Cricket: Zaidi and Davey lead Middleton to victory over Walsden

An unbeaten fourth wicket stand of 128 runs between Ashar Zaidi and club captain Steve Davey was the mainstay of a Middleton innings that chased down a total of 185 for victory over Walsden in a 45 over game. 

Walsden batted first, and the league leaders found themselves 0 for 2, as Paul Bennett took two quick wickets with the help of two smart catches from Zaidi.

Jake Hooson and Daniel Salpietro set about starting the innings from scratch, and took the score to 56 before Mark Buckley clean bowled Salpietro for 29.

Kris Halstead (13) became Bennett's third victim as he was caught by James Tierney.

Hooson batted within himself and played the anchor role for his team. However with his score on 71, his hard work was undone as he fell to the bowling of Zaidi.

Shub Harkel (29) and Joe Gale (23) both got starts but failed to capitalise as the overs were running out and they tried escalating the run rate as Walsden finished on 185 for 8 wickets.

Scott Stanworth and George Walker opened the batting for Middleton, and with the score on 19, Walker was caught behind by Matt Dawson off the bowling of Jamie Shackleton for 1.

Zaidi joined Stanworth, and showed why he is one of the hottest products in local cricket at the moment, as he looked as assured as anyone had all day.

With the score on 47, Stanworth became Shackleton's second victim as he was caught by Josh Gale for 24. He was closely followed back to the pavilion by Grant Jones for 0.

This was the last wicket of the innings, as Zaidi and Davey took the attack to the Walsden bowlers and finished on 82 and 62 respectively.

This was a very impressive run chase from a Middleton team that has been struggling for form in recent weeks.

Walsden
J Hooson c Holmes b Zaidi 71
J Rawlinson c Zaidi b Bennett 0
M Dawson c Zaidi b Bennett 0
D Salpietro b Buckley 29
K Halstead c Tierney b Bennett
S Harkel b Buckley 23
Joe Gale c Copeland b Buckley 23
Josh Gale b Zaidi 4
J Shackleton not out 3
Extras 14
Total (for 8 wickets) 185
S Holmes 8-3-21-0
P Bennett 17-2-61-3
M Buckley 15-2-77-3
A Zaidi 5-0-21-2

Middleton
S Stanworth c Josh Gale b Shackleton 24
G Walker c Dawson b Shackleton 1
A Zaidi not out 82
G Jones c Harkel 0
S Davey not out 62
Extras 22
Total (for 3 wickets) 186
J Shackleton 9-0-42-3
S Barker 3-0-31-0
D Salpietro 8-0-38-0
Joe Gale 4-0-25-0
J Hooson 4-0-32-0
S Harkel 1.2-0-15-0