NWCL T20 Round-Up 2024
By Ray Taylor & Bill Slinger
North Group One
In the last round of Group matches, it was a situation of two from three, with Ribblesdale Wanderers, Barrowford and Read in the mix.
Ribblesdale Wanderers v Barrowford
Barrowford batted first and made 116-8. Aneeq Hassan dominated the innings making a run-a-ball 50, he got some support form Ulfat Ali 22. Michael Worth took 3-22.
In a tense reply, sub Professional Govind made 35, Mack Spencer 32 and Hammad Amin 30 not out as Ribblesdale got home with just 5 deliveries to spare.
This result meant that Ribblesdale Wanderers won the Group being unbeaten on 8 points.
Barnoldswick v Read
Barnoldswick batted first and made 88-8, Jonny Beech top scoring with 33.
In reply, Read found themselves 36-3. B Capell 29 not out and Joe Halstead 30 not out got them to their target with nine overs to spare to improve their play-cricket net nun rate.
However, with Read and Barrowford both ending on 6 points, the result of the head-to-head match between the two teams was the deciding factor and this was won by Barrowford.
Padiham v Earby
The only match that in which neither side could qualify for the Quarter Finals proved to be by far the highest scoring match.
Padiham batted first and made an impressive 186-6. Joseph Edgar mad 44 and Shivan Chaudhay made 88 including 9 fours and 6 sixes.
Earby’s reply was dominated by Raveen Yasas who made 111 not out including 14 fours and 6 sixes as Earby got home with one over to spare.
North Group Two
This Group went into the final round of fixtures with four of the teams in a position to qualify for the Quarter Finals.
Feniscowles v Whalley
Unbeaten Whalley went into this fixture looking to maintain that record.
They batted first and posted a total of 89-8, Blake Sillifant top scoring with 21.
In reply, Feniscowles were reduced to 15-4 and 50-7. However, an unbeaten partnership of 40 for the eighth wicket between Mohammed Jameel who made 50 not out off 38 deliveries and Joseph Callaghan 11 not out got Feniscowles over the line with one over to spare.
This left Whalley with seven points.
Oswaldtwistle v Cherry Tree
Oswaldtwistle batted first and were bowled out for just 54. James Clarke top scored with 17, extras(15) being the only other double figure contribution. Mickey Copeland had the remarkable figures of 4 wickets for just two runs including 3 maidens.
Cherry Tree looking to reach their target as quickly as possible went from the first ball, Copeland 26 off 8 deliveries and Charlie Elwood 17 not out off 5 deliveries got Cherry Tree to their target in just 3.5 overs.
This left Cherry Tree with seven points.
Baxenden v Salesbury
Both teams entered the match knowing a win could take them to the Quarter Finals.
Baxenden batted first and got off to a quick start through Blare Walsh ho made 53 off just 30 deliveries including 6 fours and 3 sixes. The run rate slowed after he was out and only Jake Hargreaves with 25 made any significant contribution in a total of 112 all out. Josh Bristol ending the innings with four wickets in five balls including a hat-trick.
Salesbury looked to not only win the match but also win as quickly as possible to improve their run rate.
Garnet Tarr made a quick 21, Liam Parkinson 43 not out and Lewis Pearson 22 as Salesbury reached their target with 4 overs to spare.
This left Salesbury also on 7 points.
The first consideration was the head to head results between the three teams on seven points.
Whalley finished top of the group as they had won their matches against both Salesbury and Cherry Tree.
The match between Cherry Tree and Salesbury was abandoned so Play-Cricket Net Run Rate decided who would go through as Group Runners Up. Cherry Tree mainly due to their quick win against Oswaldtwistle had the better net run rate, +1.71 against +1.6.
The North Section Quarter Finals to be played on Friday 28th June will be;-
Whalley v Barrowford
Ribblesdale Wanderers v Cherry Tree
Rarely can a single run have such an impact. Chasing Lostock’s 132-4, following an opening partnership of 95 between Muhammad Suleman (66) and Sam Barlow, a century partnership between Hashan Dumindu (59) and Justin Gilliland left Tonge requiring two runs from five balls for victory, but three wickets fell in three consecutive deliveries and the scores ended tied, Lostock victorious by virtue of losing fewer wickets. This result left Lostock topping the group, a position that would have been otherwise occupied by Tonge has they scored the additional run. As it was they ended fourth in a tightly packed group.
Madura Madushaka took 3-22 in Blackrod’s 136-8, then hit 63 runs but Brinscall’s innings subsided from 109-3 to 122-9 as Navod Paranavithana finished with 6-20. This result meant Blackrod qualify in second place equal on five points with Eagley and Astley Bridge, but with a superior record in the head-to-heads and run rate.
In the remaining group match, Ayaz Tasawar scored 96 in a 139 run partnership with James Richards, setting Eagley on their way to 162-7. Richards then took 3-16 in Astley Bridge’s 103-9.
The final group was slightly more clear cut. Curtis Anderton took 4-17 as Atherton were restricted to 98-8, then Jake Wilde smashed 58 from 36 balls to give Little Lever a nine wicket victory and top place.
Farnworth and Kearsley finished on seven points, one behind Lever, but Kearsley qualify as winner of Friday’s head to head. Jono Bird took 3-23 as Farnworth reached 121-9 then struck 43 in Kearsley’s seven wicket win.
The performance of the day belonged to Jameel Stuart whose 123 from 69 deliveries included eight sixes and nine fours, then he took 3-15 as Walkden totaled 121-9 chasing Circle’s 181-3. Azan Riaz chipping in with 3-15.
