‘Big weekend’ as Shaw chase silverware on three fronts

CAPTAIN Steve Whiston described it as a “big weekend” for Shaw who are chasing silverware on three fronts in the Greater Manchester Cricket League.

And they are away on three consecutive days which will have a huge bearing on their campaign.

Shaw are at Friarmere on Friday, July 19 in the quarter-finals of the T20 competition.

That is followed on Saturday by a trip to Littleborough Lakeside in division 2A while on Sunday they are back at Friarmere in the semi-finals of the Per-Fit Windows 1st X1 League Cup.

Friarmere are top of Division 2B so they will provide tough opposition in the two cup games.

Shaw go into the weekend in an excellent vein of form as they have won five of their last seven league games with the other two abandoned through rain.

They went to top of the table in the league on Saturday after an impressive 187-run victory against Micklehurst.

That win, combined with leaders Elton losing to Littleborough Lakeside, enabled Shaw to take over top spot.

Whiston said: “We are in fantastic form and were unlucky that one of the abandoned games was against Elton when we looked set to win.

“We had restricted them to 59-8 in a rain-affected game and were 9-0 in reply when it was abandoned.”

Shaw have lost only one of their 13 league games and are top ahead of Elton, though both are on 60 points. Winton are third with 57 points.

Whiston said it is two from the top three for promotion as they are well clear of the remaining clubs.

Shaw’s batting has been impressive as their lowest home score has been 270 and lowest away score 190.

“The great thing is that we are not relying on any particular player and we are having standout performances from every member of the team,” said Whiston.

• SHAW have already signed Sri Lankan Dilanka Sandakan as their professional for 2020 and 2021 seasons

The 23-year-old has hugely impressed Shaw in his first half season as the bowler/batsman has taken 61 wickets at an average of 5.8 and scored 449 runs at an average of 27.

Whiston said: “Dilanka is a fantastic player who is getting better in every game.

“He has never played in England before and quickly got to grips with the conditions.”

• HEYSIDE are maintaining their push for promotion in Division 1B of the GMCL.

They are in fourth place and seven points behind Walshaw along with Astley & Tyldesley who occupy the two promotion places.

• CROMPTON are enduring a miserable time in the first division of the Lancashire League, having lost their last six league matches to slip to bottom place.

Only three points separate the bottom three teams so Crompton still have a great chance to stave off the threat of relegation.

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