STRETFORD's first team progressed to the Greater Manchester Cricket League's T20 finals day at Flixton after a four-wicket win against Premier Division side Bamford Fieldhouse.

Bamford batted first and were 58-1 after eight overs, but some miserly bowling by Muhammad Ahmad and Karl Taylor, who took three wickets each, left them on 106-9 at the close.

Oral Rankine, who has left his best batting for this year’s T20 competition, again stole the show with a hard-hitting 61, to see Stretford home.

Hosts Flixton face Denton St Lawrence in the first semi-final and Stretford play Denton West on Sunday.

On Saturday, the first team played Worsley and at last the Stretford batting showed its teeth.

Stretford scored 299-3 off their 50 overs with Adrian Holmes holding the innings together with 92 not out, while Gus Harman scored a brisk 61 and Adrian’s brother Bradleigh was 55no.

Steady Stretford bowling took wickets regularly and spinner Mark Stamper finished the innings off with 4-7 off his seven overs. The Worsley reply finished on 99 and gave Stretford a much-needed Division One victory.

The second team fielded first at home against Woodhouses and seamers Kamran Hussain and Benji Evans bowled with pace as Woodhouses edged their way to 50 without loss.

Mark Coulson took a couple of wickets, setting the innings back, but Woodhouses finished on 164 with Evans the pick of the bowlers with 3-39 off his 14 overs.

The Stretford innings started well and at 79-1 victory only seemed a matter of time.

But the middle order collapsed with an array of poor shots. Veterans Keith Evans and John Foulkes steadied the ship and Stretford were in a good position when the rain came and made batting difficult.

The umpires took the teams off and Stretford won by two runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

On Sunday, the fourths lost a close but low-scoring game against Friends Sporting Club.

Stretford made 65 all out with captain Robert Renforth top scoring with 26no.

Despite six wickets from Usman Hassan, Stretford lost by one wicket.

This week the under-19s are home to Wigan in the ECB knockout, while Saturday sees the first team host Woodhouses and the seconds away at Denton St Lawrence.

On Sunday, as well as the first team at Flixton for T20 finals day, the thirds are at Greenmount in the semi-final of the cup, with the fourth team at home.