Bacup pull off late swoop for Imrul
BACUP Cricket Club have signed Bangladeshi left-hand opening batsman Imrul Kayes.
Imrul has played 39 Test matches, 78 One Day Internationals and 14 T20 Internationals.
A spokesman said: “The club is very happy to secure such a high quality player at this late stage after encountering problems with the previously announced signing.
“Our thanks go to Robby Ashwell of Ashwell Cricket Exchange and Tony Gallagher for their work in getting this deal done at very short notice.”
Along with Tamim Iqbal he holds the record Test match opening partnership in the second innings, contributing 150 out of the 312 against Pakistan in 2015.
Imrul is also a slow left arm orthodox bowler. The 35 year old will bring a wealth of experience to the club and will be coming with his wife and young child.
It is hoped that Imrul will be here at the start of May.
Bacup got their JW Lees Lancashire League Division 2 campaign off to a winning start on Sunday as they beat Rishton by two wickets at Lanehead.
Having won the toss and elected to field, the home side dismissed Rishton for 106 as they struggled to get to grips with Neil Hornbuckle’s bowling - he claimed 6-23.
Hornbuckle then topscored with 25 as Bacup reached the target in the 40th over. Jack Edgar was the pick of the visitors’ bowlers with 4-33.
In the game at Rawtenstall, Enfield picked up 12 points after winning by 12 runs.
The visitors won the toss and batted first, making 215/8 off their 50 overs, Adam Bracewell impressing with 68 while Yasar Ali (25) and Faheem Basharat (32) pitched in. Adil Hussain claimed 4-44 for the host.
In reply, Rawtenstall sub pro Ryan Ayres hit 50, opener Musa Rehman 28 and Siraj Hussain 24, but the home side fell short, dismissed for 203 in the 48th over with Simon O’Loughlin claiming 4-32.
In Division 1, Ramsbottom lost out on their own patch as Lowerhouse clinched victory by two wickets.
Rammy had won the toss and elected to bat first, looking in reasonably good shape at 95-3 when Alex Olpin (38) was run out.
Senuran Muthusamy (39) stuck around but struggled for support, only Seb Schofield (12) of the lower order reaching double figures as the home side were dismissed for 148.
Ramsbottom made a good fist of it and had Lowerhouse on the ropes at 99-7. But opener Ben Heap dug in for an invaluable 47 runs and eighth man in Thomas Walker hit an unbeaten 36 in a late stand with Jospeh Hawke (26no) to see the visitors over the line.
Haslingden lost out by seven wickets on their trip to Walsden, where they won the toss and elected to bat first.
Leighton Friend (50) and Gary Sudworth’s unbeaten 51 helped them recover from 48-4 to a competitive looking total of 199/8 from their allocated overs.
But Walsden’s sub pro Chirag Khurana made light work of the chase with an unbeaten 103, assisted by 30 from Josh Gale and useful knocks from Matt Dawson (26) and Joe Gale (24no).