In-form Rams quash Rishton
CRICKET SHELDAN KEAY
ALL of the local sides were in action again over the weekend as the Lancashire League continues to ramp up as we approach tue summer.
RAMSBOTTOM Cricket Club kept up their good start to the season after they picked up a dominant 104 run win over Rishton at Acre Bottom.
Rishton won the toss and decided to field, but Ramsbottom were able to finish on 249-7 at the end of their 50 overs after 80 from Senuran Muthusamy and 72 from Tom Parton.
Rishton got off to a decent start in recent after decent scores from openers Chris Sanderson (70) and Sajid Patel (31), but the rest of the side could manage just 23 runs between them and Rishton were bowled all out for 145, handing Ramsbottom the win.
HASLINGDEN picked up a big away win in their match after they defeated Great Harwood by 140 runs at Cliffe Park.
Great Harwood won the toss and decided to field first, with Haslingden posting a total of 241-6 from their 50 overs after a top score of 65 from professional Kamran Ghulam.
Great Harwood got off to a poor start when they found themselves 0-2 after both opening batsmen were dismissed for ducks, and the team struggled to recover.
They were eventually bowled all out for just 101, with Ghulam also performing with the ball as he finished with figures of 5-18.
BACUP suffered a defeat in their home match as they lost a tight contest by 23 runs against Nelson at Lanehead.
Nelson batted first after Bacup won the toss and decided to field, but Nelson were able to finish on 247-4 after professional Reeza Hendricks scored 106 from 106 balls.
Bacup got off to a decent start in their response and were 101-1 at one stage after good scores from professional Ernest Kemm (78), Tim Farragher (46) and Simon Newbitt (33), but they then fell to 108-4 and struggled to recover.
They fought hard until the end, but eventually finished on 224-9 at the end of their 50 overs, meaning they fell short of the target.
There was a also a defeat away from home for RAWTENSTALL after they lost to Colne by 44 runs at the Horsfield.
Colne won the toss and decided to bat first, and they finished on 210-7 at the end of their 50 overs after a top score of 61 from professional James Price.
Rawtenstall looked to be on course to earning the win, thanks mainly to an unbeaten century from professional Keegan Peterson. It wasn’t to be, as seven of the eight final batsmen could only make 17 runs between them, with the team bowled all out for 166.
ACCRINGTON were handed a defeat to Burnley by six wickets at Turf Moor. Accrington won the toss and decided to bat first, and despite a score of 87 from professional Janith Liyanage, the team could only finish on 192-7 at the end of their 50 overs.
Burnley eased to their target after just 41 overs, finishing on 193-4 after solid scoring from six of the opening batsmen, with five of them managing to score at least 29 runs.
CHURCH had a difficult afternoon as they were beaten by eight wickets against Clitheroe at Chatburn Road.Clitheroe won the toss and decided to ●● Ramsbottom batsman Tom Parton struck 72 in the victory against Rishton at the weekend field first, with Church finishing on 178-6 at the end of their 50 overs after a top score of 66 from professional Johnny Riekert.
Clitheroe reached their target with nine overs to spare, ending on 177-2 after an unbeaten 65 from Harry Lang and a 55 from Harrison Phelan.
ENFIELD were also brushed aside in their game after Lowerhouse defeated them by 130 runs at Dill Hall Lane.
Lowerhouse won the toss and decided to bat first, and they reached 207-9 at the end of their 50 overs after professional Ockert Erasmus passed his half century.
Enfield were unable to come close though, with only two players reaching double figures as they were bowled all out for 77.
All of the teams are in league action on Saturday.
Ramsbottom head to Liverpool Road to face Lowerhouse, while Bacup as also on their travels as they take on Rishton at Blackburn Road.
Haslingden welcome Burnley to Bentgate, with neighbours Rawtenstall taking on Great Harwood at the Worswick Memorial Ground. Accrington welcome Littleborough to Thorneyholme Road, Church play East Lancashire at Blackburn Road, Darwen go up against Clitheroe at Birch Hall, and Milnrow play Enfield at Ladyhouse. Rochdale head to Scott Street to face Walsden, Nelson are at home to Norden, Middleton host Colne at Towncroft, and Todmorden play Crompton at Centre Vale.