Ribblesdale Wanderers 2nd hosted Astley Bridge at Church Meadow, needing a win to keep their position at the top of the North West Cricket League Conference 2 table.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Ribblesdale openers Kristian Collinge and Stephen Tandy provided a steady start before Tandy was dismissed for 8 with the score at 38-1. Andrew Hutchins then joined Collinge to build a partnership, but fell to a loose shot on 9, bringing the score to 67-2.
Shortly after, Kristian Collinge played a brilliant innings to bring up his half-century. He was caught out immediately after reaching the milestone, departing for a well-made 51 runs off 64 balls, including six boundaries, with the scoreboard reading 79-3.
Stewart Trotter and Josh Dean worked to stabilize the innings, but Dean chipped a return catch to the bowler for 6, making it 104-4. Jack Fielding entered and aggressively upped the run rate, scoring a quick 17 off 12 balls before also falling to a caught and bowled, leaving the hosts at 124-5.
Skipper Travis Blezard joined Trotter, but the partnership was short-lived as Trotter was caught for 21 just four runs later, making it 128-6. With the innings in need of a rescue, Luke Spencer and Blezard looked for quick singles before Spencer was bowled playing a loose shot at 139-7.
Graeme Kershaw partnered with Blezard, who began to find his rhythm with a couple of boundaries. Kershaw was then dismissed playing across the line (161-8). George Kerr’s stay was brief as he was bowled for 3, and in the final over, a run-out ended the innings after Blezard attempted a risky second run to keep the strike. Wanderers were bowled out for 169 in 44.4 overs, with captain Travis Blezard left unbeaten on 26.
Knowing they needed early wickets to defend their total, Ribblesdale's bowlers delivered a devastating start. Graeme Kershaw struck in his first over, with a strong LBW appeal turned down before he successfully claimed the wicket with his very next ball (0-1). From the other end, skipper Travis Blezard struck with his first delivery, claiming the other opener for a golden duck to leave Astley Bridge reeling at 2-2.
After a brief period of resistance, Blezard struck again, with Josh Dean taking a spectacular one-handed catch at full stretch at square leg (15-3). Kershaw then claimed a second wicket, caught by Stewart Trotter, to make it 44-4.
As Astley Bridge's number 4 began to build a score,
George Kerr was introduced into the attack and made an immediate impact. He broke the partnership with a wicket caught by Stewart Trotter on the boundary edge (73-5) and then removed the dangerous batter on 48 thanks to a brilliant catch by Kristian Collinge (88-6).
Jack Fielding entered the attack and got on the wicket-taker's board with an LBW decision (109-7). Kerr then took charge again, cleverly orchestrating a caught and bowled (111-8) and followed it up with a quick stumping by wicketkeeper Stephen Tandy in his next over to claim his fourth wicket (117-9).
Jack Fielding fittingly ended the match, with Kristian Collinge taking another excellent catch to dismiss Astley Bridge for 118 and cap off a superb all-round fielding performance.
The 51-run victory earned Ribblesdale Wanderers 2nd XI 12 vital points, keeping them at the summit of the NWCL Conference 2.
