Latest news with #FarnworthSocialCircle
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Read rally to beat Little Lever and lift T20 Trophy
Will Wrathall has praised the resilience of his team-mates after Read claimed the first trophy of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League summer on Sunday, beating Little Lever in the final to claim the Birtwistle Cup T20 crown. Captain Wrathall and co triumphed at a Finals Day split across two Sundays at Astley Bridge because of the weather. They beat hosts Bridge in a rain-affected semi-final last Sunday, chasing a revised target of 89 in 12 overs to win by eight wickets. The Sunday just gone, they then squeezed past 2023 champions Little Lever by two wickets chasing 156. Earlier in the day, Little Lever had beaten Padiham in the semi-final. South African overseas amateur Zadian Muller stood out in both games for a Read side who had hit a bit of a flat spot in their season leading up to Sunday. In recent weeks, they have suffered two damaging defeats to Padiham - one in the semi-final of the Hamer Cup and another in the league. The latter, on Saturday, meant they were replaced at the Premiership's summit by Farnworth Social Circle. 'We lost one game in close to 40 in the league and Hamer Cup (since the start of last season),' said Wrathall. 'And then we lost three in four. 'So we're not used to losing. 'We're trying to figure out how to lose and how to bounce back. 'Sunday was a great way to show we can get over the line and we can go on and do it. Every credit to the lads in that sense.' The aforementioned Muller took a wicket and a catch and hit 44 off 28 balls opening the batting in the semi-final win over Astley Bridge before claiming two wickets with his seamers and hitting 49 off 26 in the final win over Little Lever. He was named player-of-the-match in a final which saw Little Lever post 155-8 thanks to opener Cameron Murray's 52 off 26. Earlier in the day, he crashed a stunning 104 off 56 in the thrilling two-run semi-final win over Padiham as the latter narrowly failed to chase 194. In the final, Read had to recover from 85-5 after 10.1 overs. When captain Wrathall fell at 127-7 after 16.2, the game was very much in the balance. But a busy unbeaten 20 from Elliot Lowes saw his side home. 'It was a topsy-turvy game,' said Wrathall. 'I don't think anyone really thought we were going to win it until we actually did. 'Duckworth Lewis was on the board and was pretty much level all the way through, so it shows how tight it was. 'But fair play to Little Lever, they lost in great spirits. They're a great set of lads. 'Zadian got runs on Saturday in losing to Padiham (55). He had a really good weekend. 'He's not had a bad season by any stretch, but he wanted more. Things have started to click for him now, which is a great sign for us. 'He's brilliant to have around. He's obviously a great player, but he's so knowledgeable about the game. It's like having another professional around, really.' The NWCL posted a video on their X account on Sunday evening of the Read players celebrating the winning moment on their dressing room balcony, with Wrathall front and centre. 'It was a funny one that,' said the skipper. 'The Little Lever fans were below us. They weren't saying anything out of order, but we did hear them say, 'Wrathall's out now, we'll win'. So it was nice to show them that we can bat all the way down and that we're never out of a game.' Read are now in place to complete the NWCL trophy set by the end of September. Hamer Cup champions last summer, they have now won the Birtwistle Cup and are very much in the Premiership title race - just a point behind Farnworth Social Circle with eight games to go. They also won last season's Championship league title. Wrathall continued: 'We actually spoke about that on Sunday, and someone referred to it being like Chelsea, who have won every title as well, including the Conference League and the Club World Cup. 'It's definitely something we've thought about even though it's not at the forefront of our minds. We just have to take it one game at a time. That next game is a blockbuster top-of-the-table Premiership clash with Social Circle at Read on Saturday. 'We're coming up against Jameel Stuart, who is averaging nearly 130 in the league. On Read, he could be quite scary when you think of how small the boundaries are and how good the pitch is,' added Wrathall. 'But, seriously, we're confident. 'I saw a couple their lads on Sunday, Chris Lane and Max Perry, and we were speaking about it. 'We're both really excited about it.' n The T20 Area Final between Preston and Read takes place on Sunday (1pm start).
