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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- 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).
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Boston Globe
After her acquittal, Karen Read wants her Lexus and cellphone back, court records show
Advertisement Read's legal team 'is respectfully requesting this Honorable Court order the return of the aforementioned items immediately,' he said. Jurors Prosecutors had alleged that Read backed her SUV in a drunken rage into her boyfriend, Her lawyers said she was framed and that O'Keefe entered the property, owned at the time by a fellow Boston police officer, where he was fatally beaten and possibly mauled by a German Shepherd before his body was planted on the front lawn. Advertisement Read's first criminal trial ended in a hung jury last year. She still faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed by O'Keefe's family in Plymouth Superior Court, where Material from prior Globe stories was used in this report. Travis Andersen can be reached at
Boston Globe
22-07-2025
- Boston Globe
Federal grand juror accused of leaking information in Karen Read case makes brief court appearance
A plea agreement Leslie signed last week says the government and defense have agreed to recommend that she be sentenced to 'one day, deemed served,' meaning she will not spend any time in prison if the judge adopts the recommendation. Advertisement As of Tuesday afternoon, a date had yet to be set for her plea hearing. Leslie is accused of Officials did not disclose that Leslie was sitting on Advertisement In a highly unusual move, the US attorney's office convened a grand jury to investigate the state's handling of Read's murder prosecution before the case went to trial. While federal grand jury proceedings are by law secret, details of the probe into the Norfolk district attorney's prosecution of Read spilled into public view during state court proceedings. The federal grand jury investigation did not lead to charges against anyone, except Leslie. Read, 45, was retried and acquitted of second-degree murder, manslaughter by drunk driving, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. She was convicted of of operating under the influence, a misdemeanor and the lone charge that did not involve the jury finding Read struck O'Keefe with a car. It was the second trial for Read after another jury ended with a mistrial a year ago. Prosecutors alleged Read drunkenly and intentionally backed her SUV into O'Keefe outside the Canton home of Boston Police Officer Brian Albert after a night of bar-hopping and left him to die in a blizzard on Jan. 29, 2022. Her lawyers said she was framed and that O'Keefe entered the home where he was fatally beaten and possibly mauled by Albert's German shepherd, Chloe, before his body was dumped on the front lawn. Shelley Murphy can be reached at
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bridge hoping home advantage will help them upset the odds
Host side Astley Bridge will tackle the toughest test currently available in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League when they take on Read in the second semi-final at Sunday's Birtwistle Cup T20 Finals Day - but they do so in confident mood. Astley Bridge are the only Championship side present, alongside Read and Little Lever and Padiham. The latter two contest the morning semi (10.30am). Bridge face Read at 1pm before a 4.15pm final. Read are the current Premiership leaders and Hamer Cup champions and have only lost twice in all competitions in 2025. But second-tier Bridge have won all six T20 games played so far this season, including five of those against top division clubs. 'That's good for our confidence,' said captain Syd De Silva. 'Everybody has chipped in so far, and we've managed to get the job done. 'I first talked to you before the Hamer Cup and said that we wanted to have a good cup run. Unfortunately, we were knocked out in the second round of that. 'But, after winning the first two T20s, I said to the lads, 'Come on, let's really try and get through in this'.' De Silva and company finished top of Group Three South, prevailing ahead of Farnworth, Eagley, Blackrod, Brinscall and Atherton. They then beat Tonge in the quarter-finals last week. Two things stand out from their campaign. One, they have used at least six bowlers in every match. Two, they have been helped by a host of important middle-order contributions with the bat. Batting all-rounder De Silva said: 'I've got two left-arm spinners, two leg-spinners, two off-spinners and four medium-pacers. 'I've got pretty much every department covered with the ball, and it's amazing as a captain. 'Rather than going top heavy with the bat, I spread it accordingly. What I do is I name the top seven batsmen and then say, 'You all pad up and stay ready'. 'You can name a top seven in order, but it doesn't always go like that. 