We’re back for another weekly round up, and what a roundup this promises to be.
A bumper Bank Holiday weekend means we have 8 games to report on, and I can’t wait to tell you all about every single one of them.
Friday
The Graham Porter Trophy – T20 at Rishton
On Friday out 1st XI made the short journey down Lee Lane to compete for the Graham Porter Trophy. An annual friendly competition held between Great Harwood and Rishton held in memory of a man who was a great supporter of both clubs.
Into the side for the first time this year came Chris Oddie and Samuel Davies, in place of Euan Rushton and Stuart Maher. Matt Oddie captains our T20 side.
Rishton had a sub pro for the evening, Darwen’s Sangeeth Cooray deputising for the unavailable Kieran Grimshaw
We lost the toss and were asked to bat. Matt opened with Kaz joining him. And they got of to a steady start before Kaz decided he’s had enough, hitting the last ball of the third over for six, before plonking two more onto Blackburn Road in the fourth.
He fell soon after, but Thikshila de Silva joined Matt. Rishton turned to spin from both ends and Sartaj and Cooray didn’t give much away, but neither batsman looked like getting out, gradually building a total.
It was when the bowling change came in the 10th over that Matt saw an opportunity, hitting Hussain for two sixes in his first over. He sought to do the same in the next but didn’t get it cleanly and was out for 34.
Cooray (1-16) picked up the wicket of Siraj, and de Silva fell to Hussain for 25, but this brought Caleb Greenhalgh to the middle. He hit 2 fours and 3 sixes in a 21 ball 37 that, along with 12 from Sheraz Ahmad, helped us to 137-5 from our 20 overs. Not a massive total, but certainly a competitive one that our bowlers would fancy their chances of defending.
Thikshila opened up with a maiden, Boddie and Hussain opening for Rishton, and when the former tried reverse-sweeping Sheraz in the second over, he was trapped LBW for a 9 ball duck.
Sub pro Cooray came in, but having immediately got off the mark, he fell in de Silva’s second over, mistiming a drive which was well caught at cover by Matt Oddie.
When Hussain also fell to the last ball of the 5th over, Rishton were 10-3 and struggling.
Hassan (16) and Khan (12) started to build back for Rishton, before both falling to Samuel Davies.
Fox hit a six before Matt Oddie got him in his first over for 8, but former GHCC member Senapathi then threatened to bring Rishton right back into the game, scoring an impressive 37 with 3 sixes.
It was all too little too late though, and as they pushed to try to keep up with the rate, both Senapathi and captain Sartaj fell in the 19th over.
This gave us the opportunity to let Siraj bowl the last over, and despite 14 coming from it, we retained the Graham Porter Trophy, winning by 26 runs.
Now there should really be a picture of the trophy presentation, but there wasn’t one. I’ll add one here if we can get the team together at training this week to do one ourselves.
Harriers at Darwen
Also on Friday Night our Harriers Women’s team headed to Darwen for a softball friendly.
Apologies for the lack of detail in this one. I wasn’t present having gone to Rishton to watch the aforementioned.
Softball is pairs cricket, played 8 a side over 16 overs with four batting pairs who face 4 overs each. If a wicket falls, the batters switch ends and 5 runs are lost. The net score attained at the end of the 16 overs starts with a base score of 200, plus the runs scored and minus 5 for each wicket lost,
We lost the toss and were asked to bat. Runs were scored throughout the team, with every batter scoring at least 7. Kirstie Reader top scored with 22 and Sharon Whittaker 15. Importantly we only lost two wickets throughout the innings.
We scored 112, and the two wickets lost meant a net score of 302.
In response, Darwen scored 82 runs and lost 5 wickets. 2 for Megan Longworth, and one each for Isabelle Gargan, Gill Hodgson and Kirstie Reader.
Their 82-5 resulted in a net score of 257 meaning we won by 45 runs
Saturday
Cup Action this Saturday, as our 1st XI travel to Norden in the Worsley Cup whilst our 2nd XI welcome Rochdale to Evolve Document Solutions Cliffe Park in the Junior Cup.
Junior Cup – 2nd XI v Rochdale
Ah the junior cup. We like this competition, having won it in 2022 and 2024.
We’d received a bye in round one, so this round 2 fixture is our entry point to this year’s competition. We had been drawn against Rochdale, who are in the division above but currently sit at the foot of the table.
Once again we lost the toss, and were asked to bat. With Chris Oddie in the 1st XI this weekend we needed another opener, and Jack Hancock stepped into the role, walking out with Freddie Campbell. But things were initially tough going, the Rochdale openers keeping things very tight and Malik in particular causing problems
Freddie fell for just 4, and both Hamza and Samuel were bowled by Malik soon after. We were 15-3 and any hopes of another cup win looked very distant. But in came captain Miles Corish, and he and Jack (26) combined to add 39 for the 4th wicket. Jack was out LBW to Pauline but Paul Houldsworth joined Miles and they added a further 52 between them, Miles reaching 50.
