GREATER MANCHESTER AMATEUR LEAGUE
SALFORD BLUE JAY 180 (36 overs)
SOUTH MANCHESTER 103 (23 OVERS)
Salford won by 77 runs
Salford Blue Jays registered their first league win on the season on Sunday, overcoming old rivals South Manchester at Styal Cricket Club by the healthy margin of 77 runs.
Having lost the toss, Salford were put in to bat and docked four overs as a number of their players arrived late having been delayed by the heavy traffic associated with the music festival at Heaton Park. In addition Salford were a man short and missing a number of regulars.
In their absence, the deputising openers put on a 36-run partnership for the first wicket. Akiva Lieberman was miserly with his first eight overs of spin including three maidens, whilst he picked up three wickets for only 14 runs.
The mainstay of Salford’s innings was a fantastic 72 by Indy which included 11 boundaries and two sixes. He came to the crease at 63-3 in the 17th over and was only out in the last few overs. He received solid support throughout from the remaining batsmen with only the last two men failing to register a score. As he accelerated in the closing overs Lieberman’s last two overs went for 22 runs.
Needing to score at four-and-a-half runs per over, South lost wickets at regular intervals. The pick of the bowlers was Deemantha who bowled with great control to take 4-19 off his seven overs. A number of batsmen were undone by the uneven bounce of the pitch with several deliveries keeping low.
Once the free-scoring Lieberman was dismissed for top score of 23, there was only going to be one result. South skipper Steve Glicher occupied the crease until he was undone by a slower delivery from Abdul.
Some late innings resistance emerged in the form of Andrew Feldman who sportingly walked after feathering an edge to wicket-keeper Shimon Harris.
Harry Rosenbloom proved difficult to dismiss showing good judgement in denying the spinners. Ben Darwent hit a few late boundaries but after he fell for 20 the end soon followed. This provoked much rejoicing amongst the Salford players who were delighted with the nature of their victory.
