STRETFORD remain third in Greater Manchester Cricket League Division Two after a 56-run win at Brooksbottom.

The first five batsmen all got starts for the visitors with Adrian Holmes (27), Chris Sharp (21), Danie Van Schoor (25), David Roberts (11) and Jason Stringer (21) all contributing.

At 100-2 in the 18th over, they looked to be heading for at least 200, but as has happened too often this season, the batting was extremely inconsistent.

Stretford lost three wickets at 149 and three on 167 where they finished after only 37 overs, leaving Brooksbottom with 63 overs to score the required runs.

However, Stretford's bowlers came to the rescue again.

Asim Rafiq, brought in from the second team, took two early wickets, putting Brooksbottom on the back foot.

Ahmad Muhammad bowled his usual excellent spell with 2-38 – 18 runs coming from his final over.

Veteran Stringer (2-11) bowled another miserly spell while left-arm spinner Brad Holmes again finished the game off, bowling danger man Hamsa Qureshi for 48 and finishing with 3-18. Brooksbottom finished their innings on 112.

Stretford's second team, who are second, bowled Friends Sporting Club out for 124 at Lesley Road with an excellent all-round bowling and fielding performance.

Wickets were shared between Sarmad Zafar (2-14), Daud Muhammad (2-17), Joe Weems (1-8), Ben Riddell (2-16) and Mark Stamper (3-30).

Friends were bowled out in 32 overs leaving Stretford 58 overs to score the runs.

They took just 24 to get the required runs with 16-year-old Matthew Laker scoring 51 not out and 13-year-old George Bell out for 68 with just one run required for victory.

The seconds then had a narrow win at Greenfield third team on Sunday.

Stretford batted first and did not really get going, only Alex Grant dominated the bowling scoring 47 not out.

Grant ran out of partners and the innings finished on 151 in 35 overs.

The Greenfield reply kept pace but wickets fell regularly with Rafiq being the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets. The innings finished on 146 handing Stretford seconds another much-needed win.

Elsewhere, the fourth team were narrowly beaten by a strong Denton West third team in the quarter-final of the cup, losing by just 11 runs.

Saturday sees the first and second team playing league leaders Denton with the firsts at home.

Sunday is the Adrian Fish Junior Trios with the third team at Darcy Lever and the fourths at South West Manchester. and the second team are second after two victories over the weekend.