CHAMPIONS GENTLE START

Double winners D.S.L. didn’t face to many terrors as they opened their 13th season in the League with an eight wicket win at home to Cheetham Hill. Dave Morrell’s tenth 5 wicket haul (5-55) and four wickets for new West Indian pro Jason Bennett were instrumental in bowling out Cheetham Hill for 128. Bilal Hanif took two wickets as the Saints found themselves on 34-2 but Steve Dublin’s 44 ball 50 (59*) and Adam Hawley (34*) then saw the champions home with no further alarms.

Four other teams secured maximum points and Glossop’s new pro Bhatiya Perera made an excellent debut at North Road. His 5-32 reduced Roe Green from 77-0 to 151 all out (Simon Davies 40, Ashley Williams (39). He then hit a 37 ball 50 on his way to an unbeaten 83 and with Steven Bates scoring 44, Glossop won by seven wickets. It was Perera’s 33rd fifty and the 33rd time he has taken 5 wickets in an innings.

Woodhouses, who would end up as Team of the Year, introduced Australian overseas player John Seeary against Stand at Hamilton Road. He took 4-36 in Stand’s 138 (Chris Holt 34) and was then unbeaten on 43 as Woodhouses eased to a five wicket win. Trent Scott, Stand’s own Australian, took 4-50 to reduce Woodhouses to 72-5 before Gareth Tuson and Seeary gave them five points.

Denton also recorded a five wicket win, at home to Thornham with Mo Barkatali taking 5-6 off 8.5 overs in the visitors 111 all out. Danny Walker (46) and Ghulam Abbas (23*) then took Denton to 115-5.

Dukinfield traveled the short distance to Throstle Bank Street for a derby with Flowery Field and Mark Stringer took 4-25 as they were bowled out for 102. David Mayne’s 28 was top score as Dukinfield won by four wickets.

New pro Robin Morris and Jason Stringer shared six wickets as Prestwich were restricted to 177-8d (Ian Walker 65, Peter Walters 39), but 4-40 from Oliver Holt plunged West to 100-6 before 31 from Kevin sample and 42 not out from Andy O’Brien saw West to a two wicket win, O’Brien sealing victory with a straight six.

Irlam also took four points after scoring 203-6d against Woodbank. Liam Parkinson’s 50 (54) came in 32 balls and Simon Carr took 6-56 for Woodbank. From 46-4 unbeaten knocks of 73 from Neil Ridehaugh and 50 from captain Wayne Griffiths saw Woodbank to 173-4 and a point.