Ryan on fire with bat and ball for Boro

LANCASHIRE LEAGUE CRICKET ROUND-UP

IT was a day to remember for Ryan Miskella as he starred with both bat and ball in a resounding win against Great Harwood at The Cliffe on Sunday. Firstly he smashed an unbeaten 67 off just 36 balls including seven sixes and then followed that up with his fifth five-wicket haul of the season to return figures of 5-34 off 12 overs.

It’s been a very long time since an amateur from Littleborough recorded a fifty and a five-for in the same game.

With Littleborough’s Thomas Kaber returning home early, Joe Smith Butler took over as captain and had no hesitation in deciding to bat upon winning the toss.

Willis and Hernon opened the batting and had taken the score to 17 when Willis fell lbw to Ali.

Hernon was joined by deputy pro Travis Townsend and the pair looked in no trouble at all as they put on 50.

So it came as a surprise when Hernon was bowled by Silva with the score on 67.

Smith Butler joined Townsend and it was a joy to watch as they put on 114 for the third wicket with some great stroke play and excellent running between the wickets.

Townsend should have helped himself to a deserved ton but he fell for an excellent 85 off 106 balls with ten boundaries and one maximum.

Smith Butler fell for a solid 56 as he was caught at cover to a good diving catch by Oddie off Silva.

Miskella and Nash then put on an unbeaten 67 for the fifth as Miskella in particular went to town on the home attack, clearing the ropes seven times as he finished on 67no.

Nash chipped in with a run-a-ball 13 as Littleborough recorded their highest score of the season at 281-4.

Miskella was first to strike as Great Harwood set about their daunting task, having Oddie caught by Pye at backward point to leave the home side 3-1.

Wilman who took the prize scalp of home pro Silva when he forced him to play on and was bowled for 12.

Whalley and Armer then looked to counter attack with some lusty blows and they took the score to 56 when Whalley was unluckily adjudged lbw for 16.

Miskella removed Swanney, Hussain and Christian Oddie in quick succession to gain another deserved five-wicket haul as the home side collapsed to 62-7.

Nash bowled well at the other end to Miskella with his off spin and finished with 3-12 and Rose completed the rout when he ran out the hapless Sohail Ali without facing.

Rishton were beaten by 160 runs at secondplaced Lowerhouse, who batted first and put together a club record league score of 340-3, sub pro Daryn Smit hitting 138 from 137 balls with 22 fours. He added 189 for the third wicket with Francois Haasbroek who finished on 113no.

In reply, Jack Hilton hit 69 from 76 balls with six fours and two sixes, and there were solid contributions from sub pro Wasim Jaffer (42), Mark Leathert (21) and Paul Clifford (18). But Paddy Martin took 5-45 and Smit 4-32 to dismiss Rishton for 180.

Accrington were beaten by two wickets in their clash against Clitheroe at Chatburn Road.

Professional Janith Liyanage top scored with 45 in Accrington’s 224-8, hitting six fours and two sixes during his 77 ball innings and there were notable contributions from Sam Bancroft (30), Keiren Grimshaw (62), Ramiz Hussain (18), Jacob Clarke (39) and Ross Brown (18no).

Accrington had Clitheroe on the ropes at 112-5 but Karl Brown’s unbeaten 94, which included six fours and three sixes, ultimately did for the visitors.