PADIHAM pace ace Joe Grant today blamed the wind for his controversial beamer barrage.

The Jamaican ace was ordered out of the bowling attack during his side's game against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

Grant was cautioned by umpire David Pilkington for delivering a beamer then given a final warning when he repeated the dose a few overs later.

And he was ordered to be removed from the Padiham bowling line-up for his third beamer, this time to Oswaldtwistle captain Martin Heyes.

But Grant maintains that it was not his intention to bowl beamers against amateur batsmen.

"At that ground (New Lane), when you're bowling from the Road End, there's always a heavy breeze," he indicated.

"And it's a downhill run to the wicket.

"The breeze pushes you down the hill and when you're trying to bowl a yorker it turns into a full toss.

"I certainly didn't intend to bowl beamers to anybody."

Oswaldtwistle professional Peter Gardiner was reportedly angry about Grant's tactics and questioned the effect of the wind on the ball. But Grant offered a more feasible explanation for his erratic bowling.

"It's been a bit frustrating this season for me," he admitted.

"The wickets are wet and slow and I can't get anything out of them.

"The grounds are very small and slippery.

"Also, we've lost six games straight and it's difficult to get yourself out of a losing run."

He also accepted the decision of umpire David Pilkington to have him removed from Padiham's attack even though he questioned the number of beamers he bowled.

"The umpire stopped me from bowling," recalled Grant.

"He said I bowled three balls at shoulder height.

"I didn't believe it. I recall that there was two. The first wasn't far from waist high.

"The batsman bent down so low that if the ball hadn't hit him it would have clean bowled the stumps.

"I was disappointed when they stopped me from bowling.

"But the umpire makes his decision and I stand by that."

The matter was not discussed at last night's scheduled meeting of the Ribblesdale League.

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