Percy’s Ali knocks Abbas out of record books

9:30am Saturday 19th July 2008

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PERCY MAIN’S popular professional Mohtashim Ali wrote his name into the record books last weekend when he made a blistering 134 against Alnwick.

He had needed 132 before the start of the game to reach the landmark of 1000 league runs and when he achieved the feat he did so earlier than anyone in NTSL history, and in fewer innings. Moh’s knock was only the eleventh time he had ventured to the crease, the previous record-holder, Burnopfield’s Imran Abbas, needed 14 attempts to achieve the feat which came on the 1st August 2001.

More importantly for the player he is spearheading his club’s drive for an immediate return to the top flight after relegation in 2007.

In the top division Ian Pattison’s influence on the allconquering Swalwell side is easy to see – he currently lies second in the batting averages whilst topping the bowling list.

And he has colleagues aplenty to back him up with Lloyd Anderson currently just seven runs away from being the division’s top run scorer, and Marcus Peart and Nicky Phillips joining Pattison in the top eight bowling rankings. Peart returns to the Swalwell line-up for today’s game at Leadgate where the hosts are unchanged.

Second-placed Shotley Bridge also have a glut of players in the batting list, with Phil Brown, Phil Carlin and Peter Collingwood all having impressive aggregates.

But Bridge’s lack of cutting edge with the ball is highlighted by the fact Aman Dhindsa tops the Bridge bowlers in 13th place.

Bridge’s opponents today, Annfield Plain, boast the division’s leading wicket-taker in Saqib Khan so his battle with the home batters will carry particular interest.

John and David Newstead return to the Plain team for a match where second place in the table awaits the victors.