Cricket: Round-up

On Saturday Mark Dentith's first 50 in the league plus a half-century from skipper Mark Price kept Ramsbottom at the top of the table.

They collected maximum points against Accrington, scoring 197 for 7. The visitors were never in touch after a disastrous start and slumped to 25 for 6. Only an unbeaten 72 from number eight Sajid Sadiq lifted them to a total of 138 but it was still nowhere near enough.

Ramsbottom then won again at Haslingden the following day.

The Rammy bowlers restricted the home side to 146 for 8, opener Mark Griffin top scoring with 35 as Tommy Read picked up three wickets.

And Simon Lord then rode his luck early on before guiding Ramsbottom home with a priceless 46 not out as wickets fell around him. Hodge contributed a useful 27 as Ramsbottom reached 148 for 7 to collect the points.

WALSHAW inched another week nearer a second consecutive BOLTON ASSOCIATION championship another win thanks to a captain's innings from Rob Faulkner.

Playing at Standish, the Bolton Association runaway leaders struggled with the bat, scoring 140 for 8.

Faulkner scored a steady 52 with support from pro Jonathan Fielding (27) and John Fielding who hit 30.

Standish were still optimistic of a win but they didn't take into account the bowling of pro Fielding. He rattled through the Standish side collecting 7 for 59 as Stndish collapsed to 107 all out and a 33-run defeat.

Elton cruised to a comfortable win after an outstanding performance from their pro Tushar Arothe.

He produced bowling figures of 8 for 42 to send Daisy Hill crashing to 87 all out and then went out to bat and scored 62 in a winning reply of 88 for 5.

Best bowler for Daisy Hill was Mark Buckley who took all five wickets for his team, finishing with figures of 5 for 33.

GREENMOUNT have been in tremendous form with the bat this season but Saturday's performance is definitely one to forget.

They collapsed from a healthy 70 for 0 to 111 all out and a 42-run defeat by Walkden.

Former Lancashire ace Bernard Reidy claimed the bowling honours for Walkden with 5 for 28 and Phil Ingram picked up 3 for 45 while in their innings of 153 for 8, Tony Keays was unbeaten on 66.

Greenmount's only consolation was a knock of 52 from prolific Aussie Mike O'Rourke and fine bowling figures of 7 for 71 for Pakistan professional Saeed Anwar Junior.

Sunday wasn't much better either, and once again it was the batting that let them down.

Chasing Farnworth Social Circle's 146 in which Mike O'Rourke took 6 for 33, they were all out for just 125.

The only players to get worthwhile scores were Mark Fallon with 36 and skipper Gary Chadwick who was unbeaten on 38.

Big weekend gives

title hopes a boost RADCLIFFE had a terrific weekend to leave themselves in with a chance of winning the Central lancs League title.

Openers Bruce Cruse and Mike Ramsbottom steered Radcliffe to a little bit of cricket perfection in the five-point win over Walsden at the Racecourse.

The vistors had been dismissed for 159, with professional Steve Dearden taking five wickets for 35 runs. Then Cruse and Ramsbottom strolled to the wicket and walked back to the pavilion together after hitting 66 and 85 respectively while their team-mates watched leisurely from in and around the dressing room area.

A superb performance that would take some beating, and while Radcliffe did win again at Crompton on Sunday they had to settle for a limited points victory after failing to dismiss the entire Crompton side.

The hosts managed a very fair 190 with Graham amassing 77 of those runs. Dearden, Stuart Kelley and Nick Kennedy all took two wickets apiece.

Dearden, batting at number three top scored in the Radcliffe reply with 58. He was backed up by a fine, unbeaten knock of 42 from Graeme Simpson as Radcliffe passed their target with just under nine overs remaining.

UNSWORTH had another mixed weekend, skittled out one day, returning to winning ways the next.

On Saturday Unsworth entertained top of the table Middleton and were well-beaten.

Only John Harrison with an impressive 44 was on song as Unsworth's batsmen collapsed to 74 all out, Lee Wolstenholme's slow left arm bowling causing havoc as he took six wickets for the visitors.

Ravin Peiris led Middleton's victory charge. He hit 49 as the visitors raced to 78 for 4 in just 22 overs to take the points.

