Match-Day 19 Weekly Round-Up By Graham Hardcastle
By Graham Hardcastle
Farnworth Social Circle’s hundred hero Jameel Stuart is refusing to concede defeat to Little Lever just yet in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League’s Premiership title race.
Bajan professional Stuart’s stunning unbeaten 152 off just 94 balls and 4-46 from seven overs of off-spin decided the Farnworth derby at Piggott Park on Saturday, with help from opening batter and fellow centurion Elliot Colclough.
They shared a fabulous unbroken third-wicket partnership of 243 in 28 overs, with unbeaten Colclough posting a beautifully paced 100 off 123 balls in 310-2 from 45 overs.
Before a ball was bowled, Farnworth were second and hosts Social Circle third.
But Farnworth, for whom captain Simon Booth didn’t bat, were 183-9 in reply. Stuart and his team-mates have jumped up a place thanks to this 127-run win.
With five games remaining, they are 34 points behind leaders Little Lever with 60 to play for.
“At the end of the day, you just never know,” said Stuart, who also saw Dave Mather claim four wickets.
“There’s still five games left. We just have to take care of ourselves and see what happens.”
Despite Saturday’s excellence, Social Circle still require snookers.
Though Stuart’s never say die attitude is no surprise: “Chris Barrow (team-mate) always says to me I’m the most competitive person he’s ever met,” he chuckled.
This was no laughing matter for Farnworth, who were taken to task by two contrasting innings after the hosts fell to 67-2 after 17 overs.
While Colclough was measured, former Barbados Under 19s captain Stuart smashed 14 sixes.
Stuart, aged 28, is the leading Premiership run-scorer this season with 1,191, including four hundreds. Jofra Archer’s former age-group captain in Barbados is averaging 85.07 added to 42 wickets.
But here’s a man who sets high standards for himself and a Social Circle team skippered by Tim Barrow.
“When I look at myself from last year (1,204 runs, seven hundreds), I’ve been getting a lot of starts this year and not carrying on,” he continued.
“Last year, when I got those starts, I was going on and scoring hundreds. I could have pushed on more this year.
“We thought we could win the league, but I think we could have been a lot better as a team.
“A couple of factors have played a part. Fielding a consistent team is the main problem. If we’d had that, we could have been a bit closer to Little Lever.
“Not to make excuses, because we could have batted a lot better, including myself.”
Not only is Stuart an impressive cricketer, he’s also an impressive individual. He’s currently in his second year as Social Circle’s pro, though this is the first of a new three-year deal.
“I’ve never been one to club hop as we say in Barbados,” he said.
“I don’t want to go to a club for a year and leave. I want to make an impact, I want to help build the youngsters as well. That’s a big thing.
“Even kids from other clubs around the area, I coach them. It’s about developing cricket in the area as well as developing Farnworth Social Circle.”
With that, Stuart – a Cricket Development Officer on Lancashire’s ACE programme – runs his own coaching Academy.
“I didn’t do any summer camps this year because I’ve just started my job at Lancashire and didn’t get the time,” he added. “But we’re doing winter camps, starting October 2, at Cricket Point in Bolton.
“We’ll be doing that for two blocks of 10 weeks either side of Christmas.
“We’ve got the extra incentive for people coming to the Academy this year. We’re planning a trip to Barbados next October. It’s very exciting.”
Professional Jon Hinrichsen’s superb 6-30 gave Brinscall the perfect leaving present as they defended 130 to beat Read during a Saturday of contrasting totals in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League’s Premiership.
South African seamer Hinrichsen headed home after leading his side to their third win – in thrilling fashion by 39 runs, bowling visitors Read out for 90.
Compatriot, Brinscall’s captain and overseas amateur, Zadian Muller top-scored with 41 in 129 all out before the seam bowling pro’s 11-over burst wrecked Read’s top order with the first six wickets at 62-6.
Overseas amateur Muller then wrapped things up with three wickets, ensuring hosts Brinscall moved away from second-bottom.
Our featured match saw hosts Farnworth Social Circle rack up 310-2 in beating Farnworth and move second in the table, while Padiham are fourth having defended a 284 target at home to Feniscowles.
But there were many low-scoring fixtures elsewhere.
Padiham’s 11th win came with a 283-6 total built around 21-year-old Max Seedall’s middle order 95 off 62 balls. Ben Kelly then claimed 3-21 as second-bottom Feniscowles (111) never threatened.
Padiham’s 172-run victory was the round’s biggest win.
League leaders Little Lever cruised to a nine-wicket success at home to Atherton chasing 115 to record win number 15.
They bounced back from defeat against Baxenden last week to move within three wins of the title.
Indian overseas amateur Nipun Gaikwad starred with 4-49 in Atherton’s 114 all out before finishing 29 not out in a chase completed inside 15 overs.
Fifth-placed Eagley – winners for the ninth time this season – chased 109 at Whalley to win by five wickets.
Pakistani pro Ayaz Tasawar starred with 6-32 from 11.5 overs of leg-spin in Whalley’s 108 all out before hitting 29. Tasawar is the leading league wicket-taker with 53.
Visitors Earby shocked a Salesbury side who could have moved to third in the table.
Unbeaten South African sub pro Ockie Erasmus top-scored with 56 in 176-6 before Salesbury were bowled out for 135. Earby, winners by 41 runs, claimed their sixth win.
An impressive bowling display ensured Blackrod consolidated their top-10 position with a ninth win – by 54 runs at Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.
After being bowled out for 115, they bowled Oswaldtwistle out for just 51. Sri Lankan sub pro Pramod Maduwantha hit 21 and claimed 3-5.
Blackrod are eighth and Lostock sixth.
Pakistani pro Akbar Ur Rehman also set Lostock up for their ninth win, his 6-37 from 15 overs ensuring an eight-wicket win at Tonge (106 all out). Rehman also hit 39 not out.
Ninth-placed Astley Bridge won a low-scoring affair by four wickets at home to Baxenden. But their chase of 114 wasn’t without alarm.
Dilshan Munaweera, another Sri Lankan sub pro, claimed 4-29 alongside South African overseas amateur Ulli Bronkhorst’s 4-28 as Baxenden were bowled out for 113.
Bridge’s reply slipped to 91-6, including Munaweera’s innings-high 29. But they claimed an eighth win.
Hosts Ribblesdale Wanderers boosted their hopes of finishing in the top 12 ahead of next season’s split to two divisions with a 10th win. They beat Kearsley by five wickets chasing 136 and leapfrogging them into 10th place.
Ian Britcliffe claimed 4-25 and son Jordan three-for in Kearsley’s 135 all out. Indian pro Anuj Jotin’s unbeaten 63 anchored the home chase.
Cherry Tree maintained their hopes of a top-12 finish with a four-wicket win at home to Barnoldswick, successfully chasing 126.
Professional Ross Bretherton and Andreas Sudnik claimed three wickets apiece as Barnoldswick were bowled out for 125. Mark Hadfield top-scored with 30 in pursuit.
Sri Lankan pro Ashen Silva underpinned Settle’s four-wicket win at bottom side Walkden (118) as they pursued 119. He claimed 5-39 and hit 44.
If Settle, now 12th, finish there or higher, 13th place would secure a spot in next season’s top division given Settle are leaving the NWCL.
Jameel Stuart Courtesy of Jameel Stuart
