TODMORDEN’S victory over Rawtenstall in their season opener owed much to a superb century from Yasim Murtaza as they secured a 29-run win, but 12 hours before kick off Murtaza had no idea he would be making his debut for the Centre Vale outfit.

Andrew Sutcliffe’s men had initially signed Francois Haasbroek as their professional after losing Pakistan star Bilwali Bhatti to Pakistan A.

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But just 24 hours before the season the league deemed South African Haasbroek’s sports visitors visa unsuitable and blocked him from playing.

That left a mad scramble to secure a sub pro with Murtaza eventually answering the call and making the trip from Whitmore Cricket Club in Staffordshire.

“As of 1am on Sunday morning we didn’t have a pro,” said skipper Sutcliffe.

“We used an agent to find us one but it took him a while to find one who was available but then Yas came in and made a brilliant 111.

“It was a bit of a technicality on Francois as he played for Lowerhouse last year on the same visa as a sub pro but the league made their decision.”

That inspired knock from Murtaza is set to be his only Todmorden appearance with Holland World Cup star Timm van der Gugten joining from tomorrow to play the next eight matches until Bhatti returns from international duty.

And Sutcliffe is delighted to have captured the Dutch ace.

He added: “He is 24 years old and is an Australian with a Dutch passport who has opened the bowling in a World Cup.

“He is a fast bowler who will bat in the middle order and hopefully he will be a good signing for us.”

Todmorden’s opening win has left Sutcliffe and his side aiming for an improvement on their ninth and 10th place finish of the last two seasons with the skipper adding: “We have an excellent chance to win three or four of our first five games and that will put us right up there.

“I think there are three sides - Lowerhouse, Ramsbottom and Burnley - who will be in the top three but after that there is any number of sides who can finish fourth and I think we can be towards the top of that group.”