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Family affair

15/ 5/2008

BURNAGE put in a fine team performance to beat visitors Middlewich by 79 runs in division one of the Cheshire County League and pick up maximum points in the process.

Burnage batted first and a second-wicket stand between the captain Sajid Mahmood and Muhammad Butt added 39 runs in good style.

The innings was turned around by an excellent stand of 92 between 20-year-old Riswan Baig (76) who justified his call-up from the seconds with an excellent display.

Excellent support at the other end came from the experienced Mohammed Kamran (33) whose dismissal then saw Tahir Mahmood (43) up the tempo with an aggressive innings.

He and Riswan Baig added 58 to help Burnage set up a final total of 227-9 from their 50 overs.

The Middlewich reply received an early setback when Burnage opening bowler Sabtain Baig (5-40) finished off a fine first over by nipping the last ball back on to the top of the off-stump.

He then struck in successive overs to reduce the visitors to 30-3 in the 11th over while Rashid Parvez (4-33) stuck to his task well, bowling uphill as the visitors stumbled their way to 77-5.

A seventh wicket stand of 46 took the total to 139 and gave Middlewich hope of at least snatching a draw from the home side before Parvez struck twice.

Sabtain Baig then returned for a third spell and ensured that his younger brother’s efforts were not wasted by taking two wickets in three deliveries as Middlewich were 148 all out in the 43rd over.