The weekend saw mixed results for the Rishton teams.
On Saturday both the 1stXI and 2nd XI were playing their re-arranged Cup fixtures against Rochdale CC.
Rishton’s 2ndXI where at Rochdale for the re-arranged Junior Cup tie. Batting first Rishton amassed a score of 197 for 6 from their 50 overs, with Stuart Roberts (45) and Aaron Greaves (44) putting on 76 runs at the end of the innings. However thanks to an unbeaten 86 from Kabir Ahmed and 33 from Steven Oddy, Rochdale made 198 for 5 from 39.4 overs to win by 5 wickets.
It was a different story back at Blackburn Road however, where the 1stXI were playing their re-arranged Worsley Cup tie against Rochdale’s 1st team. Winning the toss and electing to bat, Rishton made a shaky start with opener Richard Fox (5) and pro Kieren Grimshaw (1) both given out lbw, leaving Rishton at 11 for 2. However a third wicket stand of 97 by opener Sam Molloy (36) and Brad Boddie settled things for the home team and with Boddie going on to score 65 (his highest Worsley Cup score to date). Valuable runs from Shaun Hutchinson (21) and Ali Sartaj (16) helped Rishton to a score of 179 for 7 from their 50 overs, with many spectators feeling they may have been 20 runs short of what may be needed.
Top scorer Brad Boddie.
The home crowd soon became excited when Rochdale opener Jack Duffy was dismissed for a duck before a run had been scored, quickly followed by fellow opener Haroon Kashmiri (1) and pro Morne Venter (0), leaving Rochdale on 10 for 3. Harry Butterworth (68) along with Ali Muzaffar (18), Michael Harling (33) and Oliver Makin (11) found runs hard to come by against some really accurate bowling, leaving Rochdale on 154 for 9 at the end of their 50 overs, 25 runs short of what they needed to win.
All Rishton’s bowlers did well, but the damage was really done by pro Kieren Grimshaw taking 6 for 37 from 10 overs, ably supported by Ali Sartaj (1 for 17 off 10 overs) and Brad Boddie (2 for 16 off 10 overs) to add to his 65 runs with the bat in a Man of the Match performance.
Rishton have now been drawn to play East Lancs away at Alexandra Meadows in the second round on Saturday 25th May.
Also playing on Saturday was the 3rdXI, away to Todmorden. Todmorden won the toss and elected to bat and in their 40 overs went on to score 244 for 6. In reply Rishton, with a number of very young players in the team, struggled to score runs and finished on 99 for 8 from their 40 overs.
On Sunday both the 1st and 2ndXI’s returned to league matches. The 2nd’s were away at Rochdale again, while the 1st’s were at home to Ramsbottom CC, who were relegated from the top division last season.
Over in Rochdale the 2nd’s batted first and from the off struggled for runs, with only Miya Lunat (32) and Harvey Leathert (24) reaching double figures. In the end Rishton were bowled out for 95 in 27.5 overs. In reply Rochdale’s openers Zeshan Anwar (27) and Andrew Harrison (60) knocked off the required runs in just 13 overs.
Back at Blackburn Road, Rishton won the toss and elected to bat. Their were visions of Deja Vu when opener Richard Fox was dismissed for 1 with the score on 8. However fellow opener Sam Molloy and pro Kieren Grimshaw put on 97 runs before Molloy was out for 29. “Grimmy” went on to score 72 off 105 balls including 8 fours. Brad Boddie scored 21, and Rishton were eventually bowled out for 148 off 48 overs.
Sam Molloy Kieren Grimshaw
Rishton mad a good start with the ball with Ali Sartaj getting the wicket of Tom Parton (1) with the score on 6, then fellow opener JJ Fielding (14) with the score on 26. Ben Pearson top scored for Ramsbottom with 60 not out, but only captain Harry Caton was the only other player to reach double figures. Rishton went on to win by 43 runs.
It was a good bowling performance all round with Sartaj taking 3 for 33 from 15 overs, Boddie 3 for 25 off 9, Grimshaw 2 for 24 off 8.5 and young Adam Hussain pitching in with 0 for 21 off 5.
Ali Sartaj
Also playing on Sunday morning were the Rishton ladies who beat Ribblesdale Wanderers in Clitheroe.
Rishton Ladies