GREATER MANCHESTER AMATEUR CRICKET LEAGUE
SALFORD BLUE JAYS CC 352-8
WEST DIDSBURY CC 215-7
SALFORD BLUE JAYS WON BY 137 RUNS

Salford Blue Jays destroyed West Didsbury by 137 runs in the GMACL on a day when records tumbled.

After two poor performances Salford Blue Jays needed a big performance to put their season back on track.

Salford won the toss and captain Josh Henry sought to take advantage of the glorious conditions and chose to bat on a flat wicket. Waseem Hassan joined Josh Henry in the middle and the opening pair got off to a solid start with a partnership of 78 in just 11 overs before Hassan fell, missing a full toss and given out LBW.

Jonny Ariyaratnan added a quick fire 19 including a missive six before he was stumped by West Didsbury keeper off the bowling of their captain Arshad Khan (2-68).

This bought Salford Blue Jays’ start batsmen Indi Samra to the crease. Batting with Henry, Samra took the attack straight to the West Didsbury hitting a 51-ball 107 including 16 fours and two sixes in Salford’s record partnership of 173 before hitting a top edge in the air for the keeper to pocket. Josh Henry was finally dismissed in the 31st over caught behind for a well-made 65 runs.

Salford then took advantage of the base that had been made. Runs and wickets started coming thick and fast with Jonny Wineberg’s quick fire 34 and Yasir Riaz’s 15, finally helping to amass a club record 352-8 in 40 overs.

With West Didsbury - facing the daunting prospect of chasing the massive total - Yasir Riaz (3-53), with the new ball in hand, got Salford off the best start possible, bowling the opening batsman with a beautiful swinging delivery.

Rob Dietz (1-49) and Deeraj Longanathan (1-27) also bowled a constantly probing line and length but West Didsbury showed what a flat wicket it was with captain Arshad Khan and Basith Abdul both passing 50 in quick time.

However, a fantastic Yorker by Dietz that removed Abdul saw Salford slow down the West Didsbury advance and pick up regular wickets, including a wonderful caught and bowled from Riaz.

Ross Bloomberg (2-45) chipped in with two wickets to try and clean up the tail, but a stubborn defence from Rayhan Kahn saw West Disdbury complete their 40 overs on 215-7, 137 runs short of the target.