SALESBURY Cricket Club’s captain is hoping his side can pick up from where they left off at the end of last summer.

Steve Brown’s Red Caps won their last eight games to seal promotion from Section B to Section A of the Ribblesdale League for 2019.

It is that kind of momentum that the skipper wants to see his men keep up at the start of the new campaign.

The Ribchester Road club have gone about it in the right way, starting life in the top tier with a three-wicket win over Read on the opening day last Saturday.

“I spoke before Saturday about taking how we finished last season into this season,” said Brown, who ended the day unbeaten on 25.

“We were something like 14 unbeaten.

“We did that though, batted well, bowled well and played some good stuff.

“It was only the first game of the season but we’ve started slowly over the last couple of seasons.

“We had a good winter, training well for six weeks and then being outside for two or three weeks as well.

“We got a friendly in as well which always helps.

“Our preparation was good.”

Game two of the new campaign sees Brown’s charges welcome 2018 champions Oswaldtwistle Immanuel this Saturday with that a good barometer of how they will fare in Section A.

“I don’t want to really make any predictions about what we’re going to do,” he said.

“I just want to compete in every game and play some good cricket.

“We’ve got a youngish side who have been helped by a couple of experienced players coming back.

“It’s a tough start with Read and Ossie.

“Hopefully the weather will hold and we can get the game on this weekend.

“We had a tight game with them in the cup last year which we won.

“But we know they’re a good side with some good experienced players.”

The Red Caps are again able to call on the services of Sri Lankan professional Hashen Ramanayake this summer, the 24-year-old having played representative cricket for his country.

After more than 1,000 runs and 58 wickets last season his return is a welcome one but Brown insists it will be a team effort as they look to prove they belong in Section A.

That fact was underlined against Read, the paid man taking two wickets and making just 10 with the bat.

Josh Bristol was the pick of the bowlers with 4-51 while Joe Rawlinson top scored with 61.

“It’s always good to have that continuity with the pro,” said Brown.

“When they’ve done well you always try and do everything to get them back and thankfully we’ve been able to do that.

“You don’t have to start again and you know what you’re going to get from your pro.

“I think that’s maybe why we started a bit slowly last year as he was settling in. But now we know what he’s good at and he knows what we’re good at.

“All the amateur players chip in though, it’s not just about him like it might be with some other clubs where they rely on one player.

“It happened on Saturday. He didn’t get many runs but the amateur players pulled it out.”

Saturday’s fixtures: Brinscall v Feniscowles, Cherry Tree v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Earby v Barnoldswick, Euxton v Baxenden, Padiham v Read, Salesbury v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Whalley v Settle