In a high-stakes encounter at Station Road, Ribblesdale Wanderers faced off against Whalley in a must-win game, with both sides battling at the top of the North West Cricket League Championship. The match delivered edge of the seat drama and twists. Whalley won the toss and elected to field, putting Ribblesdale into bat under overcast skies.
Openers Jordon Kelly and Hammad Amin started brightly, looking to set a solid foundation. However, Kelly (28) fell victim to Whalley’s spinner, charging down the wicket only to be deceived by turn and stumped - 28-1. Heshan Dhanushka joined Amin at the crease, and the pair steadied the innings before disaster struck again - Dhanushka was dismissed in identical fashion, stumped off the spinner.
The Wanderers’ troubles deepened when Waqar Rafique was trapped LBW by Whalley’s professional, leaving the score at 45-3. Just as Mack Spencer and Amin began rebuilding, rain interrupted play, forcing a lengthy delay. Upon resumption, the match was reduced to 26 overs. Spencer (14) fell soon after, caught behind - 71-4. Amin, displaying admirable patience, anchored the innings and brought up a crucial half-century (55), forming a key partnership with Abrar Hussain. However, a miscommunication led to Amin being run out at 112-5. With overs running out, skipper Bilal Ahmed joined Abrar, who struck a couple of boundaries in the final over to lift Ribblesdale to 117-5 - a competitive total given the conditions.
After lengthy deliberations, the umpires set Whalley a revised target of 128 in 26 overs. The Wanderers struck immediately - Jordan Britcliffe uprooting the opener’s stumps with the first ball of the innings! Whalley recovered cautiously before Heshan Dhanushka struck, removing the No. 3 with a sharp catch by Hammad Amin (38-2). The game’s turning point came when Whalley’s professional arrived at the crease, and despite tight bowling, he began building a dangerous partnership. Britcliffe struck again, with Heshan taking a spectacular catch to dismiss the other opener (53-3).
The Whalley skipper joined their pro, but Britcliffe delivered once more, clean bowling the skipper (82-4). With tension mounting, the Whalley pro brought up a classy fifty, including a towering six over mid-wicket. But two balls later, he went for the same shot - only to sky it, where Jordon Kelly held a stunning catch (109-5). The game swung again as Whalley’s lower order scrambled for runs. Britcliffe claimed his fourth wicket, and with 6 needed off the final over, the drama peaked. Michael Worthy struck, leaving Whalley needing 4 off 2 balls. Then, controversy struck Mack Spencer attempting a run out, the ball deflected off the batsman, and a desperate third run led to heated discussions between the umpires. The run stood, tying the scores. Off the last ball, Whalley squeezed a single, clinching a 3-wicket win in the most dramatic fashion.
Ribblesdale Wanderers were left devastated, having fought tooth and nail only to fall just short. Jordan Britcliffe’s four-wicket haul and Hammad Amin’s gritty fifty were standout performances. With only 3 points taken from the game, the Wanderers must regroup quickly. The fight and spirit shown bode well, but fine margins will define their season. The title race remains wide open - and Ribblesdale will be eager to bounce back stronger.
