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Duki sound the charge

16/ 7/2001

CRICKET: Dukinfield 112-9 Irlam 85ao

Dukinfield turned in a magnificent performance to beat Irlam and take over top spot in the Lancashire County League table.

They looked down and out at tea-time, having struggled to reach 112-9 off their 50 overs.

It seemed that only a thunderstorm would enable them to keep their unbeaten record intact.

Fortunately, the rain stayed away and thanks to superb bowling by Andy Eastwood, Shafiq Mohammed and pro Paul Turner, Dukinfield picked up maximum points.

Mohammed made the breakthrough by dismissing the dangerous Jahangir Abbas with only six on the board, and then Eastwood struck an equally important blow by removing Mo Afzal for just a single.

Mohammed took the next wicket, clean-bowling Aslam Noor for eight, but only when Tahir Mahmood - one of the league's top batsmen who scored nearly 900 runs last year - was trapped leg before by Eastwood for 20 to make it 39-4, did Dukinfield's supporters start to think that victory was possible.

A major stumbling block to this was the talented Irfan Rana who accumulated a neat 17 and was looking confident when good work by Turner resulted in him being run out.

By this time Turner had joined the attack, taking over from Mohammed who took 2-9 in his fine spell.

Turner and Eastwood made sure that the local side did not release their grip on the game.

The visitors were all out in the 32nd over, Eastwood finishing with 4-49 and Turner 3-19.

Wicket keeper Dave Ashworth, who earlier was Dukinfield's most successful batsman with a determined 28 not out, gave the bowlers admirable support and claimed three victims.

Ricky Blackman with 7-41, and Manny Khan with 2-58, bowled unchanged for Irlam.

Dukinfield take over at the top of the table thanks to Denton's impressive victory against Woodhouses.