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stuart's double ton sends Social Circle to the summit
Farnworth Social Circle are the new Premiership leaders in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League - and they were indebted to record-breaking Jameel Stuart for firing them there on Saturday. Bajan batting all-rounder Stuart hit a remarkable 236 not out off 119 balls as Social Circle beat Atherton by 258 runs at home - his second double-century of the summer represented the highest ever individual score in the three-season history of the NWCL. He crashed 19 sixes and as many fours, underpinning a 45-over total of 376-5 to which Atherton could only respond with 118 all out. New-ball seamer Dave Mather impressed for 6-58. The Bolton side's 11th win in 14 games saw them claim the full 12 points on offer and capitalise on a slip-up by Read, who were beaten at Padiham - only their third reverse of the league season. It now sets up a blockbuster clash between the top two teams at Read on Saturday, the difference between them just a point. Social Circle have 127 points, Read 126. That will be the first of eight remaining games. Padiham's home victory over Read - their eighth in 14 to move up to third in the table on 103 points - was achieved by five wickets chasing 188. South African overseas amateur Zander Van Tonder struck four times to limit Read to 187-9 before opener Ben Uttley's 72 off 66 balls led a stress-free chase, started with a first-wicket stand of 56 with Joe Edgar. The eye-catching result in the Championship saw Astley Bridge captain Syd De Silva claim a superb 'seven-for' to inspire a landslide seven-wicket victory at home to Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, who they bowled out for just 33. De Silva opened the bowling with spin and returned figures of 7-16, supplemented by three wickets for South African overseas amateur Ulli Bronkhorst. Five Oswaldtwistle batters recorded ducks and no one reached double figures, Bridge winning for the eighth time to keep themselves in the promotion mix. Ribblesdale Wanderers strengthened their grip on top spot in the second tier, their 10th win in 16 achieved in impressive fashion - by nine wickets chasing 203 at Baxenden. Seamer Ian Britcliffe's five wickets featured in Baxenden's 202-9 before Australian OA Jordon Kelly's brilliant opening 122no lit up a chase inside 28 overs. He dominated partnerships of 94 and 113 unbroken for the first and second wickets with Hammad Amin and Waqar Rafique. Whalley are just behind Ribblesdale in second place having won their 10th game in 14, this one away at bottom-placed Brinscall by 110 runs defending a 209-target. Ethan Jackson's middle-order 72 was the feature innings in Whalley's 208-9 before pro Levi Wolfenden and Josh Dentith equally shared eight wickets in Brinscall's 98 all out. Ribblesdale sit top with 132 points from 16 games and Whalley second with 127 from 14. Those two occupy the promotion places. Cherry Tree are third on 115 points after 13 games and the aforementioned Astley Bridge fourth on 103 from 14. Cherry Tree beat Earby at home in an engaging low-scoring game which could have gone either way. The hosts won for the ninth time in 2025. This came by 16 runs on the back of a 192-9 total led by pro Mini Bhada's composed 56. In reply, second-bottom Earby were 54-0 and 95-2, only to fall to 176 all out in the penultimate over. Mark Hadfield and captain Andreas Sudnik claimed three wickets apiece. Back in the Premiership, fourth-placed Kearsley - 100 points from 14 games - were six-wicket winners away at champions Blackrod, who crumbled to 84 all out. New-ball seamer Mustafa Bashir claimed five wickets as Kearsley won for the eighth time to continue their productive campaign. Like Oswaldtwistle in that aforementioned Championship fixture, a handful of Blackrod batters posted ducks. South African substitute pro Jacques Snyman top-scored with 32 in reply. Blackrod are part of the mid-table pack hunting down a top-four finish for Lancashire Knockout qualification for next year. Little Lever are fifth with seven wins. They won at Salesbury, who are part of that conversation. Opener Cameron Murray's well-paced 110 off 115 balls underpinned Little Lever's 253-8 before Pakistani professional Muhammad Junaid followed up 49 with five wickets in Salesbury's 197 all out. Sixth-placed Lostock's sixth win was achieved away at bottom-side Eagley, by seven wickets chasing 108. Adam Syddall claimed four wickets having taken the new ball to help bowl Eagley out for 107, before Pakistani pro Akbar Ur Rehman underpinned a routine reply with an unbeaten 59. Blackrod are seventh, Salesbury eighth - both still within striking distance of Kearsley. Farnworth boosted their survival hopes and dented Tonge's chances of top four. They won at Tonge by 77 runs. Win number four puts them on 72 points, 10 clear of second-bottom Atherton and 14 ahead of Eagley. Opener Matthew Hicks top-scored with 62 in Farnworth's 181 all out before striking three times as Tonge were bowled out for 104. Back in the Championship, Walkden dented Barnoldswick's promotion hopes with a five-wicket home win chasing 208. Walkden's fifth win came after captain and new-ball seamer Ammad Afzal claimed five wickets in Barnoldswick's 207 all out before Indian OA Saqlain Haider top-scored in reply with a brisk 69. Barnoldswick are now fifth in the table, 27 points adrift of second-placed Whalley.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Read in the box seat after Farnworth Social Circle's slip
