Ramsbottom CC v Rawtenstall CC

Sunday saw us take on Rammy away on what was the hottest day of the season
so far(not wishing to tempt fate).Paynie won the toss and thankfully we batted.
Chris and Paynie opened,Chris got us off to a spanking start,making short work
of both Shane Harwoods and Mick Haslams' opening spells.The Rammy attack
was not helped by a proliference of no-balls from both bowlers.A change of ends
produced the break through,Harwood having Chris caught for a rapid 32.Danny B
joined Paynie with the score on 46,and was met by a hostile barrage from the Rammy
Pro.These two added 42 before Danny secumbed to the off spin of Cropper for 19.
Paynie all the time building a very patient innings.Nathan joined the skipper and between
them forced several bowling changes as the home side looked to stem the flow of runs.
Our pair plundered 104 runs for the third wicket,when Paynie was caught for a steady
64 (off 122 balls,4x4s,1x6).After the Prince had departed for a couple with the total
on 200,Nathan cut loose, smashing the ball to all parts,he and Will putting on 53 in 6 overs.
As the final over started Nathan required 14 for his hundred,the first ball he flicked to the
vacant fine leg boundary,second ball he smashed to long leg for 4,third ball he hit for 2,
fourth he hit to the point boundary for a single,fifth ball Will got a single,leaving Nathan the
last ball to hit a boundary to bring up his ton,he could only dig out the yorker and finished
97 not out.Will giving admiral support on 18 not out,we finished 253 for 4.
The Rammy reply started disastrously Webb was caught at mid on by Will off Paynie for 3.
Then Paynie bowled Harwood for 3(22 for 2)three runs later Hayes was caught at short cover
for 15.Stand in skipper Chris Read fared no better having been dropped on 3 he was taken by
Big Vin off Paynie for 7.(46 for 4)Bell and Holt provided some resistance,adding 61 for the fifth
wicket.Paynie struck again trapping Holt lbw for 32.Cropper became Nathans' first victim in the next over
when he skied a catch to Will at mid on without scoring.Bell having survived a confident shout for
caught behind ,then steered one to the Prince at backward point off Nathan and was gone for 49.
It was now only a question of how long it would take us to get in the bar with Rammy on 126 for 7.
Not long as it happened Paynie again got the nod and Farooq was lbw for 0,Nathan had Hevingham
smartly caught at deep square by Danny B for 14, and fittingly Paynie finished things off bowling
Haslam for 1,finishing with 6 for 42(a great days work in anybodies book).So Rammy 135 all out.
A tricky test for us as Rammy will still have a big say in the title race.
Congratulations to Nathan on his first Lancs League 50(pity it couldn't have been a hundred),and
to Super Chubb for 60 odd and six fer.
'til next week see you laytur Kes.
P.S. the countdown begins only 10 more games left until retirement weather permitting(yippee).

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