By Michael Latham
Preston pro Saeed Bariwala and captain Lukman Vahaluwala celebrate Preston's victory |
The 60th season of Northern League cricket got underway on a fine and sunny afternoon with some shock results; defending Champions Leyland lost by one wicket in a low-scoring match at Broadwater against Fleetwood while Lancaster beat fancied Blackpool by seven runs.
Preston were also celebrating after gaining a maximum 15 points from their 16 runs victory over Carnforth at West Cliff.
The Furness Building Society Northern Premier League (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls) title holders Leyland are without influential skipper David Makinson with a back problem that may rule him out of the first few games. South African pro Brett Pelser, who captains his provincial side back home took over the reins.
Fleetwood's new pro, Sydney Grade cricketer Ryan Smith who played for the club as an amateur last season made the early inroads, claiming the wickets of Chris Parkinson and Nathan McDonnell. Mike Clinning then trapped Pelser leg before, as Leyland subsided to 85 all out on a slow, damp pitch. Peter Cummings, batting no10 made an invaluable 24 while opener Henry Thompson battled through 90 balls for 15.
Smith took three for 25, off-spinner Clinning four for 10 from ten overs and Adam Parker, back at Broadwater after two seasons at Preston returned two for 26.
Leyland made the home side fight hard, Cummings taking four for 51, Pelser three for 23 and leg-spinner Tayyab Afsar weighing in with two cheap wickets. Opener James Ellis, back after missing the 2010 season through work commitments, made 33 off 63 balls as Fleetwood scrambled home with their last pair of Sam Bell and Kieran McGann at the crease.
Blackpool employed Pakistan born all rounder Rehan Rafiq as sub-pro while South African spinner Con de Lange underwent a back operation for their visit to Lancaster. Paul Danson's side are rated as title dark horses in some quarters but they faced a stiff challenge from a home side who had Lancashire Second XI batsman Luke Perry as sub-pro.
Lancaster were bowled out for 87 with Cumberland County bowler Richard Gleeson taking three for 23 and Steven Mercer continuing his fine bowling form with a spell of five for 18.
The first ball of the season, Carnforth pro Gareth Pedder to Preston opener Sajid Patel |
But the home side fought back brilliantly in the field, off-spinner Ben Simm bowling unchanged to take five for 29 from 25.1 overs as Blackpool were dismissed for 80 despite a fighting 30 from Andy Furniss.
Simm, who turned down the chance of a professional's job in the Bolton Association to stay with his hometown club grabbed the vital wicket of Rafiq, caught by Craig Atkinson for 14. Tom Burrow supported him, removing both openers with a spell of two for nine and Tim Barry came on as first change to take two for 25 from 14 overs.
Preston's new professional Saeed Bariwala made a match-winning debut at West Cliff in another low-scoring game. Carnforth's all-rounder pro Gareth Pedder, who was also Captain for the afternoon, had taken seven for 32 to dismiss the home side for 94. Opener Sajid Patel (23), ex-Whittingham & Goosnargh batsman Mohsin Modhi (34) and captain Lukman Vahaluwala (32) made all but five of their side's total between them. Ex-Lancaster bowler Matt Weller marked his Carnforth debut with a spell of three for nine.
Carnforth's Robert Horsfall is bowled by Lukman Vahaluwala |
Carnforth looked to be cruising as they reached 48 for 1 before off-spinner Bariwala, out for a third-ball duck earlier captured the wickets of Darren Moore and Tom Barnfield in successive balls. Barnfield had made an untroubled 37.
Bariwala went on to finish with five for 26 and the experienced Vahaluwala, who swapped ends to great effect took four for 24 as Carnforth lost their last nine wickets for 30 runs.
The Preston CC line-up 2011 |
Netherfield pro Brady Barends will arrive next week and his place for the trip to last season's runners-up Barrow was taken by Lancashire's Andrea Agathagelou. Barrow's new South African pro Pieter Malan bears a heavy responsibility with the club having lost openers Jonathan Miles and Greg Platten over the winter months.
