Back with another Weekend roundup for what, for the first time in ages, was a rain-addled one. All of our senior teams were in action, but only some of them got through their games. But who? I hear you shout. Read on to find out.
It’s called a weekend roundup, but our Harriers played a couple of midweek games since the last one, so we’ll start from there.
Harriers reports from Louise Greenwood. I’ll do the men’s ones.
Tuesday
🏏 Harriers vs Feniscowles 🏏
Great Harwood Harriers bounced back in style in the Lancashire Cricket Foundation Women’s Softball League 1, securing a deserved 16-run victory over Feniscowles at The Evolve Document Solutions Cliffe Park.
After the disappointment of last week’s heartbreaking 12-run defeat to Rishton, this was a much-needed response. The team showed great character to put that result behind them and produce an excellent all-round performance to get back to winning ways.
Having won the toss and elected to field, Great Harwood delivered a disciplined display with the ball, restricting Feniscowles to 77/5 from their 16 overs (net score 252).
The standout bowler was Gillian Hodgson, who produced a superb spell of 2 wickets for just 2 runs from her 2 overs, including a maiden. Louise Greenwood also claimed a wicket while conceding only 11 runs from 3 overs, while Caitlin Loudon deservedly picked up a wicket with a well-earned bowled dismissal. Mercedes Palmer and Isabelle Gargan were equally impressive, each conceding just 7 runs from their spells to keep the pressure firmly on the Feniscowles batters.
Great Harwood were equally sharp in the field. One of the wickets came from an excellent piece of teamwork, with Isabelle Gargan reacting quickly to fire the ball back in before Louise Greenwood kept her composure to calmly remove the bails, completing a smart run out.
In reply, Great Harwood reached 88/4 from their 16 overs for a net score of 268. Gillian Hodgson led the way with the bat, top-scoring with 20, while Caitlin Loudon added 15 and Mercedes Palmer finished unbeaten on 11. Useful contributions from Louise Greenwood (9), Isabelle Gargan (7), Jessica Ross (6) and Sharon Whittaker (5) kept the scoreboard ticking over.
It was another outstanding all-round team performance, with everyone playing their part. The win earns Great Harwood another three valuable league points and provides the perfect response after last week’s narrow defeat, restoring confidence and momentum as the season continues.
👏 Player of the Match goes to Gillian Hodgson for a brilliant all-round display, taking 2 wickets for just 2 runs before top-scoring with 20 runs to help steer Great Harwood to victory.
💙🏏 Well played, ladies! A resilient performance, an important win, and plenty to build on going into the next fixtures
Wednesday
🏏 Harriers vs Church & Oswaldtwistle🏏
History made! 🎉
After Sunday’s Super 8s victory, the Harriers kept the winning streak alive by securing our first-ever 11-a-side T20 win, beating Church & Oswaldtwistle in style! 💙
The star with the ball was undoubtedly Mercedes, who produced a sensational spell of 5 wickets for just 8 runs from her 4 overs! 🤯🔥 Supported by wickets from Kirstie, Isabelle and Gill, the whole team put in a superb fielding performance to bowl Church out for just 54.
Chasing 55 looked straightforward on paper, but cricket is never that simple! At 20-3, the game was very much in the balance. Step forward our captain, Martha, who led from the front with a calm, classy 24, guiding the team through the pressure. Alongside valuable contributions from Lydia (12 not out)* and Isabelle (7), the Harriers reached the target in just 12.1 overs, finishing with five wickets in hand. 🙌
A brilliant all-round team performance, two wins on the bounce, and another milestone for this growing Harriers side. Here’s to keeping the momentum going! 💙🏏
Saturday
3rd XI A vs Clitheroe
Not a lot to write for this one. Clitheroe turned up, lost the toss and were asked to bat.
Sam Newton bowled a maiden (with a bye) and then it poured down.
5 points each.
Greenmount away next week. Lets hope for better weather.
3rd XI B at Ramsbottom
Early start for this one, as Ramsbottom had their 1st XI playing in T20 finals day and their team wanted to see them win the final.
So with stumps at 10.30am, we’d need to be up bright and early for the challenge ahead.
Rick chose to bat, and Hamza and Shak got us off to a decent start, adding 53 before Shak was trapped LBW for 27.
