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The Wright approach

9/ 7/2008

CROMPTON held their nerve to secure a one-wicket victory against Unsworth to keep themselves in the hunt for the Lake Garage CLL title.

Saturday morning’s heavy showers caused a delayed start to proceedings at Glebe Street where the visitors batted first and were restricted to 171-6.

Although Paul Manley hit 79 for Unsworth, his side were restricted by Simon Wright who ended with figures of 5-37 for the home team.

Crompton then appeared well set in reply before wickets began to fall regularly as Wayne Madsen and Liam Richards got among the wickets for the visitors.

However, Majid Khan ensured it would be Crompton who took the honours with an undefeated 21 which saw them home with a wicket in hand. Crompton were the only local side to taste victory in Saturday’s league matches with the borough’s other three sides all suffering defeats.

The closest was that which saw Royton go down by 10 runs against Norden in another rain-reduced encounter. Batting first at Woodhouse Lane, the home side could only reach 135-9 as Luke Procter took a hat-trick in figures of 7-72 for Royton.

However, that still proved to be too many to chase for Royton as they were dismissed for 125, home professional Zane Arthur proving the destroyer with the ball by taking 8-71.

It was a similarly depressing day for Oldham as they were beaten by 10 runs in their home match against Heywood at the Pollards. The visitors had batted first and compiled a total of 241-5 in which Tom Hardman struck 103.

Liam Garnett took three wickets for an Oldham side who were bowled out for 206 in reply despite knocks of 48 and 46 from Chinthaka Jayasinghe and Nick Maree respectively.

There was also a defeat for Werneth as they suffered an eight-wicket loss against Monton and Weaste. Werneth batted first and made 119-8 from their overs, Loku compiling 57, only for Monton to reply with 120-2.

Sunday’s poor weather forced the Wood Cup quarter-finals involving Werneth and Crompton to spill over into this week with all matches played on weeknights until they are concluded.