Rawtenstall v Bacup

Keith's Memories of R.C.C.

On the glorious 8th of June we entertained the "Old Enemy" Bacup.
Surprisingly we were asked to bat.Several enforced changes to our
side Will out owing to a car crash,earlier in the week,Sealy due to a dysfunctional
mouth disorder and the cruelest cut of all,Big Vin to a swollen ankle.In came Matt
Barnes,Scot Wylie and fresh from his schooldays Tom Brown(making his 1st team debut).
Chris C-M and Paynie opened up.The pair got us off to another solid start.Chris departing
first having made a solid 24,trapped lbw,off Harris. He was followed 4 runs later when
Nathan edged the same bowler to slip for just a couple.Things went from bad to worse as
Danny B failed to respond quickly enough for a sharp single and was run out without scoring,
58 for 3.Paynie and Jay-lo put 40 on for the 4th wicket,before the latter had a rush of blood
and was caught in the covers for 23.Paynie and Bomber Riley added 20(Paynie reached his fifty
during this ),before Bomber was unlucky to been given run out.Eleven runs later Paynie was gone
trying to up the run rate for 57 .His patience was evident it taking him an uncharacteristic 121balls
to achieve his score.Afi was trapped lbw for 4,Tom Brown stumped for 1and Scot Wylie run out for
7.Barney and myself put 8 on for the tenth wicket,so the innings closed on 147 for 9,with Chris Harris
taking 6 for 57.
A monumental effort in the field was going to be needed if we were to win this one.Despite 8 runs coming in the first
two overs the Bacup openers found the scoring of runs very difficult to come by,due to some excellent fielding
from the lads.Paul Gallagher tried to break the shackles but was well caught by Scotty running back at mid off
for 18 .Pete Thompson followed soon after well caught by Jay-lo for 8,both wickets falling with the score on 35.
Pete Killelea and Harris took the score slowly onto 52,before the former was trapped lbw for11.Matt O'Connor
made 10 before he sliced one to backward point,giving the now rampant McCullum his second victim.66 for 4
became 74 for 5 as Tim Farragher walked for an lbw.The Bacup skipper Nick Cronshaw was bowled by Nathan
for 7,the score now 86 for 6.The dangerous John "Kipper" Chapman decided enough was enough and hit me for two
successive 6s,but was bowled next over by Nathan for 21.This galvanised Harris into action, with 4 overs left and 36
needed for victory he struck,the first three balls of my over disappeared out of the ground.The Bacup supporters
were going wild sensing an unlikely victory,the Rocky supporters wishing I had retired a week ago.What a difference
one ball makes.Harris swung to leg again but this time got too far under it,and was safely pouched by Danny B on the
square leg boundary.It was the turn of the Rocky faithful to go into raptures of Ecstasy.As Harris departed you could
here the hearts of the Bacupians breaking.Nathan concede 7 off his penultimate over.Paynie then bowled the last over
from the Kay Street End and what a magnificent over it was too giving away a solitary single.The final over Bacup needing
12 to win ,first ball a single ,Nathan bowled Dave Warren with the second,then a further two singles off the 3rd and 4th.
Ben Lord needed to hit a boundary to give Bacup hope,he ran down the track ,aimed a mighty heave to leg,but missed,
Barney got the ball stuck in his trousers but eventually took the bails off giving Nathan his 7th wicket and Rocky the 12
points, what a finish.
Next week top of the table clash Nelson home and away.Speaking of Home and Away congratulations are in order
for FORMER Pro Matthew and his wife Taryn Mott who will be proud parents later this year.Well done Matthew
for slam dunkin one in don't know how you find the time,between NSW and the IPL.
'till next time see you laytur Kes

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