Flames are on fire as they move closer to title

N/EAST MIDWEEK LG

BLUE Flames are in pole position in Division One after two wins against Oceans and Civil Service.

However, they lost to Ratcatchers who have now completed their fixtures but are two points behind - and Flames still have two games to play.

Hasan Raza was 61 not out in a total of 143-4 when Flames beat Oceans, who made 142-5, with one ball to spare.

In the game with Civils, Amjad Khan posted 39 out of 120-7, Marshall taking 3-9.

Civils were then dismissed for 95 as Nikhil Bharti stuck 35 and S Amin claimed 4-28.

Will O’Brien scored 67 for Ratcatchers in their 130-8 to better 128-9 by Flames as Murphey took 4-35 and Marthaugh 3-26. Kirkwood trail Flames by four points and also have two fixtures to play following wins against Ratcatchers and Boxbreakers.

Kirkwood’s 130-5 - with Jaswinder Singh 56 not out - beat Ratcatchers’ 124-6, for whom Will O’Brien hit 66. Ehsan took 3-21.

Boxbreakers mustered only 85-9 as Iqbal captured 3-22 for Kirkwood, who then scored quickly thanks to 45 not out by Mukhtar.

Corinthians (110-8) also beat Boxbreakers (107-8).

North Star are close to the Division Two title with one game remaining following their win over Genetics. Genetics posted 80 all out, Faisal Bobby recording figures of 3-13. Star won by four wickets.

Challengers West End still have four games to play and kept up the pressure with a comfortable victory over Matrics Barbarians.

The NE Tamils are also still chasing the leaders with four matches left and they beat Mitford, Sathis taking 5-7.

Whitley Bay overcame Genetics, with Dave Waters hitting the winning boundary when only one more ball remained after Amit Patel had earlier made 54.

Scott Richardson contributed 51 out of Genetics’ 122-4.

Kieran Mole destroyed the Bay top order with 4-15 to secure a first win for bottom team Mitford.

JUNIOR LEAGUE AND CUP CRICKET IN SATURDAY’S GRASSROOTS SPORT