Malan certainly began in style, making the season's first century, an accomplished 103 off 137 balls with six fours and four sixes, in his side's 177 for 8 at Ernest Pass. Lakmal Mendis (28) supported Malan in a stand of 76 for the seventh wicket with Marc Hadwin, who captured his 500th Division One wicket in his final bowl of last season, taking three for 46.
Pieter Malan celebrates his first Barrow hundred (photo thanks to David Watterson) |
Netherfield lost Cumberland opener Marc Brown to a first ball duck on debut, leg before to county colleague Graham Dawson. Daryl Wearing trapped Agathagelou leg before for 5 and the visitors were indebted to a battling 50 off 108 balls from vice-captain Ben Haddrick, who stepped up to open, as they earned a draw. John Mason hit 37 on debut to steer Netherfield to 146 for 8 at the close, Malan completing a fine all-round match with three for 38 and vice-captain Liam Livingstone taking three for 15.
Morecambe's new Pakistan A fast bowler Anwar Ali made his club debut against Kendal at Shap Road. Kendal were without their Kiwi World Cup player Jamie How whose arrival from New Zealand has been delayed; former Morecambe pro Werner Coetsee deputised.
Kendal were indebted to league legend Terry Hunte and Coetsee for their challenging total of 205 for 6. The pair added 147 for the third wicket after Kendal lost openers Jonathan Miles, on debut and Gareth Ashburner cheaply. Hunte, who has played for Kendal since 1987, passed 18,500 league runs, nearly 3,000 more than the next all-time runs-scorer Bob Entwistle, in reaching 91 before he was run out.
Hunte batted for 104 balls and hit five fours and three sixes. Coetsee, who will pro for Enfield in the Lancashire League this year, hit a more circumspect 68 off 124 balls.
Morecambe finished 26 runs short of their victory target with two wickets in hand, closing on 180 for 8. Anwar Ali hit 60 off 76 balls batting at number five and Josh Dixon, a recruit from Westmorland League Heysham, made 39 off 92 balls coming in at first wicket down. Stu Parkin, skipper Chris Miller and Coetsee each took two wickets for Kendal.
St Annes lacked influential captain Andy Kellett, sidelined with a back injury and pro Dinuka Hettiarachchi for the visit of Chorley. Duncan Whalley took over the captaincy and Pakistan fast bowler Fahad Masood deputised for the Sri Lankan spin ace. Gaurav Dhar, the former MCC Young Professionals all-rounder made his bow as the new Chorley pro.
Dhar took five for 98 and spin partner Iain Critchley, the new Club Coach three for 58 as Chorley did well to restrict St Annes to 205 on a good batting pitch. Nathan Armstrong was top scorer with 39 and Masood made 38.
Openers Andy Holdsworth and Jack Catterall gave Chorley a fine start with an opening stand of 92, both making 41. But Masood took four for 63 and Atiq Uz-Zaman three for 27 as Chorley slumped to 137 for 7. Stu Naden retired hurt in the 32nd over after a blow to the helmet but returned and made 24. A battling unbeaten 42 off 49 balls by Ian Oakes helped Chorley salvage a draw at 190 for 9, last man Jimmy Lee surviving six balls.
In Division Two defending champions Leyland were under a new captain with Ian Farrington having replaced Chris Dovey who has retired; they faced Fleetwood at Fox Lane and had a resounding victory by 186 runs.
A trio of new players, David Fisher, Danny Lamb and Ian Dickinson all passed 50 in Leyland's 264 for 3 before teenaged spinner Alex Williams took five wickets to hasten Fleetwood's demise to 78 all out.
Preston's new skipper Pip McDonald hit a magnificent 138 to spearhead his side's convincing win over Carnforth at Lodge Quarry despite Father Stephen Jones, the Club's Third XI skipper capturing six wickets.
Sam Owen (four for 26) and Craig Outram (67 off 50 balls) combined to inspire Blackpool's seven wickets win at home to Lancaster.
John Hotham (74) and Rowan Mitcham (59) provided the backbone of Chorley's imposing 226 for 7 against St Annes at Windsor Park, Dave Catterall making 45. Chris Harty then took five for 37 and Rick Flood weighed in with four wickets as the visitors were dismissed for 80.
