Faulkner is back for Blast
CHRIS OSTICK JAMES Faulkner is returning to Lancashire after signing a two-year deal to play for them in the T20 Blast.
The Australian helped Lancashire to their first T20 title during his previous spell at Emirates Old Trafford in 2015.
Head coach Glen Chapple tried to sign him for this year’s competition. However, Cricket Australia refused Faulkner permission to play as he recovered from a reoccurring knee injury.
The 27-year-old returned to the Australian one-day squad for the recent series against India, and expects to be in England with the national side next summer for the Aussies’ ODI series against England, which could see him play at Emirates Old Trafford on June 24.
That series ends in time for him to link up with the Lancashire squad for the start of their T20 Blast campaign, which begins at home to Worcestershire Royals on Thursday, July 5.
Faulkner has committed to two years, with Australia back in England in 2019 for the World Cup and Ashes.
Chapple said: “He is a world-class cricketer and he played an important role in our success in 2015 when we won the competition. Signing James on a two-year contract gives us some continuity and stability in terms of our T20 overseas player which is what we were looking for.
“He’s a great individual to have in the dressing room and his experience at international level will really benefit the squad.”
Faulkner was the joint leading wicket taker in the 2015 Blast alongside team-mate Stephen Parry.
“I absolutely loved my time with the club in 2015 and Finals Day at Edgbaston still lives very long in the memory for me,” he said. “I can’t wait to reunite with the squad next summer. I’m determined to win the T20 Blast trophy back for the club.” EVO-STIK NORTH FIRST DIVISION RAMSBOTTOM ................ 2 SOUTH SHIELDS ............. 3 JON HASLAM
TABLE- TOPPING South Shields were the visitors to the HWRS on Saturday afternoon and were made to fight all the way to the end of an entertaining contest against a battling Ramsbottom United side.
The Rams started the game with an excellent home record suffering only two league defeats this season beginning the match in determined fashion as the visitors backed by a vociferous travelling support from the North East looked to consolidate their lead at the summit of the table.
It was the visitors who took the lead shortly before the quarter hour mark with their first attempt on target when a free kick was swung into the home box and Finnigan’s flicked header fell kindly to Storey who side footed home past Danny Taberner.
As the half progressed more chances began to be created as Phil Dean tested Connell from the edge of the penalty area for the Rams before another set piece for South Shields was headed over the bar by Morse when well placed.
South Shields almost doubled their lead just after the half hour point when a good run from the impressive Holmes found Armstrong whose shot struck the post much to the relief of the home supporters.
Ramsbottom responded when a excellent pass from November Player- of- the- Month, EddieMoran sent Dean scampering away down the left side before taking the ball past the onrushing keeper, sadly the cross was cut out but gave the home side some encouragement as they looked to restore parity.
Sadly bad luck was to strike on 37 minutes when Ramsbottom unfortunately lost their regular custodian when Danny Taberner succumbed to injury and with no sub keeper on the bench it was midfielder Ben Richardson who yet again ●● Rams stand-in keeper, left winger Ben Richardson showed his versatility by taking over in goal.
As the half was almost at an end the Rams created a decent chance when Greg Daniels played a sublime pass though to Moran whose ball across the six yard line evaded the home sides attackers and as the referee blew the whistle for half time it was South Shields that held a single goal lead.
The league leaders showed their efficiency in front of goal shortly after the restart when they increased their lead after good work from Stephenson on the right picked out Holmes at the back post before the wide man chested the ball down and sent a shot goalwards which found the target despite the best efforts of the retreating Jacques Kpohomouh.
The Rams reacted positively and with the probing play of Alex Meaney allied to the accomplished work of skipper Dean Stott, the home side looked to find a way back into the contest.
Ramsbottom made their second change just before the hour when Sam Heathcote replaced the hard working Moran and the substitution had an almost immediate impact as a Dean cross found the head of the recently arrived forward, whose downward header beat Connell and the visitors lead was halved.
The goal gave the Rams some attacking momentum as they pushed for an equaliser although the visitors always looked a threat going forward themselves as the encounter was becoming an excellent watch on a heavy surface.
Indeed the home side had a chance to get back onto level terms when a Jerome Wright cross evaded his onrushing colleagues. Almost immediately and as so often hap- pens, the opposition made the Rams pay when a through ball from Briggs found Finnigan who confidently lifted the ball over the onrushing stand-in keeper Richardson and the away fans sensed their team were on route to victory.
Ramsbottom again responded and found a way back into the contest when an excellent pass from Dean on 78 minutes sent Heathcote through one on one with Connell before finishing with a low drive to reduce the visitors advantage to a single goal for a second time whilst registering his tenth goal of the campaign.
The Rams pushed forward looking for a leveller in the remaining 15 minutes of a hugely entertaining contest but ultimately without reward as it was South Shields that saw the game out by the odd goal in five.
With South Shields looking favourites to gain promotion it was nevertheless a resilient and promising team performance from the Rams as they pushed their high spending opponents all the way. It would perhaps be remiss not to mention Ben Richardson’s individual effort in pulling on the goalkeeper’s gloves in unfortunate circumstances and performing admirably.
Ramsbottom manager Mark Fell said: “Gutted for the lads. I felt we deserved a point at least, fine margins and at the moment we are finding ourselves just on the wrong side of them. South Shields are the best side in the league and we matched them. Our progress won’t be judged on our results against them, but against the other sides in the division - we’ve a big month and we have to go Droylsden on Tuesday and replicate our work rate from today”. ●● Jacques Kpohomouth in action against South Shields