Anthony Axford NWCL Conference Week 4 Round-Up 2024
By Ray Taylor & Coby Donnelly
The Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Conference Premiership was well underway and in the latest round of games, all home teams won the toss and elected to field first, which saw no team score over 128 runs in their innings.
Farnworth Social Circle saw their unbeaten start end at Victory Road where they visited Little Lever. Batting first, Farnworth SC were dismissed for 108 with Chris Walsh scoring 22 after Naeem Patel took 4-41. After being 19-3, captain Louis Partington (54 not out) and Naeem Patel (30) helped Little Lever to a 6-wicket victory.
Read capitalised on Farnworth SC’s loss to end the week as league leaders after a low-scoring game at Burnley Belvedere. The visitors were bowled for a dismal 55, with Aadil Hussain taking 6-27. However, they compensated for their poor batting performance with an amazing bowling display which saw Burnley 2nds being dismissed for just 40 after Andrew Rushton took 5-18.
A close game at Sharples Park saw Cherry Tree take home 12 points as they visited Astley Bridge. Batting first, Cherry Tree were bowled out for 128 with Kevin Reed being left stranded with 32 not out after Ramesh Patel took 6-23. In reply, Astley Bridge was dismissed for 125 with just one ball to spare after Alex and Jack Fenwick took 3 wickets a piece.
Ribchester Road saw a comfortable victory for hosts as they were visited by Ribblesdale Wanderers. Batting first, Ribblesdale were dismissed for just 81 after captain Benjamin Riley took 6-25. Salesbury comfortably knocked this total down, being just 2 wickets down, with Toby Furbush scoring 47 not out.
The final game of the division saw a second win of the season for Farnworth, as they visited Foulridge 1sts at the Noyna Rock Ground. Batting first, Farnworth were bowled out for 115 with Bilal Khan top-scoring with 25. In reply, Foulridge were dismissed for 87 after Mehr Khan shined with the ball, taking 7-23.
In the second division, Chris Lemon and Shazaib Ali who both scored in the sixties helped rescue Barnoldswick from 35-5 with a century partnership, the innings closing on 171-6 with Mohsin Jangarwala 5-37. Brinscall responded with 123-8, victory leaving Barnoldswick at the top of the table after four matches with a maximum 48 points.
Also on 48 are Walkden, with Salman Younis hitting 68 in their 214, Ehtesham Ali taking 5-59 for Whalley. Ali then top scored with 31 in Whalley’s 64 all out, Zakir Bashir 4-18.
In third place, two points adrift are Padiham. Liam Simm recorded a century in a 130 opening partnership with Chris Swift. There were three wickets each for Jimmy Gray and Jonny Ball as Tonge were dismissed for 155.
Oswaldtwistle Immanuel are on 43 after Baxenden were dismissed for 151 after being 125-3, Babar Jameel doing a lot of the damage with 5-15. However, after Bradley Martin had scored 55 it took a dogged 49 ball seven runs from James Fawcett to see OI over the line with the last pair at the crease.
Ian Nuttall took 4-35 in Foulridge’s 152, then top scored with 48 as Atherton too won by just one wicket with Kafeel Ishfaq 5-38.
Barrowford could only muster 53 in reply to Kearsley’s 168-7, Obaid Khan 4-17 and Andy Gregory 4-24.
Noah Ashworth took 3-7 in Burnley Beldevere’s 104, but then Blackrod slumped from 56-5 to 77 all out after Nazakat Mehmood took 4-14.
Alfie Owens held Eagley’s innings together with 46 out of 92 all out, Harry Jackson 5-39. Stephen Kaye then hit a half century as Lostock won by ten wickets.
Lucas Robinson was easily Earby’s main contributor with 40 runs out of their 65, Haider Hussain 4-14 for Feniscowles, who then fell thirteen runs short of their target with Jason Lockley 4-18.
Coby Donnelly and Ray Taylor
