Ryan stars in Borough blast
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 fivefor 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 who impressed throughout the day and the pair looked in no trouble at all as they put on 50 in good time.
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 really have helped himself to a deserved ton but he fell Littleborough A Willis lbw b Z Ali .............................................. 9 M Hernon b Silva ............................................. 19 T Townsend c Hussain b Newton ............. 85 J Smith-Butler c Oddie b Silva ..................... 56 R Miskella not out ............................................ 67 G Nash not out .................................................. 13 Extras ..................................................................... 32 Bowling: Houldsworth 6-9-0, Ali 8-31-1, Hussain 6-36-0, Silva 13-75-2, Newton 13-89-1, Oddie 4-25-0 Total (4 wickets) ............................................. 281 Great Harwood A Armer c Willman b Nash ........................... 25 M Oddie c Pye b Miskella ................................ 0 Ashen Silva b Willman ................................... 12 R Whalley lbw b Miskella .............................. 16 P Swanney b Miskella ....................................... 0 N Hussain lbw b Miskella ................................ 1 P Houldsworth c Willman b Nash ............... 0 C Oddie b Miskella ............................................. 0 Z Ali not out ........................................................ 11 S Ali run out (Adam Rose) ............................... 0 P Newton ct Pye b Nash .................................. 0 Extras ..................................................................... 10 Total: ...................................................................... 75 Bowling: Miskella 12-34-5, Willman 7-261, Nash 5.3-12-3, Whatmough 1-0-0 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 to finish on 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.
Miskella now just needs one more wicket from this weekend’s last game to bring up 50 for the season but much more importantly this resounding win moved Littleborough up three places as they look to finish the season on a high at home to Clitheroe.