In a crucial North West Cricket League Championship clash, Ribblesdale Wanderers traveled to Back Lane to face Baxenden, determined to bounce back after last week's defeat. With promotion hopes on the line, the Wanderers needed a strong performance.
Winning the toss, Ribblesdale elected to field first, and the decision paid off immediately. Jordan Britcliffe struck early, removing one of the openers before trapping Baxenden’s number three LBW with the very next ball - leaving the hosts reeling at 3-2. Baxenden’s professional looked to steady the ship, but sub-pro Ockert Erasmus made the crucial breakthrough, dismissing him LBW for 24-3.
Despite a resilient partnership forming, skipper Bilal Ahmed turned to Ian Britcliffe, who wreaked havoc on the Baxenden middle order. Ian’s spell was nothing short of sensational—claiming five wickets, including a stunning one-handed caught-and-bowled and a clean-bowled dismissal. Baxenden crumbled from 88-4 to 112-7, struggling to cope with his away swingers.
Even a late counterattack from their lower order couldn’t derail the Wanderers' dominance, as Waqar Rafique and Ian wrapped up the innings, restricting Baxenden to 202-9 from their 45 overs. Ian Britcliffe was the standout bowler, finishing with 5-44 from 12 overs - a match-defining performance.
Chasing 203, Ribblesdale openers Jordon Kelly and Hammad Amin came out swinging from the first ball. The duo raced to a 50-run partnership in no time, with Hammad smashing 10 fours in a blistering 46 off 49 balls before nicking off. With Waqar Rafique joining Kelly at the crease, the assault only intensified. Kelly, in sublime touch, launched a six to bring up his maiden century for the club, celebrating in style with the iconic double cobra pose. The pair made light work of the target, with Kelly finishing unbeaten on 122* (81 balls, 13 fours, 9 sixes) and Rafique providing solid support with 25*.
The Wanderers sealed a thumping 9-wicket victory in just 27.2 overs, sending a strong message to the rest of the league. This commanding win keeps Ribblesdale Wanderers firmly at the top of the NWCL Championship, strengthening their bid for promotion back to the Premiership. With contributions from both bat and ball, the team showcased their depth and determination - setting the stage for an exciting run-in.