The new Kendal Second XI skipper Paul Dodds hit an unbeaten 57 to earn his side a seven wickets win over Morecambe, opener Nick Phillips making 52 in the victory chase. Earlier Andrew Dugdale returned five for 56 in Morecambe's 142 for 6, Ian Izzat making 48.
Ollie Hill, back from a winter in Australia hit 58 in Netherfield's victory by 106 runs over Barrow at Parkside Road. The 20-year-old former Vickerstown CC bowler Lee Hogg took six wickets on his Barrow debut in Netherfield's 179 but Matt Clinton captured four Barrow wickets as the visitors were all out for 73.
FIRST DIVISION SCORES
Barrow v Netherfield
Barrow (8pts) winning draw; Netherfield (4pts)
Barrow 177 for 8 (P Malan 103), Netherfield 146 for 8 (B Haddrick 50)
Fleetwood v Leyland
Fleetwood (12pts) defeated Leyland (3pts) by 1 wicket
Leyland 85 (M Clinning 4 for 10), Fleetwood 86 for 9 (P Cummings 4 for 51)
Kendal v Morecambe
Kendal (9pts) winning draw; Morecambe (5pts)
Kendal 203 for 6 (T Hunte 91, W Coetsee 68), Morecambe 180 for 8 (Anwar Ali 60)
Lancaster v Blackpool
Lancaster (15pts) defeated Blackpool (3pts) by 7 runs
Lancaster 87 (S Mercer 5 for 18), Blackpool 80 (B Simm 5 for 29)
Preston v Carnforth
Preston (15pts) defeated Carnforth (3pts) by 16 runs
Preston 94 (G Pedder 7 for 32), Carnforth 78 (S Bariwala 5 for 26, L Vahaluwala 4 for 24)
St Annes v Chorley
St Annes (10pts) winning draw; Chorley (7pts)
St Annes 205 (G Dhar 5 for 98), Chorley 190 for 9 (I Oakes 42no, J Catterall 41, A Holdsworth 41, F Masood 4 for 63)
Darwen no game
MATCH REPORT
LANCASTER v BLACKPOOL
Report by Michael Moore
Yet again Blackpool captain Paul Danson had to go into the first game of the season without key players. New pro Con de Lange will miss the
first three games due to a back problem which requires minor surgery and recent signing Steven Twist was unavailable due to a social
engagement.
Nonetheless, Danno took his boys to Lancaster looking for winning
points from the fixture against a side that must never be
underestimated, containing a string of experienced League playes and
some new young signings.
Lancaster have lost the services of their long serving groundsman and
the ground did reflect this situation. Looking tidy, the outfield
grass was very long and the green track looked as if it might be
bowler friendly. So on winning the toss visiting skipper Paul Danson
took the decision to bowl first.
His decision was exonerated when when Blackpool bowled out the home
side for a meagre 87 in 47 overs. This total may have been worth
120/140 had the outfield been cut shorter, as shots worthy of four runs
were restricted to two or three.
Teenager Mike Tidmas bowled his allotted seven overs for only nine runs,
making the Lancaster batsmen play at every delivery in his extremely tidy
spell.
Rick Gleeson, recently returned from his second winter in Australia
bowled well after his first delivery went wide and he finished with 3
for 23 (3 no balls) in his 12 overs, claiming the valuable wicket of
ex Blackpool skipper Tim Barry in his first over.
Runs were definitely in short supply on this early season wicket and
when the wily Steve Mercer joined the attack with sub pro Rehan Rafiq
runs virtually dried up. Mercer finished with five for 18 as he proved
what a valuable asset he is in these early season conditions.
Lancaster`s batsmen had no answer to his swing and seam bowling and
his figures would have been even more impressive had not youngster
Metcalfe clubbed him for a big 6 in his final over.
Keeper Rob Sissons showed his class, putting pressure on the batsmen
standing up up to all the bowlers but Gleeson. He really is the
finished article and will be a significant factor in Blackpool`s push
for honours this season
Sub pro Rehan Rafiq bowled well and picked up the wicket of 'keeper Gudgeon.