Darab joined Hamza and they continued to progress, the score reaching 78 before both fell in quick succession.
This triggered a collapse the likes of which we haven’t seen in quite a while. from 78-1 and flying, we fell to 99-8, nobody in the middle order reaching 10.
Wicketkeeper Ben Rogers came in at 9 and added some respectability to the total, combining for 18 with Harry Cousins (3) then adding a further 21 with Zachary Houldsworth (11). He finished 24* as we were all out for 138.
A couple of early wickets for Asif Akhtar offered hope, but our total was never going to be enough and whilst there was a wicket apiece for Muhammad Shakeel and Husnain Asif, Ramsbottom got there 4 down in the 24th over.
They got their early finish and got to see their 1s secure the T20 title. Good day for them.
We go again next week at home against Rochdale.
Sunday
1st XI at Rishton
I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain.
Surprisingly no livestream today at Rishton’s ground today. No Ali Sartaj or Adam Hussain in their lineup either.
Shame it rained
We almost got a game in. making it to the halfway point after early rain had reduced us to a 27 over game.
In that eventful session, Rishton had batted and posted 130-7, with 2 wickets each for Thikshila de silva, Sheraz Ahmad and captain Stuart Maher. Former GHCC player Sahan Senapathi top scored for Rishton with 47
Whilst the total seemed a very reasonable one to have to chase down, the weather set back in meaning there was no chance we could get out to give it a go.
5 points each, on to the next one.
2nd XI vs Rishton
So today’s game marked thew start of a big few weeks for our title chasing, top of the table twos, as we face all of the title rivals almost back to back.
Today it was the turn of 4th placed Rishton, who made the short trip down our Lee Lane knowing a win would put them right back in the mix.
We had a significant delay at the start due to the rain, but once it stopped we managed to get things ready quickly and we’d have a 33 over game.
No Euan today for GHCC, so captain Miles, having lost the toss, stepped back in to his formerly regular spot opening the batting.
He was joined opening by Chris Oddie and the two initially found things hard going. A combination of the conditions and tight bowling from Mall and Mohammed saw us score just 29 runs from the first 13 overs.
But this time surviving and getting themselves set paid dividends. Conditions eased, and when the change of bowling came, the runs flowed.
Both batsmen passed 50 and then some, and by the time there was a breakthrough, Oddie run out for 73 in the 26th over, the score was 155.
The runs kept coming, and whilst two more wickets fell, Alex Kennedy (12) and Max Cocken (0), Miles went through to a magnificent 100.
He finished 119* from just 96 balls with 10 fours and 7 sixes.
Aided in the latter stages by Paul Newton (17*) GHCC closed our 33 overs 228-3.
A short shower at tea meant Rishton’s response was cut to 29 overs, and DLS calculated that they would need 212 to win.
Paul Newton took 2 early wickets, both caught by Harry Corish, before Rishton started to build some confidence. Wickets continued to fall but throughout remained ex-GHCC player Paul Clifford who was looking imperious.
Assisted by wicketkeeper Nuttall, then Leathert, Sawer and Slater, Clifford took the score past 100, reaching a deserved 50, Newton took a 3rd wicket and Paul Houldsworth had two, but Clifford was starting to open up and the massive target started to look a little closer.
Needing a breakthrough, we turned to Joel Houldsworth, and though it didn’t happen immediately – his first over went for 11, his second for a big 6 – in his third over, it came.
Clifford out, caught by Alex for 86, from just 75 balls with 8 fours and 6 sixes.
He followed this up immediately, Tattersall caught behind first ball.
Rishton 7 down. Four overs left, and with any real prospect of them chasing the total gone with the Clifford wicket, attention turned to the last three wickets. Two bonus points here could be important come the end of the season.
Wicket – Mall caught behind by Oliver Roscoe off Samuel Davies
Wicket – Slater caught by Dominic Steele off Houldsworth
Into the last over, could we do it.
Yes with 5 balls remaining Dominic Steele ran out Mohammed.
12 points. Still title chasing table topping twos.
That’s the weekend roundup done. I’m off to scour through years of livestream footage of Lancashire League games to see if any slips are clicking their fingers. Nelson, I’m looking at yours first.
I’ll see you next week.