Best yet – but promotion looks out of Boro’s reach

LITTLEBOROUGH’S young side turned in their best performance of the season as they hammered Haslingden at Bentgate on a sunny Bank Holiday Sunday.

They made it 24 points out of 24 as they kept their promotion hopes alive as they cruised to a 6 wicket win.

Haslingden won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat on a red hot day but they could never get going as the Littleborough bowling attack hardly bowled a bad ball all day.

Miskella struck first when he trapped Odlum plum in front for a duck with the score on 2. After 10 overs the score had crawled to 15/1 as Miskella and Wilman bowled with great accuracy.

Wilman struck next when he produced a beauty to bowl ex Boro pro Ryan Burl through the gate for 5 with the score on 24.

Next ball he enticed Hunsley to play on before Coleman kept the hat trick ball out. Matthew Hernon then produced a sharp catch stood up off Miskella to remove Griffin for 12 and the home side were in trouble at 26/4.

Coleman went on the attack and was put down on twice on his way to 22 before Townsend had him caught by Wilman.

He then had Cameron caught at the wicket before Perren and Wilman picked up anither wicket apiece as the home side slumped to 68/9 before the home side showed some fight as gthey put on 34 for the last wicket before Perren bowled Stanton for 8 leaving Lord unbeaten on 22 not out as the innings closed on 103.

Miskella 2/14 off 13 and Wilman 3/32 off 15 were the pick of the bowlers and they were well backed up by Townsend (2 for) and Perren (3 for).

Littleborough set off for victory just as Ben Stokes was performing heroics at Headingley but were soon in trouble as they lost 2 wickets with the score on 7.

Zac Perren chipping the ball back to Burl and Hernon was unlucky as he clearly hit it before being given out lbw.

Burl then made the unwise decision of going back and he was bowled by Burl for 5 to leave the visitors in a spot of bother at 21/3.

That was as good as it got for the home side as Miskella and Perren put on 82 for the fourth wicket and with the scores tied Miskella was unluckily given out caught behind after hitting the floor for an excellent 33 off 90 balls including 3 boundaries.

Pye walked out and hit the one needed off his first ball to seal maximum points for the visitors.

Perren top scored with 38 no off 105 balls including 4 boundaries as he finished unbeaten for the second day running.

The only down side on a great weekend was when news filtered through that Middleton had beaten leaders Colne which has more or less ended Littleborough’s hopes of going back up at the first time of asking.

For that to happen Milnrow will have to beat Middleton.

Next up for Littleborough is the final home game of the season as they welcome East Lancs to Hare Hill on Sunday. Haslingden CC M Griffin ct Hernon b Miskella 12 L Adlum lbw b Miskella 0 R Burl b Willman 5 S Hunsley b Willman 0 A Coleman ct Willman b Townsend 22 O Cameron ct Hernon b Townsend 0 J Sipocz b Perren 9 A Jeffrey b Willman 3 J Shannon st Hernon b Perren 1 O Lord not out 22 E Stanton b Perren 8 Extras 21 Total 103 Bowling: Miskella 13.0 6 14 2 0 0; Willman 15.0 5 32 3 4 0; Townsend 8.0 0 27 2 6 0; Perren 11.0 5 23 3 2 0 Littleborough M Hernon lbw b Sipocz 3 Z Perren ct & b Burl 1 C Perren not out 38 T Townsend b Burl 5 R Miskella ct Stanton b Shannon 33 T Pye not out 1 Extras 23 Total 104 Bowling: Sipocz 8.0 1 18 1 4 0; Burl 15.0 3 36 2 2 0; Hunsley 6.0 1 12 0 0 0; Griffin 4.0 0 11 0 0 0; Lord 4.0 1 6 0 1 0; Cameron 1.0 0 12 0 1 0; Shannon 0.5 0 2 1 0 0