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3rd XI vs Earby 3rd X1 (a)
Friday 16th May 2025



After losing the toss and being asked to field first on what looked like a good batting pitch at the Applegarth, the lads started well. The opening partnership of Luke and Billy kept things tight, helping restrict Earby to 33-1 in the powerplay, with the skipper dismissing his counterpart cheaply. A strong batting partnership then took Earby to 80-1, with their opener notching up 52 before Jack Evans clean bowled him in the 13th over. Some disciplined bowling in the middle overs kept the pressure on, limiting the home side to 124-6 from their 20 overs - a below-par total given the pitch’s quality and the fast outfield. Jack Evans was the standout bowler, finishing with 2-20 from his 4 overs.


In reply, Matt Brett and Mikey Worthy got us off to a flying start, racing to 23 from the first 2 overs. However, both openers fell in consecutive balls while trying to maintain the aggressive approach. From there, a combination of tight bowling and a cautious batting approach left us struggling at 32-4, bringing Marshy to the crease to lead the fightback. He played a solid knock of 29 off 27 balls, but his dismissal while trying to up the rate left us with too much to do. The incoming batters found it difficult to get going, and with the required rate climbing out of reach, we were eventually bowled out for 80 handing Earby a 44-run victory.


A disappointing start to this season’s T20 campaign, especially after setting Finals Day as the target for the 3rd XI. Plenty to work on, but we’ll regroup and come back stronger in the next game.


On to the next one!



1st XI vs. Earby 1st XI (a)
Saturday 17th May 2025



On a beautiful sunny day, the first XI traveled to Earby, hoping to build momentum after two consecutive league wins.


After winning the toss and electing to bat, Ribblesdale suffered an early setback with Hammad Amin dismissed without scoring. However, a steady 40-run partnership—including a brisk 32 off 27 balls from Kelly—settled the nerves. The Pro’s departure at 53-3 (contributing just 16) brought Spencer and Collinge together, who steadied the ship with a 45-run stand. But another quick collapse left Ribblesdale reeling at 105-6, with Mack Spencer falling for 25. A brief counterattack from the skipper took the score to 121-7, but the tail offered little resistance, and the innings ended at 127 all out.


Remarkably, all ten wickets fell to catches - Earby’s fielding could have made the total far worse had they held onto their chances.


Ian Britcliffe and Michael Worthy opened with tight, economical bowling, striking early to remove Earby’s opener at 23. A brilliant slip catch by Kelly off Worthy’s bowling provided a moment of brilliance. The skipper rotated the bowlers tirelessly throughout the innings, but nothing seemed to break Earby's momentum! Earby’s overseas player and Pro took control from there, sealing the game with an unbroken 103-run partnership.


Ribblesdale lost the game by 9 wickets! A disappointing result for Ribblesdale, who leave with zero points but will look to regroup for the next league game!



2nd XI vs. Blackrod 2nd XI (h)
Saturday 17th May 2025



On a sunlit afternoon, joint league leaders Ribblesdale - perfect after four games hosted third-placed Blackrod in a high-stakes clash. Blackrod won the toss and opted to bat, but their innings got off to a disastrous start.


The very first over saw a sharp run-out by Luke Spencer, leaving Blackrod at 1-1. Jack Fielding then struck in his opening over, with Stephen Tandy taking a catch behind to make it 6-2. Blackrod briefly steadied themselves, reaching 41-2, but Waqas Khan’s introduction turned the tide. A brilliant boundary catch by Fielding removed Blackrod’s number three, sparking a collapse. Kershaw chipped in with a wicket, and Waqas tore through the middle order, leaving the visitors reeling at 51-6. Kershaw finishing with figures of 12 overs 4 maidens 15 runs for 1 wickets! A brief recovery from Blackrod’s experienced pair was halted when Waqas claimed his fifth wicket (12 overs, 2 maidens, 37 runs), leaving them at 70-7. The tail wagged slightly, but Fielding and Blezard mopped up the rest, bowling Blackrod out for 91.


Chasing a modest target proved far from straightforward on a tricky pitch. Ribblesdale’s top order crumbled under pressure—Tandy fell early (5-1), the skipper was clean bowled (19-2), and Matthew Brett suffered a golden duck as the ball kept shockingly low. At 34-6, the game seemed lost. Enter Kershaw and Fielding. Their defiant 43-run partnership revived hopes before Fielding was trapped LBW (77-7). Kershaw then took charge, with Billy Worthy providing crucial support. In a nail-biting finish, Kershaw’s gritty 28 (55 balls) brought the scores level before he was caught—leaving Worthy to smash the winning run.


Ribblesdale triumphed by two wickets, maintaining their unbeaten streak in a thrilling, hard-fought contest.



1st XI vs. Barnoldswick 1st XI (h) - Hamer Cup
Sunday 18th May 2025



After a disappointing result the previous Saturday, the first eleven returned to action at Church Meadow for the first round of the Hamer Cup.


A slightly reshuffled side took on unbeaten Barnoldswick under ideal cricketing conditions.


Winning the toss, Ribblesdale elected to bat but suffered early setbacks, losing Kelly (10) at 23-1 and Amin (12) shortly after, leaving the score at 33-2. Enter professional Heshan Dhanushka, determined to make an impact—and he delivered in spectacular fashion. Blasting an unbeaten 112 off just 98 balls (15 fours, 3 sixes), Hesh anchored the innings with key partnerships: 70 with Waqar Rafique (23), 51 with the skipper (25), and 65 with Jack Fielding (13*). Ribblesdale finished their 40 overs with a strong 226 on the board.


The bowlers picked up where the batsmen left off, with Ian Britcliffe striking early to remove the first wicket at 28. Michael Worthy then claimed the prized scalp of Barnoldswick’s pro, leaving them at 60-2. A stubborn 74-run stand—aided by a few dropped chances—took the visitors to 134 before Waqar Rafique broke through, thanks to a superb boundary catch by Jordan Kelly. From there, wickets fell steadily, despite resistance from their opener (71). At 166-6, the game tilted firmly in Ribblesdale’s favor, and though Barnoldswick’s lower order pushed the score to 200, they were eventually bowled out in 39.1 overs.


The match was a thrilling spectacle, highlighted by Heshan’s maiden century for the club and Waqar Rafique’s first five-wicket haul (7-2-27-5) - two match-winning performances!


A brilliant victory sends Ribblesdale into the second round of the Hamer Cup, where they will face Salesbury away.



Ladies XI vs. Darwen Cricket Club Ladies XI (h)
Sunday 18th May 2025



The Ribblesdale ladies took to the field for their second league match, determined to redeem themselves after their opening-game loss—and they did so in commanding fashion.


Batting first, Ribblesdale got off to a flying start, with youngest team member Kate striking four boundaries in quick succession. The momentum never wavered as the team piled on the runs, finishing with an imposing total of 291. Hannah and captain Sophie added to the spectacle with a flurry of sixes, while Sophie also took a stunning catch off her own bowling—a moment of brilliance in the field.


Darwen came out strong in response, their opening batter firing off three consecutive fours. However, Ribblesdale’s tight fielding and disciplined bowling made scoring difficult as the innings progressed. Despite the pressure, Darwen’s ladies put up a spirited fight, with several players making their cricket debuts—a fantastic achievement in itself. Their final score of 228 was nothing to scoff at, and they should be proud of their performance. In the end, it was a thrilling contest between two determined sides, but Ribblesdale’s dominant display marked a return to their winning ways.


Well played, ladies—here’s to more great cricket!



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