Weekend Cricket Review

Bacup finally ended their two month winless streak on Sunday at Lanehead. They did it in style too, beating reigning champions Clitheroe, despite fielding a much depleted team, by 58 runs. Bacup elected to bat on a good looking pitch and made an excellent start to the innings. Newbitt continued his run of form with a fluent 42 and professional Ernest Kemm held the top order together with a nicely compiled 54. Matt Schofield then made a welcome return to form with 33 as Bacup looked set to rack up a score well in excess of 200. However, a spectacular batting collapse saw Bacup lose their last 6 wickets for only 8 runs and fold for a disappointing 175. Skipper Jack Dewhurst and pro Fawad Alam both picked up 5 wickets. Bacup were soon back in the ascendency however with Liam Naylor and Sam Lord bowling excellent opening spells. Naylor, who had looked particularly dangerous returned to the attack to complete a 5 wicket haul for 50 from 13 overs and Kemm wrapped up proceedings taking 4 for 17 to cap an excellent all round display. Clitheroe were dismissed in the 32nd over for 116. The win gives the Lanehead men a much needed boost and lifts them four places from the foot of the table.

The seconds were forced to go into their game at Clitheroe with a severely weakened team. They made a creditable 150 with skipper Syers making 26,Tom Sumner 22 and veteran Terry Lord 16. Clitheroe reached their target for the loss of only two wickets.

On Saturday the third eleven travelled to Walsden in the last of their group fixtures. The youngsters had inflicted the only defeat on the experienced outfit and league leaders a few weeks ago. However, it was not to be this time. Despite another fluent knock of 31 from Luke Donovan Bacup could only muster a score of 118 all out. Niall Boardman picked up 2 wickets but Walsden cantered home for the loss of 4 wickets. The third eleven return to action in mid August when they move on to their phase two fixtures.