Thirds adapt well to wet wicket as seconds

HASLINGDEN’S Third XI travelled to Chatburn Road to play the Clitheroe 4th XI on a very wet and unpleasant Saturday morning.

There was a three-hour delay while the pitch drained after the rain had stopped and it was agreed that the match would be a 20-over contest.

Clitheroe won the toss and decided to field first.

Niall Clarke and Leon Brennan opened the batting but both were dismissed cheaply to reduce Haslingden to 5 for 2. Haslingden accumulated runs steadily after that in their 20 overs and reached 89 for 9 at the end.

Joe Hayton top scored with 19, Tom Horrocks scored 16 and Lucas Bargh contributed with 10 not out at the end. Oliver Gardner hit a big six onto the main road.

Niall Clarke and Lucas Bargh opened the bowling for Haslingden.

Wickets fell quickly and Clitheroe were all out for 45 in 16.3 overs.

Clarke took a career best 4 for 11 in his five overs, Bargh took 2 for 25 in eight overs, Carter Travers took 2 for 5 in three overs and Max Hadjigeorgiou contributed to the win with his first senior wicket. Haslingden won by 44 runs, 12 points to Haslingden and 1 point to Clitheroe.

Haslingden’s Second XI took on East Lancs 2nds at Bentgate on Sunday where the home team captain Tom Richards won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Tom Horrocks made two early breakthroughs in the East Lancs innings and reduced the away team to 9 for 2.

Only two of the East Lancs batsmen reached double figures, Sohail Mohammed top scored with 19 and captain David Pearson scored 16. Once Pearson was the fifth man out bowled by Joe Hayton with the score on 55, wickets fell steadily and