STRETFORD CC were on the losing side against Stand in their first match in the new Greater Manchester Cricket league Division Two last Saturday.

On a day where over 50 per cent of games were off due to the wet weather, hard work by club volunteers got the fast-drying ground fit for play.

A young Stretford side were put into bat and brothers Adrian and Bradleigh Holmes opened and looked in little trouble until Bradleigh was run out.

Chris Sharp and overseas player David Roberts batted sensibly with Holmes putting Stretford on 66-2 at the halfway stage. Stand brought on their spinners and scoring became tough, with Adrian Holmes out for a well made 55 and the score rate slowed.

A couple of sixes from Jason Stringer and sensible batting by captain Scott Webb meant Stretford finished with 144 losing their last wicket in the final over.

This was a competitive total, but looked 20 runs short.

Adrian Holmes and 15-year-old spinner Ahmad Muhammad opened the bowling and soon had the Stand batsmen in trouble, Holmes taking two wickets and Muhammad four as the visitors slipped to 33-6.

A first wicket for Danie Van Schoor left Stand 60-7 and a Stretford victory looked certain.

However Stand's Ateeq had other ideas and went after all the Stretford bowlers, scoring 91 with eight sixes to secure a three-wicket triumph for the visitors.

Despite their defeat it was an excellent display by the young Stretford team well led by Webb and there are encouraging signs for the rest of the season.

This weekend the first team travel to Droylsden, with the second team at home to Springhead on Saturday and the fourth team at home to Glossop.