Paul Senior had a tremendous weekend for Todmorden but his 11-wicket haul was only rewarded with one Lancashire League win from two games.
The slow bowler registered his best figures for the club with five for 20 in Saturday’s 56-run success over Enfield and did even better with six for 72 in a 70-run defeat by East Lancs 24 hours later.
Tod emerged from the weekend in ninth place and skipper Andrew Sutcliffe was full of praise for Senior, who joined the club from Mytholmroyd two years ago.
Sutcliffe said: “He bowled with control on a track that was perfectly suited for his spin bowling.
“It was a dry track and he out bowled every spinner throughout the weekend.
“Paul now has 31 wickets, so with two games left he will be looking to get as close to 40 as possible which will be a very good achievement.”
Sutcliffe thought his side’s Saturday score of 167 was 20 or 30 below par. The captain (42), Ben Sutcliffe (50) and pro Geeth Alwis (35), who moved past 1,000 for the season, were the main contributors.
Tod slid from 156 for five to 167 all out but Senior and Alwis (three for 27) dismissed Enfield for 111, backed by good catching and fielding.
On Sunday East Lancs racked up 196 with their pro Ockert Erasmus making a chanceless 100 not out.
A plethora of county matches had left the wicket well worn so scoring easily against spin was not easy and Senior again came up trumps.
However, Todmorden only managed 126 withSimon Newbitt top scoring with 32.
Todmorden play their last home match of the season against Nelson - who are just above them - on Sunday and then finish off at Lowerhouse, currently fourth, a week later.
Todmorden seconds were three wicket winners on a very green wicket at East Lancs.
The hosts struggled to 107 all out with Stuart Priestley taking four wickets and Chris Barker and Lee Pearson two each. Todmorden were four for two in reply but Ross Coates made a valuable 44 to ensure the visitors scrambled home by three wickets.