DAMIEN KEEGAN steered Radcliffe to an opening day victory over Milnrow at the Racecourse, aided by new boy Travis Birt and the ever-dependable Bruce Cruse.

Opener Keegan top scored with 53 as Radcliffe replied to Milnrow's total of 140 for five in a match reduced to 42 overs.

Aussie amateur Birt chipped in with a more than useful 36 and Cruse added 26 more runs as Radcliffe reached their target with six wickets and just under seven overs to spare.

Professional Steve Dearden took three for 52 as Milnrow were restricted to their modest total.

AFTER losing the toss and being asked to field, Stand restricted Norden to 128 all out, only to crumple to a 45-run defeat.

Tight early bowling from Dave Foreman and Paul Duerden was followed by a superb spell of seam bowling by Chris Warren, who finished with six for 43.

Rick Valentine also chipped in with three for 35, including the prize wicket of Asif Mujtaba for only 22.

Stand made hard work of chasing the runs and were all out for 83.

Asif Mujtaba finished with four for 18 off 22 overs, while Rick Valentine top scored for Stand with 16.

UNSWORTH'S first competitive game on their new Pole Lane ground ended in defeat.

In bright sunshine, professional Wanansinghe opened the bowling to Middleton openers Garner and his opposite number Peiris and after 30 overs the Towncroft side were 120 for 5.

But Punchard and Ryan then got the ball rolling for the visitors with the latter providing the backbone of their innings with a fine unbeaten 82 as Middleton's total finished on 223 for 8.

In reply Unsworth's first four batsmen reached double figures but the remainder surrendered tamely to indiscreet shots and bad judgement and their reply fell by the wayside eight runs short of the century mark.