Match-Day 12 Weekly Round-Up By Graham Hardcastle
By Graham Hardcastle
A timely text message looks to have played its part in Tonge’s fabulous win at title challengers Ribblesdale Wanderers as all-rounder Hasib Patel starred in Saturday’s Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Premiership.
Tonge won by 113 runs at Church Meadow against a Wanderers side sat second before the 12th round of fixtures started. And Patel was instrumental.
He hit 31 off 23 balls in mid-table Tonge’s 220-6 before claiming a season’s best 5-28 from seven overs of left-arm seam as the hosts were bundled out for 107.
He claimed Indian professional Anuj Jotin’s prize wicket for 25 as the first of two in two balls, leaving the score at a decisive 63-4 after 23 overs.
“It’s funny because I messaged Hasib on Friday night and said, ‘I’m feeling it for you tomorrow’,” explained captain Connor Lord, who himself claimed the opening wicket of the home chase – his opposite number Mack Spencer.
“Hasib’s gone in a couple of times towards the back end and has tried to hit it from ball one. I said, ‘Go in, give yourself a few overs and then go for it’.
“It was definitely his day.”
Clearly a bit of man-management magic from the skipper?
“Well, you could call it that if you want!” laughed Lord.
It says a lot about the significance of Patel’s contribution to win number six for Tonge that their Sri Lankan professional Hashan Dumindu’s superb 100 off 99 balls from number three is only just getting a mention.
He played the standout innings, scoring the lion’s share of 50 off the last five overs to boost Tonge after a watchful start having been inserted.
“I think that’s probably the best we’ve batted as a team all year. The pro’s batted well in a good few games. But in terms of supporting him, that’s the best we’ve batted,” said Lord.
“Hasib got his quick 30 and another couple of lads have got 20s.”
Tonge sit 13th in the table and are through to the Hamer Cup quarter-finals (they host Blackrod next Sunday): “We’ve had a mixed bag,” assessed Lord.
They won three of their first five games but haven’t quite built on that early run, which included another notable win over Settle. That and this weekend’s win are the best two of the summer in Lord’s view.
“Before the start I said to the lads I thought we could finish anywhere between eighth and 12th if we had a good season,” he continued.
Lord joined Tonge in 2016. They finished bottom of the Bolton League for the second season running that year. The club was in “decline”. From then to now, it really feels like the Castle Hill club has got its heartbeat back.
“100 percent,” added Lord. “Everyone wants to play for the club, and that’s what it’s about.
“It’s just been steady progress for the last six or seven years.
“A few local lads have come back, we’ve had Hashan in 2021 and again this year. A few others have stepped up and performed as well.
“We know it can be hard to compete with clubs who are paying players. We’d love to have another batter and a left-arm spinner. But it’s not always possible to get your shopping list ticked off.
Read stunned in-form Eagley who were one of three top-five losers as runaway leaders Little Lever opened up further Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Premiership daylight on Saturday.
Read, chasing a top-12 finish, won their sixth game in 12 with a 34-run success on the road.
Dominic Hayes starred with 6-38 from 14.5 overs in Eagley’s 124 all out chasing 159. Earlier, opener Michael Whalley’s measured 51 underpinned 158-9.
On Saturday morning, Eagley were third, but they and second-placed Ribblesdale Wanderers – they lost at home to Tonge – were beaten.
Little Lever overcame fifth-placed hosts Padiham by 99 runs to win their 12th successive fixture and move 30 points clear on 136 with 11 rounds remaining.
Australian pro Jake Lehmann’s 91-ball 89 featured in a solid 210-9. But Padiham were bowled out for 111 as Naeem Patel and Nipun Gaikwad claimed three wickets each, securing the maximum 12 points.
Farnworth (229-4) are now second on 106 with nine wins following a scare at home to Cherry Tree in a 40-over game.
Cherry Tree were 156-0 in the 33rd over – Neil Timmers 92 and Joseph Littler went on to make 81 – before finishing on 206-6. Alex Rodzoch claimed 4-46 having opened with 59 in a 23-run win.
Farnworth Social Circle took advantage with the eye-catching win of the round – their eighth of 2023, by 210 runs at home to Oswaldtwistle Immanuel – and jumped to fifth on 96 points just behind Ribblesdale and Eagley.
Bajan professional Jameel Stuart and Nathan Elliott (106 off 111 balls) both hit fabulous centuries and shared 278 for the third wicket to recover from 11-2 to 300-5.
Stuart’s 160 off 107 balls with 11 fours and 11 sixes was the day’s standout innings.
Oswaldtwistle were then bowled out for 90, including Dave Mather’s new ball 5-34.
Kearsley are flying after winning at Feniscowles by four wickets (10 points).
They have won seven of their last eight matches to jump up to 10th place.
In a 41-over game, opener Byron Giraudeaux, Kearsley’s South African overseas amateur, anchored the 143 chase with an unbeaten 72 off 61. Earlier, the hosts had posted 142-6.
Astley Bridge and Blackrod, seventh and ninth, also won for the seventh time and were similarly dominant away at Walkden and Earby
Bridge bowled bottom side Walkden out for 84 in an eight-wicket win. New ball seamer David Cryer returned 5-19 from nine overs. Walkden lost their 12th fixture.
Thushendra de Zoysa struck twice and hit 33 in Blackrod’s seven-wicket win. They skittled Earby for 79.
Eighth-placed Salesbury, three-wicket winners in a thriller at Atherton, just chased down 119 for win number seven.
Callum Boardman’s new ball 6-28 from 11.3 overs bowled Atherton out for 118. But the visitors’ reply slipped to 66-7 before Lewis Pearson (39) and Oliver Wetton (21) shared an unbroken eighth-wicket 53.
Settle (160 all out) make up the top 12 alongside Lostock, who remain just above them despite losing by 61 runs to their rivals – bowled out for 99 chasing 161.
Settle’s Bajan amateur Tremaine Dowrich starred with 6-18 from 8.5 overs of left-arm spin.
Whalley’s Australian amateur Noah Panaia starred as they beat hosts Barnoldswick by 56 runs in a bottom-12 battle.
Opener Panaia’s excellent 121 off 126 balls underpinned Whalley’s 196-9 before he struck twice in Barnoldswick’s 140 all out.
Second-bottom Baxenden (164 all out) beat fellow strugglers Brinscall at home by 27 runs to join their visitors on two wins. Brinscall, chasing a revised 164 in 42 overs, were bowled out for 136. Adam Masood claimed five wickets.
Hasib Patel from Tonge CC Courtesy of Tonge CC
