Barnoldswick suffer first defeat of season (From Craven Herald)

Barnoldswick suffer first defeat of season

11:27pm Friday 17th August 2012 in Cricket

Leaders Barnoldswick suffered their first defeat of the season to offer a glimmer of hope to their title rivals as Settle opener Aneeq Hassan celebrated his first century for the club.

Chasers Read and Baxenden both took advantage of Barnoldswick’s slip up, but the leaders are 26 points ahead with five games to go.

After an 18-match game unbeaten run, Barnoldswick were edged out in a tight finish at Clitheroe.

Batting first, the table topping visitors reached 175-5 but couldn’t shift Josh McDowell when Clitheroe batted.

McDowell was still there, unbeaten on 98, when the game was won, with one wicket remaining, in the penultimate over.

It was a sweet moment for Settle opener Aneeq Hassan as the Marshfield crowd rose to acclaim his ton.

The dashing right-hander marked this milestone against Cherry Tree, the club he had started with as a junior but where he had not fulfiled his potential.

His unbeaten 107 was the cornerstone of a thumping total of 241-7 which the visitors never looked liked matching.

Settle elected to bat with a fine day and the fast outfield aided run scoring.

Hassan’s opening partnership with Robbie Davidson (11) was worth 76.

Pro Mansoor Amjad made 20 before falling to a freak catch in the covers.