwick; Moorside v Royton; Greenfield v Shaw
Div E: Milnrow v Littleborough Lakeside; Friarmere v Thornham; Prestwich 2nd XI v Clifton 2nd XI
Div F: East Lancs PM v United Stars; Bolton Indians v Daisy Hill; Radcliffe v Deane & Derby
Div G: Westleigh v Swinton Moorside; Winton v Monton; Whalley Range v Stretford
Div H: Irlam v Wythenshawe (Cancelled); SW Manchester v Roe Green 2nd XI Hindley St Peters v Worsley
Div J: Astley & Tyldesley v Stand (Roe Green – bye)
Div K: Egerton v Edgworth; Walshaw v Bradshaw (Cancelled)
Div L: Edenfield v Tottington; Heywood v Bury (Cancelled)
Div M: Failsworth Macedonia v Newton Heath; Ashton Ladysmith v Friends United; Friends Sporting v Blackley
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