Aaron steps in as
Top three caught on pole/chopped worm. All on Dead Length. ●● Tim Farragher has stepped down as Bacup captain with Aaron Fielding taking over the role LANCASHIRE LEAGUE CRICKET ROUND-UP SHELDAN KEAY
IT was another busy few days of cricket action over the weekend, beginning when BACUP changed their captain midweek with Aaron Fielding taking over as skipper as a result of Tim Farragher stepping down.
There was, however, to be no change in fortune as Bacup suffered a heavy loss at home to high flying local rivals RAMSBOTTOM.
On a beautifully sunny day Bacup won the toss and chose to bat first on a good looking pitch. Bacup made a good start being 58-1 at one stage thanks mainly to Matt Thompson’s 35.
However, after losing professional Ernest Kemm for 20 and Farragher without score both to LBW decisions in the same over, another collapse followed.
New skipper Fielding made 20 and Ben Lord 19 not out as Bacup were bowled out for just 121 with left arm spinners Jon Fielding (4 for 25) and sub professional Ashar Zaidi (2 for 25) doing the damage.
Ramsbottom cantered to victory, using only half of their allotted overs, winning by 10 wickets with undefeated half centuries for skipper Tom Parton (62) and JJ Fielding (51).
With a depleted squad the second eleven fared no better at Acre Bottom. Luke Donovan made 32 but it was more left arm spin in the shape of Chris Round that did the damage with 5-13 as Bacup folded for 114. Ramsbottom won by seven wickets with Nick Round undefeated on 38 and Shepherd picking up two wickets.
There was better news for the third eleven, however, as they cruised to a 75 run victory against Middleton.
There were runs for Dom Boardman (39), Sam Harris (50), Luke Bradford (34) and Chris Gansler (37 not out) as Bacup made 204-5 in their 40 overs.
In reply Middleton could only make 129 all out with Alam Khan taking 3-22 and George Sumner 2-14.
The first eleven were also involved in more T20 Friday evening action at Lanehead against Norden who made 138-9 in their 20 overs. The score was kept down thanks to a good all round bowling and fielding performance.
Bacup won in the last over, with professional Kemm timing the run chase perfectly finishing on 60 not out. Simon Newbit made 31 and Matt Schofield was there at the end with 14 not out.
Bacup have a chance of qualifying for the quarter finals if they can win at neighbours Rawtenstall this week.
It was a perfect weekend for Ramsbottom as along with their league win over Bacup they also managed to pick up a victory over fellow neighbours RAWTENSTALL in their T20 clash on Friday.
Ramsbottom won the toss and decided to bat first, with the team finishing on 137-9 at the end of their 20 overs after top scores from Dale Gabriel (41) and Sam Price (34).
Rawtenstall made a good start in response and were 61-0 at one stage after openers Imran Abid and Tabassum Aziz had made 33 and 28 respectively, but both men soon fell and the team collapsed, with none of the remaining batsmen able to score double figures and they were bowled all out for 97, handing Ramsbottom the victory.
It didn’t get any better for Rawtenstall in their Lancashire League match on Sunday after they were beaten by 15 runs against Accrington at Thorneyholme Road.
Accrington batted first but could only manage ●● Rawtenstall’s Imran Abid 164-9 at the end of their 50 overs, with professional Janith Liyanage (45) and Kieren Grimshaw (43) the only batsmen who made notable scores.
Abid again performed well as he scored 64, but