Ribblesdale Cricket League
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Cricketers shiver into action for start of the new season
The 2008 season began on Saturday with cricketers in the Ribblesdale, Airedale and Wharfedale and Craven Leagues donning their warmest clothing to counteract the bitterly cold temperatures.
Ribblesdale League side Earby were at Baxenden, which is already one of the coldest places to play in the Ribblesdale League.
Earby captain Stephen Hipgrave said: "It was like Antarctica. It was freezing. I've never been so cold playing cricket and I've been playing for 30 years!"
Barnoldswick captain Michael Scothern also confirmed it was very, very cold in their home match against Blackburn Northern.
"There was only one game I've played when it was colder and that was at Fleetwood several years ago. But Saturday was pretty close to that. Everybody had plenty of layers on."
Scothern said the Victory Park wicket played surprisingly well considering the amount of rain that has fallen.
He said it played slow and added that when they batted first he thought that reaching a total of 130 could be easily defended.
The Barlick batsman actually did a little better and scored 140 all out. Scothern top scored with 33 and John Pickup chipped with 24.
The club's new pro, Australian Clinton Peake, had a knock of 18 before Blackburn's wicketkeeper made an excellent catch down leg side.
But it was with the ball that Barlick did the damage, as they bowled Blackburn out for 124. New recruit Zahid Iqbal took five for 36 in 12 overs and Peake, a slow left arm spinner, took four for 19 in 12.5 overs.
Scothern said: "Clinton looks good with the bat being a slow left arm spinner, he's going to cause people some problems in league cricket."
Earby struggled without their professional Ali Azmat, who is having problems obtaining a visa in Pakistan.
| “It was like Antarctica. It was freezing. I’ve never been so cold playing cricket and I’ve been playing for 30 years!” | | Earby captain Stephen Hipgrave |
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Azmat has played the last two season's for Earby and has been a prolific run scorer.
Hipgrave said Azmat's application is "on file" and the club is hoping the situation will be resolved soon.
Raja Arshad was the substitute professional at Baxenden on Saturday but failed to make a meaningful contribution, scoring just one run and taking no wickets in eight overs.
Baxenden cruised to a total of 207 for five as opener David Parkinson made 110 off 126 balls. Mark Rishton made 53. Young Adam Yates took three for 37 for Earby.
Earby had a weak reply with the bat, scoring just 107 before being bowled. Only wicketkeeper David Watson batted well. He made 41 and hit seven fours. No-one else reached double figures in runs.
Settle's first team were outplayed at the Marshfield by Whalley
Settle put the visitors in to bat and had the openers pinned down on a wet track with especially economical bowling from Paul Ridgway who conceded only nine off seven overs.
David Morrell and new pro Bret Silvey removed the opening pair but this brought Neil Cordingley and Whalley's sub pro Ashar Zaidi to the wicket.
A partnership of 134, peppered with sixes and fours, left the Settle attack struggling, though Jeff Ellis was the pick of the bowlers and Morrell finally removed Zaidi.
A total of 215-3 was 50 or 60 more than Settle would have wanted to chase and it was unfortunate that Ellis was controversially given out before a run was scored.
This was followed by an unlucky dismissal for Silvey when the ball fell onto the wicket from his pads.
Ridgway, back from his sojourn with Otley in the Airedale and Wharfedale League, had support from Mark Verden and they made the greatest contributions as wickets fell around them.
With no player able to produce the big score needed, Settle were facing a monumental run-rate and had to leave the last pair to bat out the overs and deny Whalley the bonus points. The close on 102 for nine.
Settle chairman Malcolm Dodgson was grateful to the spectators who braved a bitter wind in support of their team and was only sorry that the result will have disappointed them.
He said: "We have no complaints. On the day Whalley played the better cricket getting an excellent performance from their sub pro.
"As for Settle, no-one can deny the great effort made over winter in the nets but we now have to convert this into performances on the field if we are to make a serious impact in the league.
"We have a double header coming up this weekend with several of the young players being available for the first time so this is a chance to put things right.
"For various reasons we have lost three experienced players this year and are looking to our young guys, who have been around the first team for some time, to turn potential into runs and wickets.
"The time has come to prove they are now ready to step up to the mark."
In this weekends games Settle travel to Read on Saturday and then host Oswaltwistle Immanuel on Sunday.
Earby play hosts to Cherry Tree at Applegarth on Saturday before visiting Ribblesdale Wanderers on Sunday.
Barlick are at Clitheroe on Saturday and then are set to play at home to Edenfield on Sunday.
2:49pm Thursday 24th April 2008
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