Brindle stars with bat and ball for England (From Craven Herald)

Brindle stars with bat and ball for England

5:17pm Thursday 27th October 2011 in Craven League By Bill Marshall

Former Craven League player Arran Brindle has made a superb start to England's one-day international series in South Africa.

The Barrowford prodigy scored a maiden international century in the first match at Potchefstroom, which England won by 62 runs.

Brindle scored 107 not out off just 96 deliveries, sharing a record unbroken stand of 218 with Lydia Greenway (125no).

Together they hit 27 fours, Brindle hitting 15, and she said afterwards: “It was really nice to get out in the middle and get some runs under my belt.

“It’s a great feeling scoring a hundred at any time but to do it in an international is fantastic. We want to hit our straps every time we get out there.”

England clinched the series at the same venue last Sunday, winning the second match by 96 runs, Brindle being England’s most successful bowler with 2-18. Meanwhile, Little Marsden and Pendle Forest’s third team have been asked by the Mewies Solicitors Craven League to make their intentions clear as to whether they will be playing next season.

The league want an answer from both clubs before the league’s annual meeting in December as the fixtures will be formulated by Christmas.

League secretary Ann Coe reported to the league’s executive meeting late last month that Little Marsden were having difficulty finding members to take responsibility.

For example, she reported that no-one wants to be the captain and they are struggling to find a league representative.

Clubs have proposed their rule alterations to the league ahead of the league’s annual meeting, and Wilsden want the value of a win to be increased from three points to six points and a tie increased from two points to three points.

They also want the introduction of a winning draw, worth five points if the side batting second score less runs but are not bowled out.

If the team batting second scores 75 per cent of the first team’s score and are not bowled out, they will get two points and the victorious side only four points. Abandoned matches will gain each side a point.

Wilsden also want all matches to start at 1.30pm, rather than 2pm for all of the season apart from Sep-tember, when they do start at 1.30pm, and for bowlers to be restricted to a maximum of 12 overs per innings.

Skipton CI want the Wynn Cup to be opened up to second teams if they are good enough to play in Division Two (it is currently only for first teams).

Willis Walkers have announced their prices for cricket balls for 2012. They are £17 for Sovereign, £14.50 for Supreme, £13.50 for Superior and £11 for Invicta.

The league secretary has said that the VAT increase won’t be passed on to the clubs as they hadn’t decreased prices when the VAT rate went down.

Mrs Coe said: “It just means that this season we will have made a good profit on cricket balls and next year there will be very little profit.”

League treasurer Richard Bradley has said that the league will buy ten dozen extra balls for 2012.