With only 88 runs required for victory,Blackpool must have been
feeling very confident at the tea interval, but cricket is an
intriguing game and Lancaster are a battling side never to be taken
lightly.
In over number 4 Blackpool opener John Mounsey was brilliantly stumped
by former Morecambe keeper Gudgeon off the bowling of the impressive
Burrows (2 for 9 in 7 )and despite some strong resistance from
all-rounder Andy Furnis, who made a very impressive 30 including a
massive straight 6 into the River Lune off the bowling of spinner Ben
Simm, Blackpool could not come to terms with the bowler friendly
conditions
Danno`s Boys fell just 8 runs short of victory, when Richard Gleeson was
last man out caught by Atkinson off the bowling of the continually
over-zealous Ben Simm who bagged 5 for 29 in his 25.1 overs
A disappointing start to Blackpool`s campaign.
Division Two (2nd XI)
SECOND DIVISION SCORES
Blackpool v Lancaster
Blackpool (12pts) defeated Lancaster (0pts) by 7 wickets
Lancaster 124 (S Owen 4 for 26), Blackpool 125 for 3 (C Outram 67)
Carnforth v Preston
Preston (15pts) defeated Carnforth (3pts) by 128 runs
Preston 238 (P McDonald 138, Father S Jones 6 for 54), Carnforth 110 (A Abbas 4 for 26)
Chorley v St Annes
Chorley (15pts) defeated St Annes (2pts) by 146 runs
Chorley 226 for 7 (J Hotham 74, R Mitcham 59, D Catterall 45, R Thomas 4 for 68), St Annes 80 (C Harty 5 for 37, R Flood 4 for 37)
Leyland v Fleetwood
Leyland (15pts) defeated Fleetwood (0pts) by 186 runs
Leyland 264 for 3 (D Fisher 77, D Lamb 60no, I Dickinson 56), Fleetwood 78 (A Williams 5 for 35)
Morecambe v Kendal
Kendal (12pts) defeated Morecambe (1pt) by 7 wickets
Morecambe 142 for 6 (I Izzat 48, A Dugdale 5 for 56), Kendal 146 for 3 (P Dodds 57no, N Phillips 52)
Netherfield v Barrow
Netherfield (15pts) defeated Barrow (3pts) by 106 runs
Netherfield 179 (O Hill 58, L Hogg 6 for 34), Barrow 73 (M Clinton 4 for 13)
Darwen no game
MATCH REPORT
Morecambe 2ndXI v Kendal 2ndXI
Report by Michael Fisher
Morecambe 2nds 142 - 6 (1pt) v Kendal 2nds 146-3 (12pts)
Morecambe's season got off to the worse possible start losing at home to Kendal, Losing the toss and being asked to bat first on a very soft Woodhill Lane wicket. Maje and Izzat started brightly the former being particularly punishing on the young Kendal bowlers.
The introduction of veterans Dugdale and Potts first stalled the scoring and then forced a breakthrough. Maje was LBW for 36 and was quickly followed by Law. Izzat and Pearson steadied the innings making slow progress against accurate bowling. Pearson (20) fell trying to increase the tempo bowled by Dugdale.
Morecambe's innings accelerated towards the end at the cost of Fisher and Milner becoming Dugdales 4th and 5th victims. Izzat fell 2 short of his fifty in the 48th over as Morecambe's innings closed at a competitive 142.
Morecambe have new look bowling attack this season with Usman Alam and Irfan Quyyam both making there debuts both bowled well without making a breakthrough. It turned out the old adage catches win matches proved true again. Nick Phillips was put down twice on his way to 52 and with Milner making the only breakthrough dismissing Dugdale for 19
Kendal progressed steadily towards victory. Kendal captain Paul Dodds (57not out) batted exceptionally well in very trying circumstances guiding his team to victory. Morecambe had sensed a brief smell of victory with the visitors still requiring just over 30, Law captured the wickets of Phillips and Marshall of successive balls and with a team full of youngsters there was some hope. Dodds and Mark Phillips (12 not out) batting calmly finally saw Kendal home to a deserved victory by 7 wickets.
Netherfield 2nd XI 2011 |
