Twenty20 Cup victory for Burslem is a Shaw thing thanks to all-rounder Ash

Burslem cruised into the second round of the NSSCL Twenty20 Cup with a nine-wicket win at Division One rivals Blythe.

Blythe managed to put 123-5 on the board from their allocation, largely thanks to Muhammad Salman Hanif’s 50, which contained 10 fours.

Qmer Ikram (21no) and Junaid Ali (15) lent support, while there were two wickets apiece for Shamsur Rahman and Michael Brown.

Burslem romped to their target inside 14 overs as Ash Shaw blazed nine fours and three sixes in his 43-ball 72 not out.

And with Rahman chipping in with 37, Burslem had no issues in booking their place in the next stage.

Ashcombe Park also advanced on Friday night thanks to a seven-wicket triumph at Caverswall.

Anis Raza’s 4-16 was backed up by 3-15 from Irfan Khan as Caverswall were dismissed for just 93.

Thomas Caton (21) and Craig Grimley (20) made the most progress with the bat.

Caton struck twice with the ball on the resumption, but Hamaiz Mahmood and Haroon Mahmood compiled 36 not out and 28 respectively to see Ashcombe Park over the line.

Division One Meakins toppled top-flight Eccleshall in their tie.

Visitors Eccleshall amassed 152 all out on the back of Eranga Dissanagge’s 50 and 30 from Myles Coughlan.

Karl High led the Meakins bowling bid with 3-35, allied to two wickets apiece from Peter Wilshaw, Umega Chaturanga and Alex Graham.

Chris Gask helped himself to a double in reply, but Meakins pocketed a six-wicket win with two balls to spare.

Sam Moores (38), High (33) and Wilshaw (25) set the tone before the finishing touches were applied by Simon Mugava (35no) and Chaturanga (19no).

Knypersley had a comfortable evening on home turf as they defeated Sandbach.

Robert Whilding top-scored with 33 not out – and James Leese weighed in with 27 – as Knype posted 132-4 from their 20 overs. Muhammad Naveed picked up a couple of wickets.

Sandbach’s reply never really got off the ground and although Gareth Lennon and Ravishka Wijesiri both made 12, they were bundled out for 78.

Cameron Allen and Munir Ur Rehman Tanzil claimed 3-11 and 3-12 respectively, with Jacob and Dominic Cumberbatch sharing the other four wickets.

Leek eased to a nine-wicket home success against Wood Lane.

Omar Ali (25) and Joe Brierley (21) were the main contributors to Wood Lane’s 106-6 in the first half of the evening contest.

Rory Corden and Zen Malik captured two wickets apiece for the Moorlanders.

Leek overhauled that target in the 16th over of their chase as Alex Mellor made 44 not out, Malik struck 33 and Ryan Ball chipped in with an unbeaten 22.

Whitmore had a fine night on the road as they returned from Leycett with a place in the next round.

Whitmore put themselves in the ascendency by sticking 174-9 on the board, thanks to Jalat Khan’s 79 not out.

His innings featured eight fours and four sixes, with Danyal Hussain (29) and Arris Ziad (20) also impressing. Tom Warburton and Matt Johnson shared four wickets.

Muhammad Usman Ahmed (45) and Oliver Shirley (28) did their best to inspire Leycett in their run chase.

However, they fell short as they were bowled out for 133 as Amaan Tariq scooped 3-23 and there were double strikes from Khalid Hamidi, Hussain and Ziad.

Norton in Hales knocked out Premier Division Audley.

Visitors Audley were limited to 126-8 from their overs, in which Rob Hemmings top-scored with 31 and Oliver Wilde added 26. Jack Furnival took 3-22 and there were a couple of victims apiece for Ewan Farnell and Anthony Sheeran.

Billy Jones replied with 3-22, but Norton in Hales wrapped up a three-wicket win, with four balls to spare, courtesy of Chris Dyer’s 38, 22 from Dane Tinsley and James Pringle’s unbeaten 21.

Stone SP made home advantage count to defeat Newcastle & Hartshill.

Castle made their way to 125 all out as Andy Whitehead made 21 and Lakshan Rodrigo chipped in with 20.

There were three wickets apiece from Jack Batchelor (3-14), Jahurul Islam (3-16) and Edward Batchelor (3-28).

Stone SP timed their chase to perfection, winning by four wickets with five deliveries to spare.

Islam compiled 41 and Dan Lunn made 20, despite Whitehead and Dan Gibbs sharing four wickets.

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