Rochdale Cricket Club round up

What a difference a week makes for Rochdale Cricket Club. The five days following their Wood Cup defeat were beset by self analysis and a lot of fractiousness. They ought to have known better though. Cricket has always had the knack of inducing extreme emotions in even its hardiest and careworn of followers and the events of the last fortnight are a shining illustration of this.

Victory over Monton and Weaste in the T20 quarter finals was followed by wins for both first and second teams last Sunday, and, sandwiched in between was the news that Rochdale are to stage the T20 finals day. Joy abounded.

The victory over Monton was completed without too many alarms. A terrific innings from the resident Aussie was complemented by top batting efforts from Scotty B and Rigsby, while Ayres return to first team action was a successful one. And worthy of a more in depth appraisal too.

The second team's win at Royton on Sunday when a rapid 45 from Ayres in only four overs gave Rochdale the perfect start and they overhauled the home team's 163 with four wickets and plenty of overs to spare.

The First XI, meanwhile, were dealing with a surprisingly lukewarm performance from Littleborough with some ease. Rochdale's attack has been on song more or less all season and once again they had the measure of their opponent's batting in dismissing 'Boro for 153 (Scott and Dale four wickets each). The team's determination to chase down the total was almost tangible and they got home with some comfort with four down and four overs to spare, Shayne 46 and Daws 44 not out being the main contributors.

It was just as well from Rochdale's point of view since the bottom four teams in the division beat the top four with the effect that two matches short of the half way stage in the season only seven points separate the top teams.

The most frequently asked question by people entering the ground last Sunday was 'is that Roger Oldfield?' And, of course, the correct answer was 'yes'. The veteran keeper had been called to first team duty on account of Lee Crabtree's furlough, and the aging gloveman has lost none his sureness.

One of the other winners last week were today's visitors Milnrow, who also badly needed some points. Currently at the bottom of the league they cannot be taken lightly. Professional Babar Naeem can win with either bat or ball. Max Power, a heavy run scorer in the league, is back at Ladyhouse and they have a fair bundle of young, talented and enthusiastic players in their team. The encounter at Milnrow on the opening day of the season went to the last ball, and it is a fair bet that Milnrow are still kicking themselves for not winning it. An interesting encounter could be on the cards today.