Holder helps Stacksteads stay in chase

STACKSTEADS CC A DEVASTATING spell of pace bowling from Cameron Holder decimated Ribblesdale Wanderers 2nds’ batting line up and set up a 12-point victory for Stacksteads CC as they maintain pressure on Clitheroe at the top of the Division One table.

Stacksteads put Wanderers in to bat and despite dominating with John Dawson and Holder both proving difficult to get away, they only had one victim to their names after 12 overs as the latter had Liam Bamber caught by wicket keeper John Hindle.

A change of bowling did the trick for the visitors as Andy Jones bowled out Warren Whittaker and Kian Farnworth in quick succession with perfect in-swinging deliveries with 23 runs on the board.

Martin Wrigley and Hashan Khan took full advantage of Stacksteads’ unusually below par catching, with a total of five drops being recorded in the first half of the innings, to add 50 runs for the fourth wicket.

A stern talking to at the drinks break by the Stacksteads captain prompted a much improved performance in the field which resulted in Jones catching out Khan for 21 off Owain Tracey to commence the home team’s capitulation as Holder was then re-introduced into the attack.

Holder exacted revenge for being hit for four runs by Jamaal Alcock having him caught by Dawson the very next ball and once Andy Holt had held onto Martin Wrigley for 36 it was almost a procession of wickets. Holder claimed four further scalps as he ripped through the Wanderers lower order recording the outstanding figures of 7 wickets for 13 runs off 10 overs including 6 maidens. Wanderers were all out for 86 in 34 overs after being 73 for 3 at one stage.

John Hindle set about knocking off the runs with his usual gusto as the Stacksteads opening pair put on 35 before he lost his partner Jonathan Butterworth for 10.

Hindle was joined at the crease by Holt and the two added 14 more runs before the former was caught out for 32 which included six boundaries.

Andy Holt took over Hindle’s attacking style and accompanied by Paul Scaife the pair added 35 in quick-time bringing Stacksteads within three runs of victory.

In true Stacksteads style there was a wobble as Waqas Khan bowled out Scaife for 11 and then had Holder stumped out the next ball, however this proved to be only a minor hiccup as Holt crisply drove through extra-cover for four runs to seal a sixwicket victory and advance his total onto 25 off just 20 balls.

This Saturday Stacksteads are at home to Salesbury 2nds.