LAST year’s wooden spoonists Salesbury stunned reigning Ribblesdale League champions Clitheroe as the 2011 season burst into life on a gorgeous day in the Ribble Valley – and the day was a real fairytale for sub-pro Ockert Erasmus.

The South African 22-year-old is paid man at East Lancs this year but was on duty for the Red Caps in the Chatburn Road clash with the champions a mere 48 hours after landing in the country.

Due to a delay with his luggage, the Boland man had no kit so had to borrow whites, boots and a bat but that loaned gear suited him just fine on a UK debut to remember.

Not only did Erasmus use his borrowed bat to great effect, hitting 58 as Salesbury made light of tough conditions, but he then weaved his magic with the ball and recorded the best bowling figures in the history of the Red Caps.

His return of 9-22 from 17 overs was special as the cham-pions were thumped out of sight by a good Salesbury side.

Batting first, Salesbury were going along nicely until James Fletcher hesitated and Chris Bowness threw down the bowler’s end wickets.

Will Cook and James Watson took the score on to 61 before the former was trapped leg before by Farouk Butt for 31 and after making a fine 33, Watson went with the score 87.

That was a test for Salesbury with Erasmus and Peter Blackman in the middle – but their 93-run stand turned the game.

Erasmus took a little look before opening up with a reverse sweep for four off Clitheroe sub-pro Usman Arshad.

He hit seven fours on his way to 58 in just 60 balls, while Blackman hit 43 in 38 balls including one stunning six off his legs and into the houses on the far side of Chatburn Road.

But from 180-3, Salesbury stuttered to 203-9 as too many men tried to score at pace on a tough track and Butt finished with 6-38.

Erasmus opened from the bottom end – and struck with his second ball, a wicked spinner that Josh McDowell did well to get an edge on.

He had already taken his second wicket, that of John Green, before a run was scored off him with the first ball of his fourth over – but by the 10th over Clitheroe were 36-4 and in trouble with Naeem Ashraf back in the dressing room.

Arshad holed out – always a likelihood given his cavalier style – and it was downhill from there.

Jack Houldsworth batted well for 21 but Erasmus kept taking wickets and when Clitheroe were 77-9 and he had the lot, it seemed the magical 10 was on the cards.

But Butt was dogged for 28 and with Andy Hutchings the pair frustrated for almost 10 overs until Butt finally fell, bowled by Ed Foster.

There was disappointment for Erasmus as he missed out on all 10 – but sheer joy for Salesbury.