It is not very often the fixture list throws up three games over the weekend with the same two teams involved but Farnworth and Farnworth Social Circle met in three different competitions - T20, League and Hamer Cup.

Two of the matches were very close where both came down to either the last over or last batter. In Friday night’s T20, FSC were all out for 147 and in the chase, it came down to the last over where 11 runs were needed and two wickets left. Two runs were needed off the last ball to reach the 148 target to win and in the mad dash to get those two runs a batter was run out. Scores were now level. There was talk of a tie, or a super over. A super over has been agreed for the Hamer, Ramsbottom and Lawrenson Cups but not the Birtwistle Cup matches. If scores are level, then they look at the number of wickets lost. As FSC were all out, Farnworth were therefore declared the winners with only losing nine wickets.

In the league on Saturday, and this time Farnworth were chasing 193, and appeared to be coasting home. However, cricket is a funny game and a couple of quick wickets can change things immediately. They say catches win matches and that was certainly the case in this game as FSC bowlers took a couple of great return catches, not to mention some good outfield catches, and Farnworth ended up all out for 191, two runs short There were certainly some nailbiting moments which kept everyone enthralled.

Sundays Hamer Cup contest between the two will be remembered for the big hitting of Farnworth players when 12 sixes were the order of the day, taking Farnworth to a total of 247 off their 40 overs. In reply, FSC needed 10 off each of the last eight overs, which was still doable until two quick wickets changed the game and they could only muster 188.

These were three very entertaining games to watch and ones that held spectators interests right to the end, so well done to both teams.