Match-Day 6 Weekly Round-Up By Graham Hardcastle
By Graham Hardcastle
South African overseas amateur Justin Gilliland hit a fabulous unbeaten 107 in a big Barnoldswick win over Baxenden on Saturday and then earned high praise from his captain Matt Cavanagh.
The wicketkeeper opener played a key role in his side’s thumping 189-run home win, their second from six games in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League’s Premiership.
Gilliland, aged 23, returned the key contribution in his side’s 271-1 from 45 overs, sharing an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 254 with Indian sub professional Chirag Khurana from Bacup, who added an unbeaten 94 after answering a last-minute call to play.
Gilliland hit 12 fours and two sixes in 120 balls and has enjoyed a bright start to his first season with Barnoldswick, previously scoring two fifties.
But this was the Western Province product’s standout contribution. Baxenden were bowled out for just 82 inside 22 overs, with new ball seamer Sajid Akhtar claiming 5-23 from nine overs.
“You can be good at cricket, which Justin clearly is,” said Cavanagh. “But he’s also a top guy – a really nice kid. He works really hard and could have kicked on in previous games. But out of everyone, he deserves this. It was a brilliant knock.”
Khurana was drafted in at 10pm on Friday after regular pro Upul Indrasiri suffered a messy dislocated finger playing a Birtwistle Cup T20 game earlier that night.
“He’s fitted into the team really well as well,” said Cavanagh. “When you walk into the dressing room last minute and don’t know people, it can be really hard. But him and Justin worked really well together after I got out early.
“If you asked me what word I would use to sum that win up, I would say comprehensive.
“It’s the first time the ground’s been hard all season. With the weather we’ve had, we’ve struggled to get it into a decent shape. But the deck’s been good, and it was quick.
“We bowled really well, tight and wicket to wicket. Getting their pro and overseas early on helped us.”
In consigning Baxenden to a sixth straight defeat – they are second-bottom above Walkden – Akhtar claimed two of his wickets caught behind by Gilliland, while Hafeez Ul-Wahab also struck three times.
“Saj is a swing bowler with a lot of experience,” said Cavanagh. “He’s played at the club for over 20 years now, and he’s a really useful opening bowler.
“We were ruthless in defending that total. In the past, we’ve had teams 50-5 and have let teams get 150-160. In this, we put our foot down. It was really impressive.”
Cavanagh is encouraged by the progression shown by his team and has set out their target for the rest of the summer.
“Little Lever the other week we got 225, and we’re starting to see progression in ourselves – partnerships being built, that sort of thing,” he added.
Former Sri Lankan Test star Milinda Siriwardana hit a fabulous unbeaten 114-ball 191 from number four, sharing 328 inside 38 overs for the third wicket with fellow centurion Alex Rodzoch, the opener who made a more measured 127.
After Farnworth elected to bat and were reduced to 25-2, professional Siriwardana hit 10 sixes before Atherton were restricted to 160-7.
An eye-catching feature of their reply was that Farnworth captain and regular wicketkeeper Simon Booth took a stumping and then a wicket, helping his side to a fourth win and a place in the top six.
They are just behind rivals Farnworth Social Circle, who lost for the second weekend running having won their first four.
Social Circle lost by 60 runs at Kearsley, bowled out for 182 replying to 242 all out. Kearsley pro Jono Bird top-scored with 83 before Zaighum Abbas’s four wickets.
Leaders Little Lever (68 points) maintained their 100 percent winning start with a 69-run home win over Astley Bridge.
Pro Jake Lehmann’s second hundred – 138 off 115 balls – underpinned 294-7 before Indian overseas amateur Nipun Gaikwad claimed four wickets in Atherton’s 225-9.
Ribblesdale Wanderers are 10 points behind in second after holding off Eagley to win a four-run nail-biter away having posted 187-8. Eagley finished on 183-6, and Wanderers have now won five from six.
Third-placed Salesbury (57 points) tied at Settle as both sides were bowled out for 172.
Oliver Wetton claimed a superb 6-48 from 14.5 overs as Settle batted first before Tremaine Dowrich claimed four as Salesbury were bowled out with the first ball of the final over, last man Callum Boardman run out.
Tonge’s excellent start continued, winning at Blackrod by 75 runs.
Sri Lanka pro Hashan Dumindu hit 112 not out off 101 balls in 228-1 batting first before striking once in Blackrod’s 153-8. Tonge’s fourth win leaves them 14 points off top spot.
Brinscall won a five-run thriller at Feniscowles, claiming their second win as they defended 178-6. Opener Sam Maclachlan made 73 before Feniscowles failed to build on 129-2 in the 36th over and finished on 173-6.
New ball bowler Jon Hinrichson claimed 3-39, including two final-over wickets defending 12.
Barnoldswick beat lowly Baxenden in our featured game, and Padiham (165-9) beat hosts Cherry Tree (138 all out) by 27 runs.
Joe Halstead had an excellent day for home side Read with 4-44 and a middle order 53 as they beat bottom side Walkden (209 all out) by four wickets.
South African pro Rubin Hermann’s middle order 51 helped Earby over the line against visitors Oswaldtwistle Immanuel by three wickets chasing 109.
And Whalley’s Australian overseas amateur Noah Panaia scored a second NWCL hundred in a losing cause.
His brilliant 139 gained no support in 203-9 at Lostock, who were indebted to Pakistani pro Akbar Ur Rehman’s unbeaten 114 in a gripping two-wicket win.
Barnoldswick CC –
Matt Cavanagh. Thank to Barnoldswick for the photo
Barnoldswick CC –
Justin Gilliland. Thank to Barnoldswick for the photo
