Saqlain sweeps Burslem on top

Burslem's Saqlain Mushtaq

Saqlain Mushtaq fired a second broadside across the bows of the North Staffs & South Cheshire Premier League when his side Burslem defeated Porthills by 59 runs at Festival Heights.

Brenton Parchment, the West Indian and Jamaica opening batsman, was drafted in as sub pro for Porthill, with Saqlain Mushtaq - the Pakistani Test and Surrey spinner - in the Burslem ranks.

Burslem were asked to bat first on a greenish but firm looking track and Loughborough student Richard Atkins made steady inroads into the Burslem batting, reducing them to 92 for seven, with Atkins taking 6-54.

Brenton Parchment

Alex Bailey, who rescued Burslem the week before, survived a confident appeal for a catch behind off the unlucky Mark Bengry, and having come in with the score on 92 for seven took the score to 176 with a well-compiled 66.

He put on 80 with the tail-end, while Joe Bridgewater cleaned up at the end, taking two wickets.

Porthill started with the early loss of Dave Ferris, but Parchment joined Atkins at the wicket and they steadily took the score onto 70 before Parchment was caught behind for 27.

Having opened the bowling, Saqlain switched ends; but as the ball lost its shine, so he weaved his magic. Atkins fell for a well-made 43, then Saqlain tore through the Porthill middle-order, with only Simon Cork and Jack Beech putting up any resistance.

Porthill were finally dismissed for 117 as Saqlain finished with 7-42, a mesmerising performance from one of the worlds best off-spinners.