RIBBLESDALE Wanderers pro Ryan Canning has been backed to challenge the Ribblesdale League’s runs record this year after taking his average for the season to more than 100.

South African Canning recorded his fourth unbeaten century in only 12 league matches this season as Ribblesdale Wanderers recovered from 38 for 5 to claim a four-wicket win over Earby at the weekend.

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It took his Ribblesdale League average for 2015 to a remarkable 106.29 and he is comfortably the league’s leading runs scorer with 744. Whalley’s Hiken Shah is next in the list with 653.

Canning still has some way to go to reach the Ribblesdale League record of 1,655 runs set by Earby’s Ali Azmat in 2006, but Ribblesdale Wanderers captain Ian Britcliffe thinks he could go close.

“He’s been incredible,” Britcliffe said. “We went after a batsman this year to help us get out of Section B and he’s repaid us tenfold.

“It wasn’t looking good for us after tea against Earby when we were 38 for 5 chasing 230, but he had other ideas.

“He’s scored 950 runs in all competitions, 744 in the league and he’s made four centuries, all unbeaten.

“We had a pro here 10 years ago from Pakistan, Shahid Nawaz, who scored 1,600 runs and then Ali Azmat broke the record for Earby, but there’s a chance Ryan could beat that record.

“He really knows how to build an innings. He’s not a flash in the pan, crash it about merchant.”

Ben Dougall was Ribblesdale Wanderers’ professional in 2013 and 2014.

Britcliffe said: “We had a lad from South Australia in the last couple of years but with all respect to him, he was a very talented player but he was more of a good Australian amateur really, this guy is a professional.

“He’s made 5,000 runs for Cape Cobras back in South Africa and he’s just into his 30s, whereas Ben was 20 or 21.

“Ryan’s great in the dressing room, a great player and a great person to have around.”

Ribblesdale Wanderers currently sit fourth in Section B but Britcliffe believes they can climb back into Section A this year.

“We had a barren spell where we lost four on the bounce but we’ve won back to back games now,” the skipper said.

“We’re 14 or 15 points behind Euxton, who are top, but we are only half a dozen behind Padiham, who are second.

“There are an odd number of teams in the league so one team doesn’t play each week, and we’ve had our week off whereas others haven’t, so there’s a chance to catch up.”