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1st XI vs Barnoldswick 1st X1 (a)
(T20)
Friday 13th June 2025



Another perfect sunny evening set the stage for a high-stakes T20 clash, with both Ribblesdale and Barnoldswick fighting to keep their quarter-final hopes alive. In a last-minute tactical shift, Mack Spencer took over the captaincy for the game - a decision that would prove pivotal. Winning the toss, Ribblesdale elected to bat, aiming to set a challenging total.


The innings began cautiously, with only 7 runs on the board before Hammid Amin (5) fell early. This brought the Pro to the crease alongside Jordon Kelly, who played his usual aggressive brand of cricket. The duo added a crucial 48-run stand, with Kelly smashing a rapid 33 (3x4, 2x6) before being caught out.


For the second consecutive week, Ryan Canning partnered well with the Pro, pushing the score to 113 with a composed 20-run contribution. Waqar Rafique then joined the Pro, taking the total to 124 before the Pro departed after a match-defining 55 (7x4, 1x6).


Barnoldswick’s bowlers tightened their grip in the 17th and 18th overs, conceding just 7 runs and threatening to restrict Ribblesdale to a modest total. However, Waqar Rafique (22*, 2x6) and captain Mack Spencer (22*, 1x4, 2x6) unleashed a blistering assault in the final two overs, plundering 35 runs to post a competitive 166/5.


Barnoldswick’s reply started strongly, reaching 44 before Waqar Rafique struck with a sharp caught-and-bowled. Jack Fielding claimed the next wicket at 63, but the visitors kept pace with the required rate. The game turned when Waqar struck again, dismissing their Pro with another excellent caught-and-bowled.


At 103/4, the match hung in the balance. A pivotal moment came on the last ball of the 18th over - Barnoldswick’s OA skied a chance to Blezard, but the swirling ball proved too difficult to hold. The reprieve proved costly, as Barnoldswick smashed 17 runs off Worthy in the 19th over, setting up a nail-biting finale: 22 needed off the last over.


Despite a valiant effort, Barnoldswick fell agonizingly short, finishing just 5 runs shy of their target. Ribblesdale’s fielding, though tested by tricky conditions, held firm when it mattered most.


This thrilling victory edges Ribblesdale closer to the quarter-finals, showcasing resilience under pressure. The team will look to carry this momentum into next week’s encounter against Padiham at Church Meadow - another must-win fixture in what promises to be an exciting climax to the group stage.


Roll on Padiham - another chapter in what’s shaping up to be a memorable season!



1st XI vs. Oswaldtwistle Immanuel 1st XI (h)
Saturday 14th June 2025



Saturday’s weather may have defied the rumoured dry spell, but the damp conditions at Church Meadow couldn’t dampen the spirits of the home side as they secured a commanding victory over Oswaldtwistle. The morning’s persistent drizzle forced a delayed start, with play reduced to 42 overs per side, but the hosts adapted superbly to the slow, bowler-friendly conditions.


After losing the toss and being put into bat, Church Meadow’s openers laid a solid foundation with a patient 57-run partnership in just over 13 overs. Hammid Amin (14) was the first to depart, but Jordon Kelly anchored the innings with a well-constructed 46 (4 fours, 1 six), showing admirable composure on a tricky surface. However, the middle order struggled to build momentum, with even the professional falling cheaply for 6. At 71/3, the innings needed rescuing, and Waqar Rafique rose to the occasion with an unbeaten half-century—a classy 50* (4 fours, 2 sixes)—that propelled Church Meadow to a competitive 147/7.


On a pitch favouring the spinners, it was a commendable effort, though the total looked slightly below par given Oswaldtwistle’s slow-bowling strength.


The Church Meadow bowlers came out firing, striking on just the second ball of Oswaldtwistle’s innings. Jordan Britcliffe making the early strike! Despite some wayward bowling early on, the introduction of spin turned the game decisively. Heshan produced a match-winning spell (7.3-1-20-5), including a devastating two-wicket over that left the visitors reeling at 59/4. Waqar Rafique (7-4-6-3) was equally lethal, stifling the opposition with his accuracy and guile. Oswaldtwistle’s innings crumbled under the relentless pressure, collapsing to 83 all out, handing us a 64-run victory and two extra bowling bonus points.


With this win, we now top the table, capping off a successful run of home fixtures. The challenge now shifts to maintaining this form during an upcoming stretch of away matches. The team has built strong momentum, and if they can replicate this disciplined performance on the road, they will be serious title contenders.


A fantastic weekend for the first team—one that showcased resilience with the bat, ruthlessness with the ball, and a collective determination to keep winning!


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3rd XI vs. Whalley 3rd XI (h)
Sunday 15th June 2025



The question on everyone's lips was whether the Third XI could make it a perfect 100% weekend for the club. All eyes turned to Whalley to see if the Thirds could complete the clean sweep.


Having won the toss and elected to bat, the Thirds’ hopes took an early blow as they lost two quick wickets with just four runs on the board. The pressure was on, but Stephen Tandy stepped up when his team needed him most, playing a crucial anchor role. He formed a steadying partnership with Josiah Finn (14) adding 31 runs before the middle order faltered, leaving the side reeling at 41/6. With the innings in danger of collapsing,


Tandy found an able partner in Terry Braithwaite, and the pair staged a vital 48-run stand to lift the total to 89. Tandy’s resistance finally ended on a hard-fought 48 (5x4), an innings full of determination that kept his side in the contest. The tailenders chipped in with another 15 runs, taking the final score to 104/8 from their 40 overs - a modest total, but one that reflected the team’s fighting spirit. In many ways,


Whalley’s innings mirrored the Thirds’ struggles. Billy Worthy was the chief destroyer early on, tearing through the top order to leave the hosts floundering at 35/7. Billy claiming five wicket haul - 8 over 3 maidens 14 runs for 5 wickets. Billy also claimed 3 catches and a run out rounding off an outstanding performance! Just when it seemed the game was slipping away from Whalley, their lower order mounted a fightback—first with an 8th-wicket stand that took them to 54, and then a potentially match-winning partnership that pushed the score to 87/9.


The tension was palpable as Whalley inched closer, reaching 99 - just six runs short of victory. But with the game hanging in the balance, skipper Luke Spencer held his nerve, taking the final wicket to seal a thrilling 5-run win.


This hard-fought triumph not only completed the club’s perfect weekend but also sent a strong message to the league.


As for that 100% weekend record? Well, it was never in doubt… (honestly)


Up the thirds! 🔥



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