Tahir stars for aspiring Moddershall

25 August 2008

Busy Imran Tahir

The 360-mile round trip between Southampton and Moddershall is proving to be a worthwhile one for Hampshire's new spinning sensation Imran Tahir.

Driving up and down the country to represent both sides, the Pakistani leg spinner is proving as successful in advancing Moddershall's title hopes in the Waterworld North Staffs and South Cheshire Cricket League as he is in stemming Hampshire's demise in the top LV Division.

Tahir took 5-35 for the club where he has spent most of the 2008 season before being signed by Hampshire to give Moddershall a 26 run victory over Barlaston. The visitors to Barnfield must have thought they were in business when Najaf Shah (4-37) and Mark Stanyer (6-31) reduced Moddershall to 78 all out.

But their hopes were scuppered by Tahir and Rob Bagnall (3-11) who floored the bottom side and left them 62 all out.

The win hoisted Moddershall to the top of the table and left Barlaston needing something of a miracle. Moddershall's advancement was assisted by a bad day at the office for Leek and a pretty uninspiring one for Audley.

Leek were shot out for 84 at Longton who lost six wickets but got home at 86 for six and actually propelled themselves into the title race lying 16 points off the pace with three games left.

Meanwhile Audley were hanging on at home to Burlsem. The Festival Heights side rattled up 224 for seven with fine contributions from Chris Lowdnes (65), Samiullah Khan (57) and Khalid Malik (56).

Muhammad Azharullah plugged away and took 5-39 but the bat dominated the ball. Not so when the home side took their turn, Audley found Samiullah Khan a real handful and he finished with 4-38 as Dave Fairbanks' team all but sucumbed finishing on 109 for nine.

Wood Lane and Stafford would each have been looking for more than a draw, Lane's 240 looked like being enough but Stafford held out at 130 for seven.

Next Saturday Wood Lane are at home to Barlaston whilst Stafford are away at Porthill Park. At Knypersley last Saturday, Porthill's Fazl E Akbar took 4-23 and the home side was on the ropes at 72 for eight chasing Park's 175 (Jervis 39, Ellsmore 35 not out, Fazl 34), when the weather intervened.

Stone's two wicket win at Little Stoke almost certainly secured their Premier status for 2009. Little Stoke reached 132 all out, and whilst they too are effectively safe a good return from their trip to Burlsem next week will help them relax.