Rammy ease to Trophy triumph
●● Ramsbottom professional and captain Daryn Smit will be back for the 2021 season
CRICKET
RA M S B O T TOM Cricket Club salvaged some satisfaction from this most testing of summers when they sealed a convincing win in the inaugural Surridge Sports Valley Challenge Trophy.
Rammy had already beaten Rawtenstall and Bacup, and went on to make it a clean sweep with a seven-wicket victory at Haslingden at the weekend.
Haslingden had won the toss and elected to bat, a decision they were left to rue having been dismissed for 92.
They got off to a terrible start when Matthew Griffin went for a duck, caught behind by Harry Caton off the bowling of Jack Wynn.
Connor Reed went for 15, nicking a Kieren Grimshaw delivery to Caton, who also helped account for opener Lawrence Adlum, Simon Hanson’s first victim of the day, scoring nine.
Alex Coleman (5) was trapped lbw by Daniel Pyke to leave Hassy in trouble. Graham Knowles finished unbeaten on 27, but none of his tail-end partners were able to stick around long enough to frustrate Rammy.
Sean Hunsley and Joe Sipocz were clean bowled – both by Hanson – and Gary Sudworth went the same way, dismissed by Jonathan Fielding.
Professional Daryn Smit – who is to remain with the club next season – then finished them off, taking the wickets of Jordan Shannon, Joe Hayton and Oliver Lord.
It meant Hanson finished with 3-6 and captain Smit 3-16.
And there were few problems in wrapping up the win.
Hanson went for eight but Caton (21) and Rehan Udwadia (30no) edged them closer to victory.
Alexander Olpin was the third Ramsbottom wicket to fall, scoring nine but Bradley Fielding (seven) was at the crease with Udwadia to see out the victory.
This weekend sees more action for Ramsbottom in the tri-team ‘ T20 NHS’ Trophy which starts tomorrow (Saturday) when they host Lowerhouse. Burnley are third team taking part in the competition in aid of the National Health Service.
The regular Lancashire League season has been replaced by the President’s Cup where all 23 teams have been split in to four groups – the winner of each progressing to the knockout stages.
Rammy are in Group One alongside Middleton, Littleborough, Norden and Burnley who they travel to on Sunday.