IT was an excellent weekend for Stretford's first team with victories over Greater Manchester Cricket League Division One leaders Woodhouses and Premier Division Denton West in the semi-final of the T20 at Flixton.

On Saturday, they bowled well and piled on pressure from the start with Oral Rankine (2-17), Ahmad Muhammad (1-25), captain Karl Taylor (3-17) and Mark Stamper (4-17) helping bowl out Woodhouses for a paltry 99.

Stretford have had problems chasing low scores this season and this game went the same way – at 11-4 with two run-outs at one stage.

But Gus Harman soldiered on, ably supported by captain Taylor with 33.

At 69-6 the game hung in the balance but Ocean O'Malley, with a patient nine not out, and Harman (45no) took Stretford home.

On Sunday, Flixton hosted the league T20 finals day and their star-packed squad easily beat Denton St Lawrence in the first game, chasing 120 and losing only four wickets on the way.

In the second semi-final Stretford – the only Division One team at finals day – played Denton West.

The Stretford innings could not have started much worse with Jamaican Rankine bowled first ball and Harman going soon after.

Sean Chamberlain (13), Brad Holmes (nine) and Thomas Coulson (nine) helped Adrian Holmes (26) as Stretford limped to a final total of 89.

This looked to be in easy reach for Denton West, but the Stretford bowling and fielding was excellent.

Rankine, Muhammad and Taylor all went for 10 or less runs off their four overs, but five sixes kept the Denton West reply going after a slow start.

Saturday's hero Stamper picked up another three wickets and the final victim fell to a fantastic Taylor catch as Denton West were all out for 77.

Then the forecast rain came and the day was abandoned with the final now set for this Sunday at Flixton.

Stretford's second team faced high-flying Denton St Lawrence and with 16-year-old Matthew Armstrong (89) leading the way, supported by Matthew Laker (22) and Michael Tresnan (22), they were healthily placed.

However, when Denton brought back the opening bowlers, despite a few lusty blows from Jeff Marshall, the Stretford innings stuttered to 184 all out.

After a great opening spell by 15-year-old Kamran Hussain (3-13), Denton were struggling at 47-5, but Selby hit 76 – with nine sixes – to turn the tide, DSL winning by three wickets.

The Hurricanes third team bowled first at Greenmount in their cup semi-final that was cut down to 35 overs per side due to the bad weather.

Greenmount scored 196 and Stretford were 14 for 0 when the rain returned.

The bowl out was then lost 3-2, ending an excellent run by the team.

As well as the T20 final on Sunday, Stretford firsts play Greenmount and the seconds face Unsworth on Saturday.

The Hurricanes are at Littleborough Lakeside on Sunday and the Spitfires at home to Denton West.

Tomorrow sees a friendly game against Munich yes from Germany and the start of this year's Raymond Van Schoor six-a-side.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old first-teamer Muhammad was selected to play for Lancashire second team on Monday at Audley College in Warwickshire – a great honour for the club and the prolific left-arm spinner.