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1st XI vs Whalley 1st X1 (a)
Saturday 05 July 2025



The 1st XI travelled to Station Road for a highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash against local rivals Whalley in the NWCL Championship. With promotion hopes on the line, both sides were eager to assert their dominance in what promised to be a fiercely contested encounter.


Whalley won the toss and elected to field, a decision that quickly paid dividends. Ribblesdale openers Hammad Amin and Jordan Kelly started cautiously, seeing off the new ball, but the breakthrough came when Hammad (12) edged one behind, leaving the score at 21-1. The very next over saw Jordan Kelly (😎 dismissed, compounding the early pressure at 21-2. Ryan Canning’s stay at the crease was brief, adding just 3 before falling to a contentious LBW decision—24-3. Heshan Silva, who had been in scintillating form recently, was unable to replicate his heroics, departing for 6 as the score slumped to 36-4.


From there, the innings unraveled rapidly. Mack Spencer, Waqar Raqifue, and skipper Bilal Ahmed fell in quick succession, leaving Ribblesdale in dire straits at 47-7. Jordan Britcliffe (1) provided little resistance, and despite a brief fightback from Joel Blackledge and Abrar Hussain—who showed some grit alongside Ian Britcliffe—the visitors were eventually bowled out for a below-par 74 in just 27.2 overs.


Defending such a modest total, Ribblesdale needed early wickets—and they got them. Ian and Jordan Britcliffe struck immediately, reducing Whalley to 8-3 and igniting hopes of an improbable comeback. The momentum was firmly with the Wanderers, and the game hung in the balance. However, Whalley’s number five had other ideas. Adopting an aggressive approach, he counterattacked decisively, shifting the pressure back onto Ribblesdale. The runs began to flow, and despite Heshan Silva’s inspired spell—which saw him claim three crucial wickets (56-4, then 67-6)—Whalley kept their composure. In the end, the hosts chased down the target in just 16.1 overs, securing a four-wicket victory.


While Ribblesdale showed flashes of fight, particularly with the ball, the damage had been done with the bat. This defeat is a setback for the 1st XI’s promotion ambitions, but the season is far from over. The character shown in patches—especially the early bowling onslaught—proves this side has the resilience to respond. Attention now turns to the next fixture, where Wanderers will be determined to return to winning ways and keep their promotion push alive.



2nd XI vs. Foulridge 1st XI (h)
Saturday 5th July 2025



The Ribblesdale Wanderers 2nd team hosted Foulridge at Church Meadow in a high-stakes clash, with both sides pushing for the Conference 2 title and promotion. After winning the toss, Ribblesdale elected to field first, and despite a brief rain delay reducing the match to 44 overs per side, the home side was determined to restrict Foulridge’s strong batting lineup.


The ever-reliable Graeme Kershaw struck early, leaving Foulridge at 8-1, before adding a second wicket with a sharp caught-and-bowled effort (24-2). Foulridge attempted to rebuild, but Kershaw struck again—this time thanks to a smart catch behind by Stephen Tandy - before claiming his fourth victim, reducing the visitors to 44-4. With Travis Blezard applying pressure at the other end, Foulridge’s batters struggled to break free. The mounting frustration led to wickets—Blezard struck with a brilliant catch from Stewart Trotter, before George Kerr, replacing Kershaw, tore through the middle order. Kerr claimed two quick wickets - one bowled, the other pouched by Blezard - leaving Foulridge reeling at 85-8. Blezard struck again (89-9), before Kerr wrapped up the innings, cleaning up the last batter to bowl Foulridge out for 105 in 34.1 overs.


Despite the modest target, Ribblesdale knew the pitch was tricky. Openers Kristian Collinge and Stephen Tandy began cautiously, but Collinge was bowled early (8-1). Andrew Hutchins joined Tandy, but scoring proved difficult against disciplined bowling. Hutchins fell LBW (46-2), bringing Trotter to the crease. The pair steadied the chase, taking Ribblesdale to 73-2, before a controversial LBW decision removed Trotter.


Suddenly, the game turned chaotic: Matthew Brett was run out without facing a ball, Charlie Windsor was bowled first delivery (73-5), and skipper Travis Blezard entered under pressure. Worse followed when Tandy, after a gritty 34, was bowled (74-6). Luke Spencer (1) and Graeme Kershaw tried to rebuild, but Spencer fell caught (78-7)Kershaw survived a dropped chance, but Blezard was then run out (86-8), leaving Jack Fielding and Kershaw to inch toward victory.


With just one run needed off four balls, Fielding went for glory - only to be bowled, leaving George Kerr to face the final three deliveries. After blocking two balls, Kerr unleashed a magnificent straight drive over the bowler’s head to seal a heart-stopping one-wicket win! The victory keeps Ribblesdale top of the table, preserving their unbeaten season.


The next match? A huge top-of-the-table clash against second-placed Burnley Belvedere - a win there could give the Wanderers a commanding lead in the title race!



3rd XI vs. Cherry Tree 3rd XI (a)
Sunday 6th July 2025



On a damp, overcast day that threatened to disrupt play, Ribblesdale Wanderers’ 3rd XI arrived at Cherry Tree determined to deliver a strong performance under new leadership. With regular skipper Luke unavailable, stand-in captain Charlie Windsor took charge. Windsor won the toss and, despite the heavy rainfall, opted to bat first on a surprisingly decent pitch.


The decision signaled intent, but the innings began shakily as opener Ewan Barker fell LBW with just four runs on the board. Matt Brett and Stevie Braithwaite then steadied the ship with a composed partnership, rotating strike intelligently and punishing loose deliveries. Their 69-run stand became the backbone of the innings - until Brett, looking settled, misjudged a delivery on the stroke of drinks, dragging a loose shot onto his stumps.


Braithwaite anchored the innings with grit and patience, crafting a brilliant 76 off 108 balls—a knock blending resilience with well-timed aggression. Contributions from the lower order pushed Ribblesdale to a competitive 154 from their 40 overs. Defending it would require sharp bowling and disciplined fielding.


Ribblesdale’s bowlers struck early. Tom Allen, recovering from a dropped chance in his first over, trapped Cherry Tree’s opener LBW at 26/1. The hosts rebuilt cautiously, but Windsor intervened at a crucial moment, claiming his first wicket as captain to break the partnership at 66/2.


The game turned on a moment of brilliance - Jack Evans’ stunning catch off Noah Hamilton’s bowling removed Cherry Tree’s third batter at 93/3, shifting momentum decisively. Tight middle-over spells from Stephen and Terry Braithwaite kept the pressure on, with sharp fielding cutting off singles and inflating the required rate. With 13 needed off the final over, Cherry Tree still harbored hope - especially with their set batter unbeaten on 52. But Windsor, ice-cool under pressure, returned to bowl the decisive over. His first delivery was a masterstroke, removing the dangerman and shattering the hosts’ resolve. The final runs came in a trickle, but the chase had lost its steam.


Ribblesdale held their nerve to clinch a nail-biting 5-run victory—a match destined to be remembered as one of the season’s most thrilling contests.



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