in double-header

TABLE

CLUBS enjoyed the highs and lows of cricket on a double-header weekend in the Veka Ribblesdale League.

Barnoldswick scored 262 without losing a wicket as they beat Cherry Tree on Saturday, and on Sunday Whalley were dismissed for just 22 by Clitheroe.

Sri Lankan professional Jeevantha Kulatunga scored 166 not out in an outstanding innings for Barnoldswick and was backed up by opening partner Ian Scothern with 81 not out in an unbeaten opening partnership. Nigel Robbins scored a half century as Cherry Tree held out with nine wicket down to deny the Victory Park club maximum points.

Ribblesdale Wanderers set a target of 209-6 with Shahid Nawaz (55), Martin Briggs (50) and David Howard (53no), but Read pulled off a six-wicket victory with Craig Walton (52) and sub professional T Canning, from Accrington, adding 64.

Settle picked up five points after setting Great Harwood a target of 214-6. Harwood held out on 153-9 to deny the Dales side maximum points.

Padiham raced to 241-4 with Umar Siddique 67 not out, Mick Hawke (50) and Ryan Howarth (68) which proved too much for Earby despite 60 from professional Mohammed Ayub and 53 not out from Ian Clarkson.

Oswaldtwistle scored 133 and had Gerard Metcalfe to thank as he took 7-43 to dismiss Blackburn Northern for 116.

Whalley struggled to 90-8 with Bill Slinger picking up five wickets and Andrew Webb scored 63 not out as Edenfield picked up a nine-wicket win.

Baxenden took the honours in a close game at Clitheroe after scoring 174-8 with professional Jonathan Harvey making 51. Mark Bolton led Clitheroe 5/8s reply with 56, but they fell13 runs short.

On Sunday Whalley crashed to 22 all out in their derby clash with Clitheroe. Simon Bishop taking eight wickets for eight runs. Clitheroe lost just one wicket securing victory.

Read had stand-in professional Mohammed Habid to thank for their three-wicket win over Baxenden. The Sheffield League all-rounder picked up 6-27 and scored 65 while Baxenden professional Jonathan Harvey scored 86 as his side reached 166.

Earby professional Mohammed Ayub also hit top form, scoring 150 not out as the Applegarth club reached 239-1 at Ribblesdale. Ayub then took 4-33 as Wanderers were restricted to 164-7.

Settle slipped two more points behind in the chase at the top of the table despite beating Edenfield. by eight wickets.

Nigel Robbins took 6-39 as Cherry Tree dismissed Padiham for 111 and went on to secure a six-wicket win.

Barnoldswick captain John Pickup took 5-27 but could not stop Oswaldtwistle taking a four-run win. Immanuel; scored 139-8 and Barnoldswick reached 135-9 in reply.

Aussie professional Andrew Crook hit top form for Great Harwood, scoring 115 as they raced to 221. He then took 6-18 as Blackburn Northern were dismissed for 106.

Scores (Saturday): Cherry Tree 147-9 (0) Barnoldswick 262-0 (5); Clitheroe 161-9 (0) Baxenden 174-8 (5); Oswaldtwistle 133 (7) Blackburn Northern 116 (2); Padiham 241-4 (7) Earby 204 (0); Read 210-4 (5) Ribblesdale Wanderers 209-6 (0); Settle 214-6 (5) Great Harwood 153-9 (0); Whalley 90-8 (0) Edenfield 94-1 (5).

Sunday: Blackburn Northern 105 (2) Great Harwood 221 (7); Oswaldtwistle Immanuel 139-8 (5) Barnoldswick 135-9 (0); Padiham 111 (0); Cherry Tree 114-4 (7); Read 167-7 (7) Baxenden 166 (0); Ribblesdale Wanderers 164-7 (0) Earby 239-1 (5); Settle 145-2 (5) Edenfield 143-7 (0); Whalley 22 (0) Clitheroe 23-1 (7).

SENIOR LEAGUE

P W L T Nr Bp Pts

Read... 19 17 2 0 0 24 109

Settle... 19 17 1 0 1 18 105

Gt Harwood... 19 11 8 0 0 16 71

Barnoldwick... 19 10 6 0 2 10 64

Earby... 19 10 9 0 0 14 64

Ribb Wdrs... 19 10 7 0 1 10 64

*Cherry Tr... 19 11 8 0 0 8 58

Oswaldtwistle... 129 6 11 0 0 14 54

*Clitheroe... 19 9 9 0 1 12 52

Blackburn N... 19 6 11 0 2 12 50

Baxenden... 19 7 12 0 0 6 41

Padiham... 19 4 12 0 1 8 35

Edenfield... 19 4 13 0 2 2 26

Whalley... 19 3 16 0 0 6 21

*7 pts deducted