The following day Unsworth went to Walsden and regained some pride. Batting first they scored 158 for 2 in a rain curtailed match of 38 overs each, with pro Wanansinghe top scoring with 67 no and skipper Mark Manley scoring 55.

Then when Walsden came to bat, pro Wanansinghe ripped into them with the ball, taking 7 for 32 in 18.3 overs, well supported by Alan Haworth who took the other three wickets.

With just nine balls to spare, Wanansinghe capped a man of the match display by clean bowling the last batsman to give Unsworth the maximum five points.

STAND had a miserable weekend, despite posting two useful scores.

On Saturday they were involved in a thriller at home to Ashton taking the game right to the wire before losing off the final ball.

Batting first Stand scored 196 for 5, Brad Flegg hitting 68, Nasib Wahid 46 and Taylor 36.

It looked as though it would be enough but Ashton somehow reached the total thanks to a late flurry of runs from skipper David Mellor (19no) and Gaskin (79).

Haider was the top wicket taker for Stand with 4 for 61 but it was little consolation.

The following day Stand travelled to Littleboro and again tasted defeat.

They reached 182 for 9 off 50 overs, Wahid batting well for the second time in the weekend with 75. Taylor chipped in with 31 and Brad Flegg 29.

But they were destroyed by Littleboro's Perrin who - after taking five wickets - then hit a splendid 107no as the home side took the points reaching 183 for 3.

BURY travelled to Whalley Range on Saturday hoping to make it four consecutive Manchester Association wins. And make it they did!

Having won the toss and electing to bat, Bury slumped to 70 for 5 before a partnership of 105 between the experienced Mike Brawn (74no) and skipper Ian Then (44no) saw Bury to 175 for 5 at the close of the innings.

Bury set off in search of wickets and got them at regular intervals, bowling Whalley Range out for 104 in the penultimate over.

Both John Wiggans 4 for 30 and Jimmy Nasir 4 for 29 bowled excellently to give Bury a thoroughly deserved victory.

MEANWHILE local rivals BROOKSBOTTOMS got out of jail against Bolton Indians thanks to paceman Eddie Hoyle.

The Summerseat side mustn't have fancied their chances when they were dismissed for a paltry 61 feeling the full force of the Bolton side's Nilan who finished with figures of 6 for 61.

But that was the cue for Hoyle to prove just what he can do with the ball and the Brox ace proved practically unplayable earning 6 for 13 as the home side were skittled for 42.

WOODBANK came within 15 runs of snatching a LANCASHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE victory at Thornham but ultimately couldn't get the runs.

They restricted Thornham to 153 for 8, Keegan top wicket taker with 3 for 39 off 12 overs. McCheyne pikced up two wickets and Hodson got one.

Top scorer for Thornham was opener Sutcliffe who hit a valuable 42.

Woodbank responded well, Ridehaugh hitting 38, Coles 26 and Harrison 29, but runs were hard to get and the visitors finished short of the required total at 138 for 7.

For Thornham, Edden took four wickets with walker and Field picking up one apiece.

FOR the second home match in a row PRESTWICH provided their supporters with a grandstand finish by battling out a nail-biting tie with close rivals Denton West.

Prestwich looked to be in the driving seat, with the visitors only on 122 with nine over left but Nigel Williams proved what a dangerous player he is when he struck a lightning 57 and 77 was added for the eigth wicket before Williams succumbed in the final over as the innings closed on 189-7.

The Prestwich reply owed much to teenager Carl Hey who batted through the innings for the second week in succession, adding an unbeaten 64 to his 62 not out against Denton.

Paul Mercer and Hey's partnership was worth 74 then Humphreys, Taylor and O'Connor all scored quickly, but 36 was still needed in 29 balls with three wickets left.

A boundary clearance by Bradley off Bodi in a quickfire 16, plus some excellent running by Hey, brought it down to nine off seven deliveries when the tail-ender was run out, leaving young stand-in wicketkeeper Gareth Barnes, to help Hey score six of the runs.

With one ball remaining it was three to win and an appalling misfield as the batsmen tried for a suicidal second run tied the scores.