LUKE Perry hit a superb century and Usman Tariq took six wickets to keep Flixton up with the pacesetters in the Greater Manchester League Premier Division last weekend.

Perry scored 110 not out from just 138 balls as the Lawrence Road outfit beat Bamford Fieldhouse and they now sit five points behind leaders Woodbank, who they visit on Saturday in what will be a crunch encounter between the top two.

His fine knock included 14 fours and one six as he helped the hosts recover after opening partner Tariq surrendered his wicket with just eight runs on the board.

He then put together a 91-run partnership with his brother Ashley Perry (38) and later an 85-run one with Alton Beckford (48) as Flixton reached a total of 240-4 from their 45 overs.

Melbourne Austin (1-29), Babar Khan (1-53) and Ryan Senior (1-31) shared the wickets for Bamford with Ashley Perry run out.

The reply started steadily for the visitors before Senior lost his wicket with the score on 34.

Mitchell Renwick lasted two balls and Bamford were stuck on 34-2.

Wickets then fell at regular intervals despite good knocks from wicketkeeper Samuel Felix (31), Chris Schofield (32) and Khan (41).

The final wicket fell on 179 as Flixton wrapped up victory with Tariq the star bowler with figures of 6-47 from 12 overs.

Beckford (3-62) played his part as well for the hosts.

In Division One, Stretford fell to a two-wicket defeat on home soil to second-placed Flowery Field in what was a low-scoring game at Lesley Road.

Batting first, the hosts struggled to get going and only four players – Angus Harman, Oral Rankine, Karl Taylor and John Foulkes – made it into double figures as they were skittled out for just 92.

The chief tormentor was Patrick Hammond who took 6-42 for Flowery Field.

It looked like being a straightforward reply for the visitors but it turned out far closer than they would have expected.

After a fair start, wickets fell with regularity thanks to tight bowling from Taylor (4-33) and Ahmad Muhammad (3-25).

But they crept over the line with 95-8 to seal victory.

Meanwhile, in the Cheshire County Cricket League Division One, Urmston’s first XI lost on home soil to Davenham.

Batting first, the visitors made 200-7 with some good knocks from the top-order – Peter Gallichan’s 61 the top score as Ian Grindley and Dominic Ashling took two wickets apiece.

In reply, Urmston struggled with only Lewis Jackson (61) scoring runs of note.

Only three others reached double figures as the hosts were all out for 116.

Ben Gough (4-41) was the pick of the Davenham bowlers as they sealed an 84-run triumph.