He was run out for 54 from 76 balls which included 8 fours. Paul followed in the following over for 19, and further contributions from the lower order, including 14 from wicketkeeper Oliver Roscoe helped us to 147.
Brief note to mention Rochdale’s Mohammed Omar, who finished with figures of 5-34.
A lower total than we’ve been used to from our 2s this season, but one that we felt could be competitive – if we got off to a good start.
25th May 2024. Two years ago, almost to the day. was the last time Paul Houldsworth bowled in a game of cricket.
It took him 2 deliveries, trapping Kashmiri LBW opening the bowling from the Dog and Otter end.
In his second over it got even better. Anwar and the dangerous Pauline both caught behind as he recorded a double-wicket maiden. Rochdale 9-3. Paul finished with 5 overs 3-10.
And it got no easier for the Rochdale batsmen, Spinner Paul Newton taking 3 more wickets having taken over from Houldsworth at the same end and Joseph Cookson clean bowling Omar for 1. Add in a run out from Samuel Davies and Rochdale were 39-8 and the game as a contest was effectively over.
Credit to the Rochdale number 10 Mohammed Usama Malik, who top scored with a battling 25 as he and Abdullah Khan brought a respectable look to the scorecard, adding 49 for the 9th wicket.
It was left to Atul Thakor to take the final two wickets, both clean bowled, and drop an aeroplane celebration for both.
GHCC into the hat for the next round, which I believe is drawn on Wednesday. Keep an eye on the season’s fixtures for details of who we get and when it will be played.
On to the next one
Worsley Cup – 1st XI at Norden
Ok so this one will be short as I wasn’t there, I’ve still another four matches to cover after this one and we lost. Sorry (not sorry).
We travelled to Norden in the Worsley Cup on Saturday.
We again lost the toss (4 from 4 tis weekend so far) and so batted first. Chris Oddie, Dominic Steele and Joel Houldsworth came into the side for todays game.
We were all out for 137, Chris opening the batting scored 28 and Siraj hit an impressive 50 from 47 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes.
In reply, we got off to a great start, Thikshila de Silva taking 2 wickets in the first over and another soon after. But Norden professional Price (43) and wicketkeeper Shipley (50*) dug them out of trouble, adding 91 for the fourth wicket, and whilst there was still time for captain Stuart Maher to pick up 2 wickets, the damage was done, and we exit the competition as they got there 5 down in the 28th over.
Sunday
Sunday saw our 1st and 2nd XIs in action again, both against East Lancs.
1st XI at East Lancs
Our 1st XI headed to East Lancs seeking to quickly bounce back from yesterday’s cup exit. Back into the team came Kaz Masood, and Sheraz Ahmad who joined us in the winter from East Lancs.
We won the toss for a change and, on the hottest day of the year so far – temperature in my car at midday was 35 degrees – Stuart sensibly chose to bat.
We found things tough going at first, Chris Oddie opened with his brother Matt, but fell for just 1. Alex Kennedy came in at three, but whilst he dug in against an impressive opening spell, he also fell for just 5, bowled by Arif with the last ball of the tenth over with the score only 14.
Professional Thikshila de Silva doesn’t like batting slowly though, and it was his arrival at the crease which sparked GHCC into life. In the first full over he faced he hit two fours and a six, and this eased us into the game. He and Matt added 111 for the third wicket, de Silva passing 50 in doing so.
Matt was caught for 34 off the bowling of Bhada, and de Silva fell just 7 balls later.
Kasim and Caleb steadies us, the former looking to be shaping up for a good score before a mix up left him run out with both batsmen stranded at the bowlers end.
This brought Siraj out to bat, and he continued his fine form, hitting a run a ball 38 which included 4 sixes.
There was still time for Sheraz to plop a couple of sixes back over the bowler’s head in the last over, before trying a third and being stumped. We closed on 233-9.
The East Lancs Innings got off to a very similar start to ours. Two early wickets, both for de Silva, followed by a lengthy partnership. But it wasn’t the East Lancs pro, former GHCC player Ammar Ullah, who had strode out at his usual 4. Wicketkeeper Azaz (21) took his place and batted well, putting on 65 with opener Pardesi (44). A wicket each for Stuart Maher and Kaz Masood saw both batsmen back in the changing room, where Ullah still remained. Saleemi and Ali added 51 before a run out from Chris Oddie cracked the game open for us.
Thikshila de Silva came back on and tore through the East Lancs Lower order, taking 4 wickets in 7 balls.The first of which almost killed captain Stuart Maher at slip
9 down. Out hobbled a clearly injured Ullah with East Lancs still needing a further 89 to win. Reports are he’d hurt his back putting his pads on.
