Oswaldtwistle Immanuel are optimistic a positive end to the season - and not just at first-team level - can provide the springboard for future progression.

That’s the view of new captain Niall Heyes, the off-spinner who has taken on leadership duties until the end of 2024 at the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Championship club.

At the start of the month, Heyes took over following the departure of Kurt Smithson to Cherry Tree, and he has overseen a tie and two wins.

The latest victory came on Saturday, by 88 runs at home to Barnoldswick as they posted 165-9 and defending it comfortably by bowling their visitors out for just 80. Heyes was one of four bowlers who contributed two wickets, while he was also involved in the run-out of sub-pro, Kieran Grimshaw.

Oswaldtwistle pro Mini Bhada was another who struck twice with his spin following a fine 89 off 94 balls with the bat.

“Really happy, it was a good win,” said Heyes. “I’ve done it for three weeks now. When Kurt left, I was away for a couple of weeks, so Dean Martin (now vice captain) did it until I came back.

“When you’re captain and you win, it gives you a bit more of a buzz. I’m enjoying it so far. They’ve just asked me to do it until the end of the season, then we’ll work out what we do going forwards.

“We know that if we get a score like that on our ground, we have a good chance of winning.

“We have two off-spinners with me and the pro, so we know that a score of around 160 gives us a decent chance.”

“That was a big wicket,” continued 27-year-old Heyes, when asked to describe the run out of Grimshaw, leaving Barnoldswick reeling at 28-4 in the 11th over of their chase.

“I was at backward point and there was a bit of a mix-up.

“We were bowling pretty well at their pro at the time, so we’d built the pressure on him.”

And on pro Bhada’s contribution, Heyes added: “Mini batted really well. He has done for the last couple of weeks, so he’s coming into a bit of form now. He’s also very important with the ball for us.

“He’s very experienced, and he’s been very beneficial for me as well having not captained before. He’s someone who has played a heck of a lot of league cricket, and I can run things by him.

“Adil Hussain as well, he got 31 and faced a lot of balls to get us through to bat the full 45 (overs). That was a really important knock.”

Oswaldtwistle are now sixth in the Championship with six wins from 16 matches and exactly 100 points, and they are within striking distance of Baxenden and Brinscall in fourth and fifth with four games remaining.

Heyes said: “If we can jump up to fifth, that would be a positive end given we’ve had a bit of a mixed bag of a season with losing our captain and our overseas amateur, Luke (Sirianni), through injury.

“Luke hasn’t played for the last few games having broken his hand. He will be struggling to play again this season.

“The game he got injured in (Feniscowles late last month), he got a ton and then broke his hand running someone out in the second innings. It’s not just a normal finger fracture, so he’s going to be a while. That’s a big miss for us.”

Given Heyes and Co finish the summer with away trips to promotion-chasers Walkden and Atherton next month, it would be quite the confidence building finish if Oswaldtwistle can finish in the top five, or even higher if things go swimmingly.

But, if not, there are significant positives to reflect on given they have fielded a trio of fledglings for the majority of the summer in their first team.

“We’ve got three young lads in the firsts at the moment, one who’s 15 and the other two are 16,” explained Heyes. “That’s James Clark, Muhammed Jalgaonkar and Oliver Lowe.

“They’ve all been with us for a number of years and have almost played every game this year.

“We know there are games they will struggle in, and will show inconsistencies, but that’s fine. They will only improve by playing, and hopefully they’ll be with us for many more years to come.”

Looking at their second team, who are also sixth in NWCL Conference Two, but still have an outside chance of promotion, and it seems there might be more youngsters to follow.

Heyes added: “They’ve got a bit more depth having struggled for players in the last few years, which is good.

“We also have a good junior set-up at the club.

“We’re doing well. Fingers crossed, we can have a good end to the season.”

Tomorrow’s fixtures: Premiership - Astley Bridge v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Blackrod v Eagley, Farnworth v Kearsley, Farnworth Social Circle v Lostock, Little Lever v Tonge, Padiham v Salesbury; Championship - Atherton v Walkden, Barnoldswick v Baxenden, Brinscall v Cherry Tree, Earby v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Read v Whalley.