RIBBLESDALE Wanderers had a bank holiday weekend to remember after a double trophy triumph.
After the club’s second team lifted the Lawrenson Cup on Sunday, the firsts came out on top at the end of a dramatic T20 finals day that ended in darkness on Monday.
After winning their semi-finals against Earby and hosts Barnoldswick respectively, Wanderers beat Settle by just one run in a remarkable final that stretched into the evening.
Ribblesdale had won the toss and elected to bat first in the finals day decider.
They lost openers Ryshon Williams (5) and Mack Spencer (14) early and at 63-4 after 11 overs looked in trouble.
At this point Gary Barker joined Andrew Needham and they put on 68 for the fifth wicket.
Barker, in the support role giving Needham the strike, was eventually out for 15. Needham provided the innings with the required acceleration ending on 87 not out from 58 deliveries including 12 fours and two sixes.
A total of 147-6 always looking challenging with the light likely to be a factor. Harry Snowden was the pick of the bowlers taking 2-22 off his four overs.
Settle got off to the worst possible start when opener Alex Gould was run out off the first ball of the reply from a direct hit from Bilal Ahmed.
The double winners, going in search of a third trophy, then lost their other opener Will Davidson for eight with 16 on the board.
The remainder of the innings was dominated by man of the match Ashen Silva as he tried to single-handedly to win the game for Settle, in the fading light, as wickets continued to fall at the other end. He made 84 off 58 deliveries hitting 12 fours and two sixes in an almost mirror performance of Needham in the Ribblesdale innings.
Silva was caught and bowled off the final delivery of the 19th over to leave Settle with two still needed to win with the last pair at the wicket.
Settle needed two runs as in a tie they would have lost on losing more wickets.
Ian Britcliffe bowled the final over with all the field brought in to prevent a single. The tension grew with each delivery as the batsman either hit a fielder or missed the ball. The final ball of the game was missed by the batsman and as they were unable to complete the run Settle ended on 146 all out to give Ribblesdale the most dramatic of victories.
The Lawrenson Cup Final which was rained off the previous weekend took place on Sunday at Earby.
Wanderers batted first and posted a total of 175-9 off their 40 overs.
In reply, Earby were bowled out for 118 to give Ribblesdale victory by 57 runs.
Things could get even better for Ribblesdale after a triumphant weekend, the second team looking to add promotion to the First Division to the cup as they are involved in a battle for promotion and the championship with two weekends to play.
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