Latest news with #AnthonyAxfordNorthWestCricketLeague
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
SECOND XI: Derby triumph sees Farnworth extend unbeaten run
The latest round of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Conference Premiership saw the race for the title hot up with only 14 points separating first and third place. Farnworth continued their unbeaten start with an eight-wicket victory as they bowled visitors, Farnworth Social Circle, out for 64 as Sam Bradley took 5-30. Advertisement Farnworth comfortably won the game after 12 overs with Bilal Afzal top-scoring with an unbeaten 30. Burnley Belvedere seconds came out on top as they hosted Barrowford firsts. The hosts scored 226-9 with Aaqib Hussain top-scoring with 46. They then dismissed Barrowford for 164, despite Ansar Mahmood top-scoring with 66. Aadil Hussain was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-52. Salesbury visited Cherry Tree which saw them come out on top with a four-wicket victory. Cherry Tree were dismissed for 121 as Jack Stones shone with the ball, taking 5-32. Daniel Lord top-scored with 40. Salesbury then won the game after 28 overs. Little Lever were victorious as they hosted Feniscowles firsts. Little Lever were dismissed for 172 as Louis Partington top-scored with 89, as Joseph Callaghan took 4-57. In reply, Feniscowles were bowled out for 135 as Partington shone again, taking an impressive 5-12. Advertisement In the final game of the division, Walkden came out on top as they visited Read. Walkden were dismissed for 156 after Curtis Noone took 4-46. In reply, Read could only make 146-8, however, they managed to take seven points from the game. Ribblesdale Wanderers are top of the second division with 106 points from nine games, followed by Burnley Belvedere firsts with 93 from 10. It was a close finish for Wanderers last Saturday, chasing Foulridge's 105 (Imran Qamar 34, Graeme Kershaw 4-14 and George Kerr 4-18), they slipped from 73-2 to 86-8 before recovering to win by one wicket, Sarath Babu taking 4-27. In another tight finish, Saubaan Khan hit 60 for Astley Bridge, who having been 118-2 could only reach 176. Ady Cooper's 3-27 helped reduce Barnoldswick to 141-7, but an unbeaten 80 from Waqas Ahmad saw them home for the loss of one more wicket. Advertisement Bradley Walmsley led the way with 59 in Brinscall's 166-6, Darren Parr with 4-29 for Lostock, who then went on to win by 10 wickets thanks to Stephen Kaye and James McLaughlin. Oswaldtwistle Immanuel's last pair put on 35 runs, Adam Nawaz talking 4-41 and there were three wickets each for Lewis Whitford and Nacha Dowling. Baxenden's response of 51 was largely due to Zameer Hussain 5-19 and Jabbar Ahmed 3-20. Eagley lead the third division with 99 points, followed by Whalley with 89, both having played 10. Tom Mitchell's half-century provided the basis for Eagley's 165-9, then Adam Roberts took 5-31 as Atherton were bowled out for 85. Advertisement Ethan Ditchfield recorded figures of 5-23 in Kearsley's 113. Whalley were handily placed at 85-6, but the last four wickets fell for just seven runs, Obid Khan taking 4-31 and Mohmed Hira 3-12. Another team who would have been disappointed with their run chase were Barrowford seconds. Having dismissed Earby for 93 (Abdul Ahad 5-18), they were 33-0 and 61-3, but 4-9 for Gareth McCabe and 4-34 for Jason Lockley saw then fall 10 runs short. Tomorrow's cup fixtures: Ramsbottom Cup - Barnoldswick v Farnworth Social Circle, Barrowford firsts v Ribblesdale Wanderers; Lawrenson Cup - Atherton v Padiham, Tonge v Salesbury.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cameron relishing Whalley's start to the new T20 season
Whalley's new captain Tom Cameron believes enjoyment is the key to success in T20 cricket as the start of the Birtwistle Cup approaches, writes Graham Hardcastle. The Anthony Axford North West Cricket League's 20-over competition - won last year by Lostock - begins across the next two Fridays, with 25 teams spilt across four groups. Conference sides Barrowford, Feniscowles and Foulridge will join the 22 teams in the Premiership and Championship as they bid to make it through to Finals Day on July 20. The top two sides in each group qualifies for the quarter-finals. Whalley finished top of Group Two North last season, winning three of five matches. Under wicketkeeper Cameron's leadership, they reached Finals Day at Lostock, but were beaten in the semi-final by Blackrod. Cameron has since taken over full-time from Frankie Jackson. 'It's just a confidence game, really,' said Cameron of T20. 'We were struggling in a league a bit last year, but everyone could almost free themselves up a bit in the T20s, and I think everyone was more confident and just enjoyed it more. 'We strung a few results together and carried it through. 'Hopefully we can do that again this year. I want everyone to express themselves, and hopefully that gives us that bit of momentum.' Whalley are in Group Two North again this year. They are placed alongside Barrowford, Baxenden, Cherry Tree, Feniscowles, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel and Salesbury. They begin their campaign tomorrow night away at Baxenden (6pm). Cameron believes Whalley, who have lost two and won one in the Championship so far this season, are a stronger proposition than last year, including being sharper in the field. That's partly due to a new overseas Australian batter Luke Reynolds, added to domestic signings Jamie Pilling (opening batter) and Josh Dentith (spinner). All-rounder Levi Wolfenden remains as professional. 'I'd say we've added experience more than anything,' said Cameron. Whalley's group is a particularly interesting one given it includes two Conference sides in Barrowford and Feniscowles. The former reached last year's quarter-finals, while the latter won the last ever Ribblesdale League T20 title in 2022. 'It's a very interesting group, obviously, because of that,' Cameron continued. 'They're a bit wild cards, like we saw with Barrowford last year. They could almost have any sub professional, really. 'But we're positive and hopeful that if we play like we did last year, we can get out of that group.' Cameron is a 20-year-old who is a Whalley lad through and through. He captained the club in junior cricket and started playing first-team cricket at the age of '13 or 14'. 'Just doing the T20s last year, I almost did the fun bit,' he said. 'But I'm definitely enjoying doing it full-time so far. I've got loads of senior players around me like Richard Palmer and Levi, who has been with us for three or four years as pro.' So being one of Whalley's own, what would it mean to Cameron if they were to go a couple of steps further than last year's semi-final finish and win the Birtwistle Cup? 'That would be really nice, yeah,' he added. 'It would definitely mean a lot, and there's no reason why we can't.' n Tomorrow's fixtures: Group Two North - Baxenden v Whalley, Cherry Tree v Barrowford, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel v Salesbury.
