Rawtenstall v Rishton : Sunday

After the convincing win over Lowerhouse,we had a quite different problem
to face on Sunday in the form of last years champions,Rishton and their
run machine professional Saeed Anwar Jnr.On an understandably damp wicket
we won the toss and batted.Not the start we would have wanted,losing the previous
days centurion for 3,with only 23 on the board.Jarrod had the opportunity to bat with
the Skipper,alas not long enough,was the cry as Paynie lofted a catch to extra cover
off Greaves and was gone for 23,with the score on 38.Worse was to follow as Danny B
made an early bid to win the duck race,at this stage of the season being trapped lbw off Anwar.
The Prince showed some patience whilst batting with Jarrod,but with the score on 64 he fell
lbw to Anwar for 11.Bomber Riley looked to have put the previous days duck behind him.
He looked very comfortable,until he tried sweeping Anwar and got the dreaded digit of doom,
lbw again for 6.At this decision the Barnes Bench were on their feet in protest,initially I thought
someone had let slip the Government were planning to raise the price of meals on wheels,but no,
their indignation was directed fairly and squarely at the official.Matt Kershaw stopped the lbw
sequence by being caught behind off Anwar for 1.Jay-Lo managed to carry it on though going
back on his stumps and on his bike lbw for 2.At 84 for 7 we were in dire straits,with 20 overs still
left,the pro in no trouble whatsoever and only the "Goon Squad" to come!Big Vin initially showing the
way adding 17 for the eighth wicket,with the pro still there.Vin was bowled for 5 by Greaves.Enter
Super Afi not only did he nurse the pro to his fifty, then smacked Greaves out of the ground for 6.A rousing
33 partnership put us onto 134,then Afi attempted to Bacup Rd. Anwar,not to be, out bowled for 14.
A forty-two run unbeaten last wicket partnership saw us soar to an unimaginable 176 for 9,with the
pro Englefield 83 not out,having batted with 9 out of the 10 amateurs,a truly Herculean feat.
Anwar finishing with 6 for 50 from 25 overs.
A re-invigorated Rocky side took to the field,ready to put our title challenge back on track.Rishton
opener Jimmy Bibby got the legendary arm ball and it crashed into the stumps sending the Terracing
into a frenzy,one for none.Opener Hamill and Anwar added an unconvicing 43 for the second wicket,
before Hamill was bowled for 9.This became 81 for 3 as Craig Smith opened our lbw account as the Prince
trapped him for 16.Bridson was never convicing and departed for 7 with the score on 94.John Seedle survived
a more than confident shout for lbw first ball,he managed only 9 when becoming the Princes' second lbw scalp.
This was soon 103 for 6 as Winkley was trapped in front for a single.Sam Hacking made 11 before Sealy trapped
him lbw with the score on 118 for 7.This became 121 for 8 as Leathert was trapped in front for 3.Anwar decided
enough was enough and after being dropped on 61 he hit Sealy for two successive sixes,Sealy didn't panic(not much
anyway),and next ball had his man well caught at extra cover by the gleeful Matt Kershaw for 76.Well all hell broke loose
the partisan crowd went into raptures,all that was left to do was mop up the tail, and that duely occured Scott Greaves bowled for 2.Rishton 149
all out.Phew that was close, edge of the seat stuff,what else would you expect.
All credit again to our paid man,what an innings,what a find ,what a battler,nuff said!
'til next week see you laytur Kes........................only another four to go,I'm getting increasingly demob happy yeahhh!

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