Immanuel draw line under 20/20

OSWALDTWISTLE Immanuel completed a winless 20/20 campaign on Friday evening with a defeat to local rivals Baxenden.

Batting first, Immanuel looked to be heading for a big score, with professional Danny Metcalf (45) and Siraj Akhtar (28) leading the way. However the innings fell away to a disappointing but challenging 137/7.

In reply, Baxenden just squeezed home with a ball to spare, with Guy Heffernan unbeaten on 65 and professional Aneeq Hussain posting a half-century whilst Danny Hothersall picked up three wickets for the visitors.

On Saturday Barnoldswick were the visitors to New Lane. Overnight rain saw the game reduced to 29 overs per side and batting first Oswaldtwistle posted a formidable 160/8, thanks largely to a 5th wicket stand of 69 between Kurt Smithson (34) and

Haroon Yaqoob (32) after skipper Phil Howard had made 26 at the top of the order. Bowling unchanged, evergreen seamer Andreas Sudnik took 3 for 50 from his 13 overs. However runs flowed freely at the other end as Ash Imdad smashed 94 to see the visitors home.

A couple of late wickets secured two welcome bonus points for the home side.

Fortunes were reversed at Barnoldswick’s Victory Park, as the 2nd Eleven gained a thrilling victory. Batting first the experienced Paul Dignan lead the way with a half century, well supported by Aftab Aftab (32), Muqqaddas Asghar (28no), and Sean Dignan (25) as Immanuel closed on 167/7. The game went right to the wire with three wickets falling in the last over as Immanuel won by eight runs, with just three balls remaining, to claim all 12 points to consolidate their mid-table position, teenager Sean Dignan taking 4/24 to complete a fine all-round performance.