Defeat for Norden in key encounter

The big game of the day in the CLL yesterday was won by second-placed Monton and Weaste, who beat leaders Norden in a rain-affected encounter.

Run machine Paul Green hit 54 and Ashraf Gorsi 55 as Monton made 192 for six.

And Norden, on 122 for five, were 21 runs short of their revised target of 143 when rain washed out any chance of further play.

Sunday scores: Ashton 137 (Doyle 4-40, Tremlett 3-5), Milnrow 127-3 (Brierley 54 n.o., Power 31), rsp, Ashton 0pts, Milnrow 5 pts; Crompton 227-8 (Si Wright 85, Boschoff 31), Royton 71-5, rsp, Crompton 4 pts, Royton 0pts; Heywood 230-6 (Pawson 98), Walsden 67-2, rsp, Heywood 4 pts, Walsden 0pts; Littleborough 195-8 (Smit 51, Hulme 40, Core 3-31), Middleton 116-1 (Stanworth 54 n.o.) rsp, Littleborough 4 pts, Middleton 1 pt; Monton and Weaste 192-6 (Gorsi 55, Green 54), Norden 122-5 (Symes 46) rsp, Monton 4pts, Norden 1 pt; Oldham 230-8 (Maree 99, Thompson 59, Richards 7-52), Unsworth 72-3 (Madsen 41 n.o.), rsp, two pts each; Radcliffe 30-4, Werneth 232-8 (Fernando 66); Rochdale 298-5 (Weeraratne 88), Clifton 85.

On Saturday, Littleborough claimed a 49-run win at Werneth, with South African professional Daryn Smit in top form.

Smit made 110 and Mark Forden 57 as Boro accumulated 229 for five.

Werneth were always behind the required run rate despite Matthew Taylor’s 45 and were restricted to 181 for eight. Phil Deakin took four for 47 and Smit four for 59.

Oldham were always going to be second favourites at leaders Norden, but few could have predicted their 215-run margin of defeat.

Norden pro Jean Symes cracked 126, Dexter Fitton an unbeaten 53, Steve Firth 41, and Greg Tattersall 38 not out as Norden raced to 306 for five before declaring. Oldham paid man Mel Whittle bowled throughout for his four for 121.

Oldham had no chance of getting anywhere near that total and collapsed to 91 all out, spinner Oliver Makin collecting five for 20.

Saturday scores: Clifton 159, Crompton 290-7 (Z Khan 154); Middleton 194-2 (Davey 60 n.o., Stanworth 50), Radcliffe 193-9 (Farnworth 63, Core 6-60); Milnrow 110 (Purser 4-26), Heywood 255-7 (Blight 60, Cross 50, Pawson 43, Doyle 5-71); Norden 306-5 dec (Symes 126, D Fitton 53 n.o., Firth 41, Tattersall 38 n.o., Whittle 4-121), Oldham 91 (Makin 5-20); Royton 166 (Procter 42, Walsh 41, Yousaf 6-63), Ashton 175-7 (Hodge 80, Yousaf 62, Procter 3-53); Unsworth 287-2 (Madsen 166 n.o., Gregoriou 54), Rochdale 200 (Dawson 44, Love 3-54); Walsden 189-7 (Gilford 49, Gorsi 4-32), Monton and Weaste 190-2 (Green 64, Hamilton 52); Werneth 181-8 (M Taylor 45, Deakin 4-47, Smit 4-59), Littleborough 229-5 (Smit 110, Forden 57, Durose 3-108).