Read took a significant step towards the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Premiership title on Saturday as they won at Eagley and closest rivals Farnworth Social Circle were beaten at Kearsley. Read's 11th win in 12 games was achieved with comfort as they defended 209-7 from 45 overs to prevail by 55 runs against a relegation-threatened Eagley side who sit second-bottom. Advertisement Sri Lankan professional Sehan Weerasinghe enjoyed a notable day for a Read side who have lost only once in all competitions and claimed the full 12 points. He top-scored with a composed 68 before claiming 5-22 with his off-spin in Eagley's 154 all out. Farnworth Social Circle slipped to a 44-run defeat at Kearsley, whose seventh win in 12 has elevated them into fourth place. Kearsley opener Mohmedruhan Tirmizi top-scored with 76 in a commanding 275-7 before new-ball pair Mustafa Bashir and Irfan Kareem equally shared eight wickets in the visitors' 231 all out. Social Circle suffered only their third league defeat of 2025 and are sat on 103 points, with Read pulling away on 126. Advertisement Kearsley's win was one of two particularly eye-catching victories - one in either division. Walkden's Championship resurgence continued as they chased a 292-target at Baxenden thanks to a sensational 127 off 71 balls from number three for Indian overseas amateur Saqlain Haider. Walkden had lost their first eight league games and sat rooted bottom of the table. But they have won their last four. Their latest was achieved by five wickets with more than six overs remaining. Mid-table Baxenden put themselves into a strong position through Australian OA Mitchell Slattery's fine opening 107. He underpinned 291-8, in which Imran Ali and Moinuddin Saiyed claimed two wickets each. Advertisement But Haider crashed nine fours and eight sixes for ninth-placed Walkden. Ribblesdale Wanderers strengthened their position at the top of the Championship with a thrilling nine-run win away at fellow challengers Cherry Tree. Ribblesdale's ninth win came as Australian OA Jordan Kelly top-scored with an opening 72 off 63 balls in 271-7, to which Cherry Tree replied with 262 all out. Cherry Tree lost their last five wickets for 28 from 234-5. Ian Britcliffe took the new ball and struck five times. Ribblesdale sit top on 119 points from 14 games, Whalley are second on 105 from 12 and Cherry Tree are third on 94 from 11. Advertisement Oswaldtwistle Immanuel stymied Whalley's promotion push, claiming a 23-run win defending 179-9. Wicketkeeper-opener James Clark top-scored with 42 for the mid-table hosts, whose sixth win in 13 was later secured as professional Zohaib Khan claimed four wickets in Whalley's 156 all out reply. Whalley lost but held on to second as Cherry Tree lost and fourth-placed Barnoldswick also missed the chance to pressurise. They were beaten by 70 runs away at Earby, whose fourth win in 12 came defending 182 all out. Barnoldswick were bowled out for 112 in reply. Sri Lankan pro Dunith Jayathunga enjoyed a standout day for eighth-placed Earby with 56 and 5-32 with his leg-spin. Advertisement Reigning champions Blackrod replaced Padiham in third place in the Premiership by beating them away by five wickets. Blackrod successfully replied to 159 all out, securing a seventh win in 12. Bajan OA Renaldo Holder struck four times with his seam, a haul matched by Jacob Ashworth. Sri Lankan pro Navod Paranavithana then opened up with a fine 94 off 97 balls, the key innings in a chase which consigned Padiham to a fifth defeat in 12 and fifth place. Blackrod have 87 points from 12 games, 16 adrift of Farnworth SC in second and 39 behind leaders Read. Kearsley, who make up the top-four places, have 86 points. Advertisement Sixth-placed Tonge beat Little Lever by two wickets away from home and jumped one place above them. Tonge have a won six, lost six record after successfully replying to 217-6. The visiting wickets were shared around, with Sri Lankan pro Hashan Dumindu striking twice before he top-scored with a calm 66. Hasib Patel also hit a middle-order 58. But both men then fell to give Little Lever hope at 184-7. However, Shoyab Haji saw Tonge home in the penultimate over with two sixes in 22 not out. At the other end of the top flight, Lostock gave themselves breathing space from the bottom two sides, deepening Farnworth's relegation fears at the foot of the table with a two-wicket away win chasing 180. Advertisement Farnworth were bowled out for 179 as Lostock's successful bid for win number four was inspired by Reece Gray's excellent all-round display. He claimed four wickets having taken the new ball and helped recover the visitors from 87-5 in reply with an innings top-score of 34 batting at number six. Farnworth sit bottom on 48 points, level on points with Eagley. Atherton are just above on 59 points and Lostock have 63. Just above those, in eighth, are Salesbury. They won for the fifth time this summer, this time by six wickets chasing 171 at Atherton (170-7). South African pro Garnett Tarr was a significant contributor with two wickets having taken the new ball and an innings-high 48 in a successful reply. Liam Parkinson, who also bowls spin, claimed three wickets for Salesbury. Advertisement Finally, back in the Championship, mid-table Astley Bridge beat bottom-side Brinscall to secure their sixth win in 12. This one was achieved at home by 97 runs as Sri Lankan pro Dhanushka Dhamasiri starred with a brilliant middle-order 116 off 87 balls in 266-5. In reply, Brinscall were bowled out for 169 as Irfan Puda returned eye-catching figures of 5-13 from 10 overs, including a hat-trick. He had Phil Lowe and Chris Ware caught and, sandwiched in between, Finlay Best lbw.
