Ribblesdale League Saturday round-up: Barlick closing in on crown (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Ribblesdale League Saturday round-up: Barlick closing in on crown

7:57am Monday 20th August 2012 in Barnoldswick Cricket Club

BARNOLDSWICK took another giant step towards the Houldsworth Solicitors Ribblesdale League crown as they brushed aside Great Harwood on Saturday to move closer to glory.

Read are Barlick’s only real challengers now – but a double header that turned into the single variety thanks to yesterday’s rain has left Matt Nutter’s men closing in.

The sun did shine on Saturday and Mansoor Amjad did a number on the hopes of Baxenenden as Settle claimed a thumping win.

Amjad hit a fine century and received good back up from team-mates Tom Davidson and Edward Read as Settle gained revenge on Baxenden for their Ramsbottom Cup semi-final defeat.

The Pakistani pro faced 119 balls and plundered nine fours and four sixes as he made 108 not out and Davidson’s six-laden 54 helped Settle pile up 228-3 at Back Lane before Read 6-25 as Baxenden were rolled out for just 70 in the 14th over of their reply.

That loss dented Baxenden’s hopes of the title – and of overhauling second-placed Read, who went run-crazy in their Whalley Road clash with Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

Mohammed Jamal passed the 1,000 run mark in all competitions as he smashed 102 from just 73 balls, while skipper Kyle O’Connor was also anything but shabby as he clattered 87 at the top of the order as Read posted 301-8.

Gerard Metcalf (5-74) and Andrew Metcalf (3-54) made sure wicket-taking was a family affair.

Immanuel needed a good start to their reply – but they slipped to 38-5 and were eventually 104 all out with Read professional Jordan Clark returning his career best bowling figures of 8-53.

Barnoldswick recovered from last week’s loss at Clitheroe with a convincing win over Great Harwood at The Cliffe.

Imran Khalid claimed 7-30 as Harwood were bowled out for 85 before the leaders cantered home with eight wickets in hand to step closer to glory.

Clitheroe kept up their top three chase as they beat Edenfield at Gincroft Lane, while Liam Jackson claimed 6-29 as Cherry Tree thumped Padiham.

Jackson’s efforts saw Padiham skittled for just 64 and that was no threat to Tree, who cantered home with seven wickets in hand.

Professional Michael Erlank made 89 and Dave Howard then claimed 7-60 as Ribblesdale Wanderers enjoyed a good win at Salesbury. Erlank’s runs helped Wanderers up to 182-9 with the Red Caps slipping to 138 all out.

Shock of the day came at Station Road as rock-bottom Earby stunned the league’s form side, Whalley.

Whalley boasted a five-match winning streak going into the game and seemed confident of making it six on the spin after posting 211-8.

Earby looked to be doomed at 34-3 after losing early wickets but Danny Kegg made 68 not out and skipper Pete Baistow also hit 68 in a 125-run stand for the fifth wicket before the latter was stumped with four balls left and four runs needed.

But Ryan Sumner joined Kegg and the pair delivered the glory as the Applegarth outfit got home by five wickets on the final ball of the game.

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