Another weekend roundup as the weather turned very English again, but we still managed to get some results.
Our Harriers managed to complete a game for what feels like the first time in weeks. Kirstie Reader provides the report from this game.
I had a weekend off, so Jason Kayley provides the reports from the senior men’s games.
Sunday
Harriers vs Feniscowles
And somehow, after a night where the heavens emptied themselves like a toddler throwing a tantrum, the game was ON. The pitch looked like it had been through trauma counselling, but fate clearly fancied us today.
We lost the toss and were told to bat first which was ideal, because that track was only going to get worse than Sharon’s patience when someone doesn’t back up at the stumps. We got stuck in and smashed 284 for 3, playing every shot in the cricketing dictionary. Straight drives, cover drives, shots that probably shouldn’t exist we played them anyway.
Then came their bowling. Oh boy. Some of it looked like interpretive dance. The captain politely questioned the action without actually saying “your arm is doing a full boomerang,” only to be met with the iconic line:
“You’re not calling her no balls, are you? Give her a break, she can’t bowl.”
At that point, the entire universe paused. We’ll leave the rest of that interaction to your imagination but let’s just say it had vibes.
Then we went into the field… eventually.
Because before we could even take our positions, we had a slight delay our own umpire decided to take a casual stroll to the café for a brew. Not a jog. Not a brisk walk. A full scenic route like she was on a Sunday ramble. The rest of us stood there like confused Sims waiting for our next instruction.
And once we finally got going, the comedy continued. Great Harwood’s captain bowled a ball that was so wide even they signalled wide before asking the umpire. Their response?
“That was wider than my ears.”
If that doesn’t sum up the absolute joy of Harriers cricket picking up our mistakes, making the right calls, and laughing through the chaos nothing will.
Once the brew was acquired and the ear‑wide ball was acknowledged, it turned into a nature documentary where predators hunt in perfect formation. Every single Harrier was on it.
Wickets came from Darcy 1, Caitlin 2 and Lou 4 each one taken with the confidence of someone who definitely didn’t have three coffees beforehand. Maidens from Kirstie, Lou and Darcy, because apparently we enjoy giving batters existential crises.
Megan and Isabel turned into human forcefields on the boundary.
Gill had hands faster than a mum catching a toddler falling off a sofa taking a catch and stopping anything that dared come near her.
And Sharon behind the stumps? Nothing got past her. Not a ball, not a wobble, not a single ounce of nonsense.
Field placements were elite. Everyone moved like they had psychic powers. Feniscowles barely scraped a boundary, but when they did it was well deserved, and we hoovered up every chance like a Dyson on max power.
It was a ridiculous, hilarious, dominant performance from start to finish.
I couldn’t be prouder.
What a win.
Up the Harriers.
1st XI at Rawtenstall
Stu’s crew fell foul to the dastardly trio (Duckworth Lewis Stern) as they lost to Rawtenstall.
After being asked to bat first, the ones got off to a good start with Jack and Moddie but both dodged a jug and got out in the forties. Apart from 20 from Kasim, they were the major contributions as the visitors posted 173-8 from 36 overs.
The rain had caused havoc with the game, and it was to the batting team’s advantage.
The home side got in front of the rate and the rain came back and set in. Rawtenstall took the W as they didn’t return to the field.
2nd XI vs Rawtenstall
The Twos had to dig deep on a wet day at Cliffe Park thanks to major contributions from a stalwart and a youth as they maintained their march towards the title having already clinched promotion.
Rawtenstall elected to bat and were made to toil thanks to the machinations of Paul “The Guru” Newton who – with a mix of pies and jaffas – wheeled away from Dog and Otter End with the new ball taking 5 for 43 as Rawtenstall for 98.
Any thoughts of a cakewalk were quickly dismissed as the home side were reduced for 9-3. On a day when the weather suited the ducks, the Two top order had three of them with Coddie, Alex “How to win friends and influence people” Kennedy and Freddie failing to trouble the scorers.
Once Miles departed for four, there were murmurings among the “crowd” of an upset.
But, once again, Euan stood up with his equally youthful partner Harry, as they put on 76 for the fifth wicket and saw their team home.
Euan passed 1000 senior runs for the season with a patient 60 not out – digging in amidst some difficult conditions and tight bowling initially before flogging some of the latter errant bowling into the car park where they belonged – the same car park that the aforementioned Mr Kennedy had been invited to discuss matters arising from the middle by a couple of the larger visiting team.
But with 12 points in the bag, one more win will see the twos crowned champions again.
Monday
3A at Haslingden
The A Team signed off with a win against perennial champions Haslingden in a game which had something of a carnival atmosphere.
With the batting order being rejigged, Bean joined Euan at the top of the order and looked more like a jedi than a batter as he wielded his bat like a lightsaber and mainly bludgeoned more air than leather before departing for a well-crafted three of 13 balls.
Then Euan (73) and Will (97 not out) piled on 126 for the second wicket as the as posted 197-2 from 34 overs.
The bowling was once again mixed up to continue the carnival atmosphere with Ollie Roscoe pass the gloves to Will and opened the bowling.
And the calls for him to retire from wicketkeeping completely look to have been meant in good faith rather than jest as he took two wickets (although he went for 31 from four overs).
A total of eight bowlers got a chuck – not Bean – as Haslingden were restricted to 154-9 and second place a real possibility if results go their way.