The 1st XI traveled to Cherry Tree knowing that nothing less than a victory would suffice to keep their title and promotion hopes burning bright. On a scorching summer’s day, skipper Bilal Ahmed won the toss and, without hesitation, elected to bat on what looked like an excellent batting surface.
Openers Hammad Amin and Jordan Kelly got the innings off to a flying start, punishing loose deliveries with a flurry of aggressive strokes. The pair raced to 47 before Amin fell for a brisk 18, bringing Heshan Dhanushka to the crease. The professional combined beautifully with Kelly, who was in sublime touch, dispatching the ball to all parts of the ground in a blistering knock of 72 off just 63 balls, including a barrage of boundaries. His dismissal at 121-2 brought Waqar Rafique to the middle, and together with Dhanushka, he kept the scoreboard ticking over in another strong partnership. Waqar fell just shy of his half-century, departing for a well-made 42 (187-3), but Mack Spencer joined Heshan to maintain the momentum.
Dhanushka, ever the composed anchor, reached another vital 50 before being dismissed for 56, leaving the score at 228-4. A mini-collapse followed as Ribblesdale lost three quick wickets - Mack Spencer (29), Abrar Hussain (2), and Mack Burgess (9)—leaving them at 250-7. However, a late cameo from Jordan Britcliffe, including two towering sixes in the final over, propelled the Wanderers to a formidable 271-7 off their 45 overs.
With the pitch still offering little for the bowlers, Ribblesdale knew they had to be disciplined to defend their total. Heshan Dhanushka struck early, removing one of the openers (27-1), before claiming the crucial wicket of Cherry Tree’s professional, brilliantly caught by Hammad Amin (34-2). The pressure continued as Dhanushka struck again, this time with Amin completing a sharp stumping (68-3), putting the Wanderers
firmly in control.However, Cherry Tree fought back valiantly, building a dangerous partnership before Ian Britcliffe made the vital breakthrough at 153-4. He quickly added another scalp (164-5), but Cherry Tree’s middle order refused to go down without a fight, keeping the game in the balance. With tension mounting, Britcliffe delivered a match-defining spell, first taking a catch off Jack Fielding’s sharp work (234-6), then shattering the stumps the very next ball (234-7).
The hosts' number seven battled hard, but the required rate kept climbing. Britcliffe wasn’t done yet - he claimed his fifth wicket, another stumping by the ever-alert Amin (251-8), before Waqar Rafique wrapped things up with a final stumping in the dying moments. Cherry Tree finished 9 runs short at 262-9, handing Ribblesdale a hard-fought, nerve-shredding victory in a game that saw over 500 runs scored in sweltering conditions.The star with the ball was undoubtedly Ian Britcliffe, whose magnificent 5-52 off 12 overs turned the game in Ribblesdale’s favor. His crucial wickets at key moments, combined with Hammad Amin’s three stumpings, showcased the team’s sharpness under pressure.
This 12-point haul keeps the Wanderers top of the North West Cricket League Championship, setting up a thrilling climax to the season. With performances like this, the dream of promotion and silverware is very much alive!
