Saturday
Saturday was Worsley and Junior Cup first round day in the JW Lees Lancashire League, but having secured byes in both competitions, we were presented with a rare open Saturday with no fixture
So what better way to get this Bank Holiday weekend than to have a friendly between our two 3rd XI sides, who are in different divisions this year so won’t otherwise play against each other.
3rd XI A vs 3rd XI B
Our 3rd XI B (previously 3rd XI) batted first, and fell to 14-3 with three early wickets for Harry Cousins, before Harry Corish (25) and Darab Khan (22) dug in and started to build a score. Both fell, but Muhammad Shakeel (25) and Nathan Sheridan (51*) continued where they left off. Nathan retired having reached 50, and three wickets for Rayyan Hussain (3-36) followed. But Asif Akhtar (31) and an unbeaten 19 from Joel Houldsworth saw the total reach 200
In response, our 3rd XI A (previously 4th XI) made a similar start, with quick wickets falling to an impressive spell from Joel Houldsworth (5-4-4-4), tempered somewhat by Oliver Roscoe (26) scoring freely at the other end.
By the time he fell, our 3rd XI B were 32-4 and struggling. Further wickets for Luke Rushton (1-22) and Dylan Kayley-Walsh (1-21) followed, and despite a solid 39* from Dominic Steele, 4 wickets from Joshua Cousins (4-20) took our 3rd XI B to victory. 3rd XI A all out for 125.
Local photographer Tony Kirk was in attendance and took these amazing images of the game.
You can follow Tony on Facebook and Instagram or visit his website here.
Sunday
On Sunday our 1st XI and 2nd XIs took on Bacup.
1st XI vs Bacup
A the third attempt our 1st XI got their season up and running with a comprehensive victory at Evolve Document Solutions Cliffe Park.
Having chosen to bowl first, early wickets fell, Adlum, Collinge and Bradford all gone to the bowling of Thikshila de Silva with the score yet to reach 40
Bacup professional G Tarr was looking to play a different tune (I know, but it wrote itself), but when he fell for 10, bowled by Kasir Masood, the Bacup music (Coconutters?) faded.
Indeed Thikshila de Silva took to the Bacup batting order like a fat kid to an unguarded sponge cake. Donovan, Rehman, Lord, Sumner and Boardman all fell either bowled or LBW as he recorded 8-30 in a remarkable 14 over spell.
Aside from the professional, only Gansler (17) reached double figures. He dug in well and looked to have got himself set despite wickets falling around him, but then captain Stuart Maher brought himself on and trapped him LBW first ball and that was that; Bacup all out for 74.
Bacup needed early wickets to have any chance. Matt Oddie opened as ever, joined this week by Euan Rushton, making his 1st XI debut on the back of consecutive 50s opening for the 2s, and together they calmly put paid to any opposition hopes, putting on 45 for the first wicket.
Euan fell for 18, and Matt followed three balls later for 25, but Alex Kennedy (12) and Thikshila de Silva (18) saw off the remaining 30 runs between them in just 2 further overs.
A great first win of the season. Rishton next week
Here are Thikshila’s 8 wickets.
2nd XI at Bacup
On the back of two convincing 10 point wins, our 2s travelled to Bacup looking to continue their winning run.
With overnight rain causing a delayed start, the game was reduced to 37 overs a side.
Bowling first, we restricted the hosts to 126-8, with wickets shared between all 5 bowlers, the pick of whom was Harry Corish who took 3-32 from his 9 overs.
Having chased down over 200 in each of the previous two weeks, this seemed a manageable total, but Bacup had other ideas, and led by A Shepherd (6-31), they tore through our top order, reducing us to 50-5
Max Cocken brought us right back into it, consolidating on his fine start to the season with a well-constructed 47, but when he fell in Shepherd’s final over, we found ourselves 108-9, still 19 short of victory.
Joel Houldsworth, in at 11 but on the back of an unbeaten 50 the week before, joined Dominic Steele and together they steered us towards the total.
Ten to win.
Five to win
Two to win….
Disaster.
Joel, who had looked so assured, picked up on a loose one and sought to win it in a single strike, only for the ball to hold in the surface. Catch taken running back at mid on, and Bacup won it by one run.
Great game which swung one way then the other and back again throughout. Well done to Bacup who stuck at it right to the end. We take the 5 points and go again down the road at Rishton next week.
Monday
Bank Holidays give you an extra day in the weekend. That extra day can be filled with more cricket. It was, we had more cricket.
3rd XI B at Todmorden
Ok so in these so far this season I’ve looked to report on the home game for each day first. but I don’t want to do this here as, at the risk of dropping spoilers, I have a video clip of the home game and I want to finish on a high.
So our 3rd XI B travelled to Todmorden on the back of a fine opening win at home against Walsden. But could we follow it up.
Todmorden batted first and posted 230-9. A hefty total brought about by a lower order fightback, their numbers 7 and 8 both scoring 50s. Bowling we had 2 wickets each for Jason Kayley and Muhammad Shakeel, whilst Asif Akhtar, Harry Cousins and Darab Khan all took one each.
Our response didn’t get off to a great start, three wickets fell with just 11 on the board. Paul Houldsworth got a start with 17, but when he fell we were 48-5 and, with batsmen suggesting the ball felt like trying to drive a bowling ball, victory looked a long way away.
Darab Khan (18), Jason Kayley (22) and Zachary Houldsworth (18) all battled but ultimately in vain, as we were all out for 107.
On to the next one.
3rd XI A vs Lowerhouse
Last but by no means least, our 3rd XI A welcomed Lowerhouse to Evolve Document Solutions Cliffe Park on Monday, looking to bounce back after defeat in the season opener at Littleborough.
Winning the toss, captain Paul Newton elected to bat, and sent out Freddie Campbell and William Armer asking them to get us off to a solid start.
They did better than that, putting on 180 for the first wicket, with Freddie (54) hitting his first GHCC senior 50.
As fine an innings and achievement as this was, it was overshadowed by that of his opening partner. Armer struck 12 fours and 8 sixes in a magnificent 136 from just 108 balls. A first senior 100 for the 17 year old.
Both were out, but there was still time for a brief cameo from Max Cocken, who smashed 36 from just 13 balls, and Hugo Corish (13 from 11), which meant we closed our 40 overs on 262-5
Lowerhouse made a very decent attempt at the run chase, closing on 197-5, just 65 short of what was a mammoth total.
Hugo Corish took 3 wickets, with Paul Newton and Ciaran Holden taking one each.
Specific mention goes to Lowerhouse opener Joe Clark, who batted through for 102*. A fine innings.
I’ll be back next week with another weekly update, but just to close…
Here’s the moment William reached 100.