STRETFORD Cricket Club's first XI had a mixed weekend of joy and pain.

On Saturday, they visited Greater Manchester Cricket League Division One leaders Greenmount and were left to rue an early dropped catch.

Fielding first, Oral Rankine struck early to take the wicket of Saad Khan with the score on one.

But after home pro Kaustub Pawar was dropped on five, it was to prove a turning point.

Joined at the crease by Tom Heaton, the pair put on a huge 240-run partnership for the second wicket.

Heaton scored 93 while Pawar ended unbeaten on 175 as the innings closed on 295-4 after 50 overs.

It was a huge target for Stretford and they had a shaky start with Thomas Coulson being cleaned up for just four.

Angus Harman and Adrian Holmes got to work with knocking down Greenmount's total, both bringing up their fifties. When Harman was dismissed for an impressive 86, however, the middle order failed to add to the score.

With a continual flow of wickets, Stretford fell well short on 211-8, Adrian Holmes finishing on 81 not out.

Sunday’s cup fixtures paired Stretford's first with Premier League Walshaw at Lesley Road.

With another early wicket falling in Stretford’s innings, this time Bell for four, Harman and Adrian Holmes again got to work in building another partnership.

Harman (63) and Adrian Holmes (80) created a weekend partnership of 249.

Stretford, with the help of Rankine (47), Karl Taylor (18) and Brad Holmes (13), battled to reach a competitive 247-9.

Walshaw did not get off to the best of starts in reply, finding themselves 2-1 as Adrian Holmes took the first scalp. However, the pick of the bowlers by far was Ahmad Muhammad who, after bowling 10 overs, returned figures of 5-28. Alex Grant bowled nine balls for figures of 2-2 with Stretford knocking Walshaw out cheaply after a 113-run return.

The first XI return to league action on Saturday when they host Flowery Field at Lesley Road.