Haslingden keep up promotion bid
HASLINGDEN’S hopes of securing promotion from Division 2 of the JW Lees Lancashire League were boosted by a five-wicket victory against Nelson.
Sub professional Mini Bhada’s 106 not out included thirteen fours and a six, adding 125 for the third wicket with Matt Griffin, who notched up 56 himself, including five fours and a six in chasing down Nelson’s tally of 214-5 from their 50 overs.
Nelson’s innings had been built on Usman Tariq’s century. He hit a dozen fours and a six in his 105. Saj Asghar made an unbeaten 53 but tight bowling from Hassy ultimately proved crucial.
LANCASHIRE League records had to be rewritten following Church’s huge knock of 400-4 in their Division 2 clash against Rawtenstall last weekend.
Church won the toss at the Worswick Memorial Ground, seizing the opportunity to bat first on an inviting looking wicket.
Craig Fergusson and Sam Holt opened positively, putting on 142 before Holt fell to Imran Abid having hit 83 from 79 deliveries including seven fours and four sixes.
Captain Levi Wolfenden came in and picked up where Holt had left off, slamming seven fours and four sixes in an innings of 66, put together from just 43 balls, before he fell to Ishaq Hussain with Church already on a competitive 239.
But the best was yet to come as professional Sagar Trivedi arrived at the crease and made hay, reaching his half cetury in just 15 deliveries and 28 in all to reach his century.
There were thirteen sixes and seven fours in all for his 116, Keith Roscoe eventually putting a halt to the parade.
Fergusson had already gone by that point having hit nine fours and a six before also succumbing to Roscoe for 86.
Kelan Florentine (30no) and Josh Scully (11no) were the men unbeaten when Church closed on 400-4 after their 50 overs.
Opener Matt Kershaw offered some hope for Rawtenstall in their reply, hitting 55 from 84 balls, while Abbas Ahmad notched 34.
But the home side never really looked like hauling in the visitors as they finished 226 all out, Andrew Bentley taking 4-71 and Trivedi 3-52 to give Church a 174 run win.
Great Harwood played their part in another high-scoring game, this one at Bacup’s Lanehead ground.
The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first, running up a competitive 275 from their 50 overs for the loss of five wickets. Opening duo Matt Oddie and Alex Kennedy put on 57 for the first wicket, Kennedy (15) falling first when he was run out. Oddie and Kasir Mahmood took the score to 157 before the former was bowled by Matt Thompson having scored 80.
Masood was in fine form and unfortunate not to register a century - he too was run out on 96 runs after facing 100 balls and having put on 84 for the third wicket with professional Thikshila de
Silva, who struck a quickfire 52 from 31 balls with seven fours and a six.
Bacup captain Simon Newbitt (26) and Matt Collinge amassed 62 for the home side’s first wicket before Newbitt fell and it was sub professional Hasnian Abbas and Collinge, putting on 83, who really turned the game in Bacup’s favour. With useful knocks from Aaron Fielding (20), Jack Bradford (23) and Matt Thompson (34no), Bacup squeezed home with two balls to spare at the end of a superb spectacle.