Holding back one de Silva over just in case, we turned to the spin of both Kasim and Matt, and whilst Saleemi and Ullah were able to add a further 20, they never looked like chasing down the total. The final wicket fell, Saleemi stumped by Nathan Sheridan off Matt’s bowling in the 45th over, and we took the full 12 points
Thikshila ended up with 6-72 to add to his earlier 73. Some performance.
Church away in the T20 and Middleton at home next week for the 1s.
On to the next one
2nd vs East Lancs
Bank Holiday Sunday, sat in my car at Evolve Document Solutions Cliffe Park awaiting the start of this afternoon’s game, and my face is melting. A very popular local pub-walk had GHCC on its route meaning on arrival the entire clubhouse was surrounded by people in orange t-shirts.
Having won the toss, stand in captain Paul Newton elected to field. He either knew something we didn’t or enjoys burning. Which would it be?
Joel Houldsworth and Dominic Steele opened the bowling, and picked up an early wicket each. I had left by this point, on an afternoon-long hunt for Soleros, but it appears East Lancs number 3 Ahmed batted well for his 33, supported by former GHCC player Altaf Sardar. But both were removed by Joseph Cookson, who also trapped Nasir Mahmood LBW on his way to 3-14.
Wajid Shah offered resistance, with a quickfire 22, but the innings belonged to William Armer, who tore through the East Lancs batting order, His 7.3 overs returned 5-14 and East Lancs were all out for exactly 100.
Despite losing Freddie Campbell for 2. the chase proved no problem. Oliver Roscoe (20) and William Armer (16) got us up and running, before a very impressive 36* from Max Cocken and 12* from Samuel Davies saw us home for the loss of three wickets in just 23 overs.
On to the next one
Here are William Armer’s 5 wickets.
Monday
The cricket is neverending. Is this a good thing? Maybe. But there just aren’t enough hours in the evening to write these match reports. I have a family that needs me.
3rd XI B away at Rochdale.
Usually go with the home game first, but we lost this one and I want to finish on a high, so here we are.
Our 3rd XI B travelled to Rochdale on the back of 2 wins and a defeat so far this season, knowing a win would have them well placed in the early season division 2 table.
George Aspden came into the side to make his senior cricketing debut, whilst another scheduled debutant, Bhavik Kedarkar had unfortunately had to withdraw on the morning of the game as work commitments called. Nathan Sheridan took his place.
Nathan opened with Muhammad Shakeel and they got us ioff to a solid start, adding 56 for the first wicket. Shak was bowled for 18 but Darab (22) continued where he left off.
Nathan looked to be on his way to 50 but was bowled by Latif one short on 49, still some good time spent in the middle which is what he was after.
A solid 12 not out from George Campbell and 10 from wicketkeeper Ben Rogers kept us ticking along and we were all out for 164.
In response, we looked to be on track for an important victory. A wicket each for Asif Akhtar, Darab Khan and a first wicket in senior cricket for George Aspden, alongside 2 for Muhammad Shakeel and a very impressive spell of 3-31 from Mark Leach saw Rochdale crumble to 116-7.
But Saqib Jalil thought differently. He hit 6 fours and 2 sixes on his way to 63 and, whilst he was out with Rochdale still two short of the target, the work was done and they went on to secure victory with just three balls remaining.
Defeat from the jaws of victory, but it happens. Well done to Rochdale.
On to the next one.
3rd XI A vs Greenmount
Almost there now. Is anyone still reading? To test this, there’s a random piece of haribo for anyone that messages me myeyesarebleeding before Friday (subject to availability and please note I’m a big hefty man that likes haribo).
Bank Holiday Monday saw Greenmount visit Evolve Document Solutions Cliffe Park
If anything, today was even hotter than Sunday, so of course we’d be fielding first. In a late change to the team, Jack Yates came in to replace the injured Harry Corish.
Greenmount started well, the openers adding 62 before Sam Newton bowled Birtwistle for 19. His opening partner Nuttall fell shortly after, hitting a low full toss straight to William Armer when looking well set.
This was the first of 4 wickets for Rayyan Hussain, who recorded his best figures for GHCC since his winter move from Church.
Clarke hit 40 for Greenmount before he was caught by captain Paul Houldsworth, and the lower order contributed, with Crowther (24) and Cunnington (14) driving their score upwards, but wickets for Joseph Cookson (2-23), and William Armer (1-31) helped keep us in the game. Greenmount closed on 160-8 from their 40 overs.
Atul Thakor opened with Freddie Campbell, but whilst Atul hit three quick fours, both were out early. But this brought Max Cocken and William Armer together and they added 106 for the 3rd wicket, both reaching 50 on the way.
Both immediately got out after reaching 50, but their job was done. Joseph Armer (11)and Hugo Corish (19) added 33 taking us to the brink of victory and whilst they were both out, we got there, Joseph Cookson hitting the winning single in the 34th over.
That’s all from a very busy week. I’m off to see if my family still recognise me then wait for the teams to be picked in about an hour so I can start creating some comms for next weekend’s games. Yay!
See you next week.