Settle pro unable to stem flow of crushing defeats (From Craven Herald)

Settle pro unable to stem flow of crushing defeats

12:10pm Thursday 25th June 2009 in

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Settle first team have had very few close encounters this season, their results being mainly overwhelming victories or crushing defeats.

Last Saturday’s home match against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel unfortunately came into the latter category with the Marshfield men succumbing by ten wickets.

They started well enough with openers Dickon Morris (18) and Andrew McCracken (26) putting on a stand of 45, and professional Brent Findlay had another sound innings, his knock of 41 pushing his season’s total beyond the 400 mark in all competitions.

Matthew Wildman (23) and Shaun Airey (15) stuck around, but with their departure the innings fell away and closed on 143 all out.

This has been a winning total before now, but Oswaldtwistle’s openers saw off the Settle bowling without loss, claiming victory after 36 overs. Findlay only conceded 24 runs from 11 overs, and John Tarbox, as ever, was hard to get away with an analysis of nine overs for 14 runs, but the other bowlers did not trouble the batsmen.

Settle have had these experiences before and have usually bounced back, but they will have to fight hard at Baxenden on Saturday as the league leaders have won all 11 games this season.

Settle seconds recorded their first win of the season, in some style, at Oswaldtwistle. Things started badly for the visitors with both openers clean bowled with seven runs on the board.

However, Chapman steadied the ship with a patient 13, followed by excellent consolidation from John Marshall (30), Robert Hutchinson (41) and 43 from skipper Nick Cook. David Shepherd stole the show by hitting a blistering 64 from 28 deliveries in an innings which included three sixes and nine fours. Settle finished comfortably on 213-9 and the hosts never looked like challenging that total.

They were all out for 138, with Hutchinson (3-34) and Laurence Read (2-29) bowling very well, but it was under-15 player Damon Barrett who took the honours with 4-29 from his 12 overs.

Barrett’s left-arm pace has surprised several senior batsmen this year with its speed and accuracy, and his natural uncomplicated action shows great promise for future achievement at a higher level.

Settle third team were sadly unable to honour their fixture at Oswaldtwistle on Sunday because of lack of transport.

Earby came out on top in their local derby treble last weekend - but it was Barnoldswick who claimed first blood.

The Victory Park side secured victory in the Twenty/20 clash on Friday as the home side’s bowlers took the upper hand. Earby were in deep trouble as they struggled to 63-7 before captain Stephen Hipgrave and Nigel Hodge forged a 40-run partnership that gave the score a degree of respectability.

The final total of 110-8 off their 20 overs was always going to be difficult to defend, but the home side did not have it all their own way.

Paul Beech produced a one-man show, scoring 62 not out as he saw the home side to victory with an over to spare, Matt Nutter (11) was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

Despite the defeat Earby are still top of their group in the Twenty/20 competition and take on Settle tomorrow (Friday) at the Marshfield.

Earby hit back with victory in the league, thanks to an impressive half-century from Richard Craddock - despite suffering a pulled hamstring. He batted for most of the innings using a runner, but together with Nigel Hodge (41) and Jonny Martin (16no) managed to push the home side total to 200.

Matt Nutter (16) and Luke Hodgson (36) started well for Barnoldswick, but failed to keep up with the required run rate. Sub-professional Riaz Khalil added 51, but the rest of the team could not cope with the spin bowling of Earby professional Ali Azmat who picked up five wickets to secure a 53-run win for the home side.

With one victory each there was everything to play for when the teams met again for the third time on Sunday, in the second round of the Ramsbottom Cup.

Openers Aron Pollard and Matt Haines got Earby off to a flying start, scoring 112 for the first wicket, but both were dismissed by Michael Scothern after reaching the half-century mark.

After Azmat perished for 16 the run rate slowed dramatically before a late flourish from Martin (23) and Hipgrave (13) saw Earby set a target of 226.

Former Earby professional, Mohammad Ayub, was sub-pro for Barnoldswick and while he was at the wicket the visitors looked favourites to take the honours. Craddock, heavily strapped following his injury the previous day, took a vital catch to dismiss Nutter and Hipgrave celebrated wildly after trapping Ayub lbw after he had completed his century.

Hipgrave went on to pick up five wickets as his side moved into the semi-finals where they will visit Baxenden on July 5.

Ghyll beat Brinscall by nine wickets after dismissing them for 98. A superb 67no from Shahid Nawaz saw them to victory after Talat Darr had been caught for 15. Nawaz hit 4 sixes and 6 fours and was accompanied by opener John Agar (13no) as victory was reached.

Barnoldswick seconds had a two wicket win over Earby who made 139-9, Daniel Helliwell top scoring with 35. Richard Bedford took 3-22 and Josh Butler 3-37. Nathan Taylforth with 49 top scored as victory was gained, John Hall adding 38.