ANDREAS Sudnik is rapidly approaching the stage of his career when the words ‘the veteran’ can be applied before his name – but the 36-year-old proved that he is more than up for his new challenge at Oswaldtwistle Immanual as he turned in a vintage bowling display to beat Padiham on Saturday.

Sudnik decided on a change of scenery over the winter and followed Jon Baldwin from Cherry Tree up New Lane and the early signs are certainly positive for Immanuel.

Defending a testing 185-6, a score that was ground out for 34 overs before an explosive final 11, Sudnik claimed five wickets to send Padiham crashing to a loss.

In the early stages of a game played on a glorious afternoon it appeared that Padiham were very much in the box seat as Immanuel openers Oliver Jones and Ramiz Hussain took patience to new levels as they found runs difficult to come by on a tough track.

Even at this early stage, there was a glint in Sudnik’s eye. If he could roll that sort of green and slow wicket up and carry it around he would be a 120-wicket a season man.

Jones and Hussain shared a 99-run stand before the latter was bowled by Duncan Hall for a 102-ball 37.

Jones brought up his half century with a lovely swept six into New Lane off Chris Holt but two balls later he too was on his way back to the pavilion as he chopped the Padiham professional onto his stumps and his 105-ball vigil was ended with his score on 53.

Immanuel needed to go some and Andrew Metcalfe got some impetus as he clattered a rapid 16, while Baldwin made 15.

Overseas amateur Lewis Mildenhall – thanks to some vicious cutting and classy sweeping – soon got into his stride before he was well stumped by Kurt Robinson off Holt.

Gerard Metcalfe – who went in with two balls left – launched Holt into the houses first up and after a last-ball single, Immanuel closed on 185-6 with Hall claiming four wickets.

The late blast was to prove crucial.

Holt had a let off when Andrew Metcalfe put him down before he had scored – and it seemed a critical error when Holt then launched the next three deliveries to the boundary.

But when Holt chased a wide Baldwin ball, Mark Groom held a catch behind the wicket and he was gone for 17.

Kevin Hitchon made 14 before he was Sudnik’s first victim and Robinson came and went to leave Padiham in a spot of bother.

Anthony Hall and skipper Callum Clarke started to repair the damage and the pair batted sensibly until Clarke was stumped by Groom off Gerard Metcalfe’s second ball.

Lee Anderson was unable to bat after hurting a shoulder in the pre-match warm-up and despite fielding through the pain barrier, he was being checked out at hospital as the wickets started to tumble.

Hall (26) was another Sudnik victim as was brother Duncan and Peter Shirtcliffe, while young Reece Meehan was a bright light for Padiham as he made 29 not out and he briefly batted with his dad Steve, who fell to the medium pace of fourth-change bowler Mildenhall and when Ryan Clegg holed out off the Aussie it was game over.

Brooksbottom caused a big upset as the league new boys rocked reigning champions Barnoldswick at Victory Park with a 29-run win, while title favourites Clitheroe hammered Settle at Chatburn Road.

Kashif Saddique hit 106 and Peter Dibb 57 as Clitheroe piled up 260-8 before they ripped the Settle top order apart, reducing them to 11-4.

The Dalesmen were eventually 89 all out.

Edenfield beat Whalley by one wicket in a last-over thriller, while Jon Harvey hit a half century and claimed six wickets as Read easily beat Salesbury.

Mark Rishton hit 80 not out as Baxenden beat Cherry Tree by 47 runs despite Naeem Ashraf’s 77 and five wickets for Kamran Anwar.

Paul Houldsworth carried his bat for 76 and Stuart Maher claimed four cheap wickets as Great Harwood beat league new boys Euxton at Balshaw Park.

On Sunday, Clitheroe made it two wins from two games over the double header weekend as they sent out a statement of intent to the Houldsworth Solicitors Ribblesdale League.

The title favourites followed up their hammering of Settle on Saturday with a 44-run win at Salesbury yesterday with Josh Marquet claiming four wickets.

Settle made light work of new boys Euxton as they won by 100 runs after posting 203-8 at Marshfield.

The league’s other new team Brooksbottom were left kicking their heels as the rain wiped out their game with Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, which was due to be played at Bury.

Cherry Tree’s clash with Edenfield was another to be called off owing to the weather, but Barnoldswick got back to winning ways as they beat Great Harwood by 71 runs at The Cliffe with sub-pro Vishal Tripathi claiming seven wickets.

Elliot Lowes claimed six wickets with the ball as Read edged past Whalley by three wickets at Station Road but the game of the day came at Padiham as the hosts stunned Earby.

The visitors posted 228-8 with pro Fahid Rehman hitting a brilliant 145. Padiham pro Chris Holt claimed seven wickets.

Padiham had to chase a reduced target of 190 – and they just managed to squeeze over the line with Kurt Robinson the hero of the hour for the home side.

The wicketkeeper was on brilliant form with the bat as he made a quite stunning 109 not out to lead his side to a dramatic win.