GREAT Harwood professional Andy Crook is eager to make up for lost time and could not have made a better start as he guided last season's runners-up to a tense opening day win in the Veka Ribblesdale League.

Crook missed much of the Australian season through injury, tendonitis in both knees keeping him out of action since December.

But after posting an unbeaten century on his return to Harwood in a warm-up match, he followed that up with an undefeated 83 as Russell Whalley's men scraped past Baxenden by one wicket in an exciting finish at Back Lane on Saturday.

"It was a disappointing summer for me," said Crook. "But that has given me more of an incentive to come over here and play well. I had been waiting for five months to have a hit and so I had to make the most of it.

"I was pretty happy, especially as it was quite difficult when we were losing wickets, and it was dark and so cold I could hardly grip the bat."

Crook scored over 1,000 runs for the Cliffe Park club LAST summer and picked up where he left off as he saw Harwood home with the help of some solid support from the lower order.

Chris Ramsker, Chris Jackson, Paul Newton, who needed a runner after seizing up with cramp in both calves, and Stuart Maher all spent valuable time with the professional.

And it was Maher who hit the winning boundary over mid-on after adding 30 for the last wicket with Crook.

"At one stage when we around 100-7 we were praying for rain because we were ahead on run-rate," admitted Crook. "But a couple of the guys stayed with me and it was a really good win for us.

"I think for the last three years the club has got off to a bad start and then come home with a bit of a wet sail.

"The start has been the weakness and at one stage on Saturday we were struggling, so to get the win was fantastic and it has given us a boost for the season."

Whalley was delighted to see his side come through such a test, particularly as the leading amateur batsman at the top of the order had missed the boat.

Harwood also fought back well with the ball after losing Gordon Simpson to a calf injury and seeing Baxenden professional Jonathan Harvey and number three Mark Rishton post half-centuries in a total of 172-4.

The home side was restricted to just 25 off their final 10 overs as Harwood kept their target in manageable proportions and Crook is hoping the omens are good for another title challenge.

"We're hoping so," he added. "The way it's looking, Read are very strong. But even the strongest can get knocked off and all it takes is us for us to perform each game, pulling together as a team like we did on Saturday."

Crook's score was bettered in the opening round of fixtures by an unbeaten 148 from Ribblesdale Wanderers professional Shaid Nawaz, who posted his intention for another run-laden campaign.

Wanderers' maximum-points win put them at the top of the table with Cherry Tree and champions Read, who were led from the front by their captains.

Cherry Tree's Andreas Sudnik took 7-52 against Earby, while Warren Eastham followed up an early burst from new professional Danny Law to claim 5-16 in Read's 10-wicket win over Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.