Muhammad Shakir produced a brilliant mid-innings spell of bowling to destroy Barkisland in a riveting relegation clash. Delph & Dobcross shrugged off losing an early wicket in the first over after being inserted by their hosts on a tough surface in a match that was reduced to 40 overs each following overnight rain. Adam Hayes (32) and Alex Peters (41) laid on 69 runs to give Mosun Hussain (71no) the opportunity to shine in Delph’s substantial first innings score of 216-4. Umer Yaqoob (41no) joined forces to bludgeon Barkisland’s flagging bowling as they racked up 76 runs in the last ten overs to set the home side a target of 216-4. Shakir took a change of ends to get his mojo ticking after Barkisland openers George Hampshire (41) and Matty Weston (29) made the visitors worry in an opening partnership of 71. However once Shakir (5-31) settled at his favoured end he instigated a dramatic collapse in the home side with a destructive spell of bowling. The hosts, with scoreboard pressure weighing heavily, soon found themselves out of the match and then fell 18 runs short on collecting a bonus point which would’ve kept them ahead of their Lancastrian neighbours. They were eventually restricted to 144-8 on a disappointing afternoon which sees them level on points occupying the final relegation place.
