By Graham Hardcastle

Jameel Stuart hit a quick-fire 75 not out as an Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Select XI claimed a notable T20 friendly win over the German national side at Farnworth on Monday night.

Chasing 145, Simon Booth’s NWCL side breezed to their target in eye-catching fashion to win by seven wickets with 3.4 overs remaining.

Stuart and Milinda Siriwardana, professionals at cross-town rivals Farnworth Social Circle and Farnworth respectively, lit up Bridgeman Park with a superb unbroken 104 partnership inside nine overs, advancing the chase from 41-3 in the eighth over.

And Bajan Stuart played the lead role with five sixes and six fours in a devastating 42-ball assault, supported ably by former Sri Lankan international Siriwardana.

He hit three sixes of his own in an unbeaten 36 off 23 balls, helping the NWCL avert early danger having lost three wickets to spin. Off-spinner Rasul Ahmadi claimed two of them.

Earlier, a German side who are on their way to Edinburgh this week for a T20 World Cup qualifying event posted 144-9 having elected to bat.

They had won their last six T20 internationals but were missing former Durham County Championship winner Michael Richardson, who will play in Edinburgh.

Former Leicestershire bowler Dieter Klein’s 23 down the order was one of three 20 plus scores.

Little Lever left-arm spinner Curtis Anderson was excellent with 3-18 from four overs, while Mo Nazim, Ollie Wetton, Nipun Gaikwad, Siriwardana and Cam Murray all struck once apiece.