Oswaldtwistle Immanuel showcase title

JIM WILKINSON

OSWALDTWISTLE Immanuel’s Ribblesdale League title challenge remains very much alive despite the narrowest of victories and the greatest scares against Hyndburn neighbours Baxenden, who had won only once all season before oh-so nearly upturning Immanuel’s applecart at New Lane.

Immanuel are still a point behind leaders Settle – whom they have already beaten once this season and face again at New Lane during the run-in – but it is doubtful anyone will give them as much of a run for their money as “Bash, ” who will be wondering how they chucked this one away did.

In truth, it was a classic example of a team which has grown used to the self-belief which comes with winning regularly, preying on the polar opposite insecurities and self-doubt of one which has grown accustomed to missing out.

It’s often said that teams who win leagues owe as much to getting something when they don’t play well as they do to the days when they crush the opposition and this was never going to be one of them when Immanuel were bowled out on their own midden for 124.

They had phenomenally-prolific professional Shubham Khajuria to largely thank for that, too. His 69 was more than half of the total and the number three was eighth man out as Baxenden wrapped up the Oswaldtwistle innings with 15 overs unused.

John Sudworth’s four for 62 from 13 overs was