'That's worked in our favour so far, and hopefully it will again in the semi-final and the final.' One of those middle-order contributors, South African overseas amateur Ulli Bronkhorst, has been their leading competition run-scorer with 187 from six matches, while Joe Ducker is the overall leading wicket-taker in the competition with 15. Their professional, Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Dhanushka Dhamasiri, will also be key to their hopes. Aside from winning a trophy, which is clearly special for any club, Bridge will be hoping success on the day can have a positive impact on their league form. One of the pre-season promotion favourites from the Championship, they have not really got going yet, winning six and losing five in 12 games. They are mid-table just beyond the halfway point in the summer. 'I've been a little bit disappointed with the league,' said De Silva. 'Of the five games we've lost, there was only one - Baxenden at the end of May - when we've really been beaten. 'The other four games, we were in winning positions.' De Silva says it means 'absolutely everything' for Astley Bridge as a club to be hosting Finals Day at their Sharples Park home. 'When we start the season, we talk about what we can do that's good for the club,' he continued. 'Trying to bring more junior players into the club is one thing. 'If we manage to go on and win this competition, that's good for the club and us as players. But a club that wins things is always good for attracting people. 'There was a lot of our juniors and their parents watching us in the quarter-final at Tonge last week. It was incredible. I'm sure it will be the same again on Sunday.' Last season, Read were second-tier champions and Hamer Cup winners. They have come up and are immediately flying high at the top of the Premiership and remain in the hunt for the double having reached T20 Finals Day. And Astley Bridge qualifying for Finals Day as a Championship club is a further indication of the strength of the NWCL. 'I don't think there's much difference in the standard between the Premiership and the Championship,' added De Silva. 'This league is going incredibly well, and the competitiveness is very high. 'I haven't played against Read yet, but they are looking really good. I'm not worried about it, though. 'We can definitely go and beat them if we play how we have been doing in this competition.'
Boston Globe
15-07-2025
- Boston Globe
Feds charge grand juror in Karen Read investigation with leaking information
A plea agreement signed by Leslie Tuesday says the government and defense have agreed to recommend that she be sentenced to 'one day, deemed served,' meaning she will not spend any time in prison if the judge adopts the recommendation. A hearing date has yet to be set. Advertisement Leslie is accused of Officials did not disclose that Leslie was sitting on Attorney Keith Halpern, who represents Leslie, declined to comment Tuesday. She has been charged in an 'information,' a federal charging document that signals that a plea agreement has been reached. A change-of-plea hearing has yet to be scheduled. Advertisement Read, 45, was acquitted of second-degree murder, manslaughter by drunk driving, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. She was convicted of a charge of operating under the influence, a misdemeanor. That was the lone charge available to the jury that did not involve them finding that Read struck her boyfriend, O'Keefe, with a car. It was the second trial for Read after another jury ended with a mistrial a year ago. Prosecutors alleged Read drunkenly and intentionally backed her SUV into O'Keefe outside the Canton home of Boston Police Officer Brian Albert after a night of bar-hopping and left him to die in a blizzard on Jan. 29, 2022. Her lawyers said she was framed and that O'Keefe entered the home where he was fatally beaten and possibly mauled by Albert's German shepherd, Chloe, before his body was dumped on the front lawn. In a highly unusual move, the US attorney's office convened a grand jury to investigate the state's handling of Read's murder prosecution before the case went to trial. While federal grand jury proceedings are, by law, secret, details of the probe into the Norfolk district attorney's prosecution of Read spilled into public view during state court proceedings. Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey wrote letters to the Justice Department in 2023 raising concerns about 'the unprecedented use of federal power to interfere with a state homicide investigation,' according to court filings. Federal authorities Advertisement The federal crash reconstruction report was among some 3,000 pages of documents, including grand jury statements by witnesses, that the US attorney's office turned over to Read's lawyers and state prosecutors prior to her first trial. The US attorney's office and the FBI declined to comment on the federal investigation. However, it was disclosed during state court proceedings in Read's case that all of the people who were inside Albert's home around the time of O'Keefe's death were subpoenaed to testify before the federal grand jury. In March, state prosecutors revealed during pretrial proceedings in Read's murder case that the federal grand jury investigation into the state's handling of her case was closed. Until now, federal prosecutors have not pursued any charges related to the Read case. Shelley Murphy can be reached at
