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Kamara leads way

29/ 4/2004

Cricket

MIDDLETON Cricket Club skipper John Punchard declared himself satisfied after his team's emphatic eight-wicket victory over Crompton in the season's opener at Towncroft on Sunday.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat.

On a day and a wicket that looked ideal for batsmen they were soon in trouble. Phil Tomlinson removed opener Graham's middle stump, for three, with the total on 13

Rigby and Crompton deputy pro Hamid took the score to 50 before Tommo struck again by uprooting Rigby's leg stump.

Joined by overseas amateur Francois Vearmaak, Hamid shared a partnership of 38 before being tempted by Sajith Fernando. He holed out to Kevin Dufeu.

Nigel Doyle was next to strike when Vearmaak nicked one into the gloves of debutant wicket-keeper Chandika Kumara.

A defiant 28 from Lee kept the visitors' hopes of a decent total alive, but when he went, by way of Dufeu's second of three catches, the writing was on the wall.

Fernando completed his haul of three wickets before Punchard matched his effort, his final victims falling in a double-wicket maiden.

The innings came to an end by way of a run out after an accurate throw by talented young prospect Danny Royle, and Crompton finished on 154 all out.

Middleton started their reply with the new slimline Steve Davey, who shed three stone during the close season, partnering new boy Chandika Kumara.

Davey was caught by Hamid in the slips, then Hamid removed Fernando with the score on 42.

An air of unease fell on Towncroft, but the fans found a new hero in Kumara who played himself in before gaining the confidence to produce some powerful strokes.

Jimmy Ryan saw out the innings with Kumara and was unbeaten on 44. Kumara's 82 not out was the highlight of the day and if Middleton can consistently perform like this they are sure to improve on their 2003 league position of eighth.