Narrow defeat at Haslingden after late recovery by Webmaster

Scorecard:

DateLine: 22nd June 2008

In some of the most appalling conditions witnessed in a cricket match, Ramsbottom came within an whisker of an unlikely victory at Haslingden on Sunday.

Both teams and umpires were faced with gale force freezing biting winds as Chris Read deputizing for Simon Read, absent due to family illness, won the toss and chose to field.

Shane Harwood playing his first league match after arriving from Australia must have wondered what he had let himself in for, but he bowled with some gusto, troubling the Haslingden batsmen with sheer pace, even though he struggled with his footholds at times. The umpires dispensed with the bails after just three overs, such was the wind strength, but Harwood did not need bails as he clean bowled Andy Clough and pro David Bandy with successive balls. Mick Haslam bowled with some accuracy, and Chris Read's sustained spell kept the runs down, but 186 for 8 in these conditions seems a difficult ask. Harwood finished with 5 for 46, and I'm sure in better conditions he will be a force to reckon with.

Ramsbottom's innings was readjusted to requiring 181 from 45 overs to win after a brief stoppage. Phil Hayes and David Bell gave the innings a good start but wickets fell steadily, Richard Rothwell hit a punchy 29 with two hugh sixes, but when the score reached 118 for 6, victory did not seem likely.

Martin Cropper with support from Robert Read gradually brought the target nearer, the 20 year old gathered his runs with patience after a shaky start, making his highest first XI score. He shared a 37 run partnership with Read and 15 with Toby McLean, but with his dismissal the match was lost.

A brave recovery in bad conditions at least they had the consolation of five batting points.