picture courtesy of Tony Kirk. You can follow Tony on Facebook and Instagram or visit his website here.
Harriers
Our Harriers were due to play two games this weekend, but both fell victim to the weather
A hardball game away at Rishton on Thursday evening was completely lost to the weather without a ball being bowled.
And then a softball game on Sunday morning at Accrington was also rained off, but with us in a strong position. Batting first we had posted 116-6 (net 286) from our 16 overs, with Accrington 29-1 (net 224) when the rain came.
Saturday
With LKO games scheduled for several 1st Division 1st XIs, there would be no 3rd XI cricket this weekend.
Russ Cuddihy Memorial Tournament
So this was set aside on fixture release date as the day to host the Russ Cuddihy Memorial Tournament, an annual tournament involving junior cricketers from around the local area organised by Victoria Cocken and held in memory of her late father Russ.
Mixed age-group junior teams from Enfield, Accrington, Rishton and Great Harwood competed, with all games completed despite the poor weather.
The final was between GHCC and Rishton, with Rishton ultimately victorious.
In the words of organiser Victoria: –
“But it’s all about participation and enjoyment – with every player getting involved and enjoying the sport. Well done to each and every one who played, helped and supported!!
“Plus the raffle collected £330 which will soon be donated to Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in memory of much loved family friend June Newton”
2nd XI at Walsden CC
However with Walsden being one of the teams involved in the LKO, our 2nd XI fixture at Walsden, initially set for Sunday, had been moved to Saturday.
With the weather not great across the region, chances were bleak, but credit to the Walsden ground staff, who had things ready and managed to get us started on time.
Winning the toss, we asked our hosts to bat, and did pretty well, bowling them out for just 94, despite Walsden number 3 Bailey hitting 4 sixes in an over at one point.
Harry Corish took a fine 5-33 from his 8.2 overs, with Paul Newton taking 3-11 and both Dominic Steele and Joseph Cookson picking up a wicket each.
Unfortunately, having bowled ourselves into a strong position, we didn’t get a chance to chase the total, as the rains came back and set in.
5 points each. Well done Harry. On to the next one.
Sunday
Sunday saw a far better forecast, albeit one with scattered morning showers that put paid to the aforementioned Harriers game at Accrington. These were set to clear up by midday meaning our 1st XI should get a full game in.
1st XI vs Nelson CC
An oddity to this year’s fixture list meant that for a third straight week, our 1st XI found themselves at home. But this was no bad thing, as Evolve Document Solutions Cliffe Park has proven to be a happy hunting ground in recent weeks.
No changes to the team, who come into this game off the back of consecutive wins against Bacup and Rishton.
Nelson had acquired a number of players over the winter which had many in Nigel’s captains season preview predicting them as favourites for promotion, and their start to the season suggests they may not be far off, with 3 wins and just one defeat coming in to today’s game.
We won the toss and asked Nelson to bat.
Early wickets from Thikshila de Silva took care of their openers, and vocal captain and professional McGladdery, who went for just 2.
The Nelson middle order dug in though, Thompson and Bradley adding 37 before Kasir Masood (2-31) struck twice in consecutive balls to remove both, separated by an over at the other end.
Wicketkeeper Dinning and Fazal combined to add another 45, and then the Nelson lower order dug in to drag them to what appeared a very competitive total. Kasim Masood had Dinning excellently caught at slip by Matt Oddie, but the overs ticked by and it looked as though they would bat through.
But Kasim has other ideas. 3 wickets in 4 balls in the last over of the innings saw us pick up the 2 bowling points. Kasim finishing with an excellent 4-32 from his 9.4 overs.
167 needed for victory. Quick tea, then Euan and Matt strode out looking to make an early dent in the total.
But Nelson had other ideas. Neil Thompson has caused our batsmen problems in the past and today was no different. It was his partnering opening bowler Fazal who made the initial breakthrough though, Euan looking to flick one off his legs and being adjudged caught behind with the score on just 5.
Alex Kennedy (3) and Matt Oddie (12) both fell to Thompson, and when Thikshila de Silva was bowled by Fazal soon after, we were 26-4 and reeling. That 161 target looked a very long way away.
We dug in, Kasim, Caleb, Siraj and Kaz all battling their way to double figures but finding it tough going with little by way of loose deliveries. Thompson had Kasim Masood trapped LBW as he finished his 15 over spell with a remarkable 3-20. and as much as we battled, wickets fell and by the time Caleb was out for a hard-fought 24, we were 103-9 and defeat seemed inevitable.
But Sheraz Ahmad had other ideas. He took to the Nelson bowling attack like a seagull to a discarded cornetto
16 runs off spinner Nazir in the 42nd over
18 runs – 3 hefty sixes – off the by now even more vocal captain/professional McGladdery in the 43rd over.
12 runs off returning opening bowler Fazal in the 44th over.
He struck 2 fours and 5 sixes on his way to a career best 45, and, supported by captain Stuart Maher, had taken us from certain defeat to claiming all 5 batting points and needing just 7 more to win. Could we do it….
No
It was one shot too many as he looked to win it with another hefty blow, only to be cleaned up by Fazal.
What an effort though. Not just for Sheraz, who may be asking to bat higher next week, but for the team as a whole. To come that close to beating one of the division favourites, on the back of beating the league leaders last week should be seen as a real positive going forward.
Well done Nelson. We go again next week.
Busy week next week, with a bank holiday meaning games every day from Thursday to Monday.
See you then