SHAW Cricket Club has won its first piece of silverware for 12 years after triumphing in the Marston’s GMCL 20 Championship.
They are hoping it is by no means the end of the celebrations as the Holebottom Clough club is on course for a cricketing treble.
Shaw are four points clear at the top of division 2A in the Greater Manchester Cricket League and also through to the final of the 1st X1 League Cup sponsored by Tetley’s.
The T20 team, known as Shaw Spartans and sponsored by Oldham nightclub Liquid & Envy, reached finals days at Winton where they defeated Uppermill by 82 runs in the semi-final.
Shaw made 165-6 with Lincoln Roberts hitting 48 runs off 33 balls and including five sixes, Brian Lord 33 off 29 and Joe Whitehead 24 off 12 including three sixes.
Uppermill were bowled out for 83, Jack Boyle and Callum Jones each claiming three wickets.
Shaw shot out hosts Winton for 96 in the final, professional Dilanka Sandakan taking four wickets for five runs from three overs.
Roberts, with 62 runs from 40 balls, and captain Steven Whiston with 26 not out saw Shaw reach 97 without loss.
Shaw will be hoping to complete the second leg of the treble on Sunday (August 18) when they play Westleigh at Royton in the League Cup final, wickets pitched at 1pm.
Westleigh were champions of Shaw’s division 2A last season and mid-table in division 1B. Their side includes Jameel Stuart, Shaw’s overseas amateur from Barbados in 2017.
Shaw also hold a four-point lead at the top of division 2A with five league games to play.
They had hoped to extend that further but the game against second-placed Winton on Saturday (August 10) was abandoned.
Stayley are away to third-placed Elton on Saturday, August 24 and victory would be another step towards promotion.
It is two from three to go up between Shaw, Winton and Elton.
Shaw’s last silverware was the Saddleworth League’s Tanner Cup and T20 double in 2007 which made their latest achievement extra special.
Whiston said: “It was a fantastic night which we enjoyed.
“We have tasted silverware and want it to be the first of three and not a one-off.
“We are ambitious and all along out priority has been promotion and to be playing first division cricket next season.”
Whiston said there is a “real togetherness” in the group and the best he had experienced in 25 years playing cricket.
He put that down to recruitment, explaining: “We brought in players we knew who had either been here before or who were friends of the club.
“We are a close bunch and everyone has contributed with bat and ball. We don’t rely on one player and everyone stands up each game.
“That was underlined in the T20 finals day when Graeme Simpson, our main batsman, was on holiday and our pro only bowled two overs in the semi-final yet in the final took four wickets.”
• Shaw’s third team has won through to its cup final on bank holiday Monday, August 26 when it plays either Worsley or Stayley at Unsworth, 1pm start.
• Former England cricketer Graeme Swann is the guest speaker at the club’s sportsman’s dinner on Friday, September 6.
The dinner is at Oldham St Anne’s rugby club and tickets are £35 or £325 for a table of 10. They are available from Steven Whiston 07494 315238.