Walsden are through to the semi-finals of the Lancashire Cup after a tense three-wicket win away to Bolton League side Little Lever last Sunday.
Stevie Barker and Joe Gale saw them through after the visitors slumped to 54 for seven in reply to their hosts’ 86 on a minefield of a wicket.
Barker made 20 not out and Gale crashed 27 not out off nine balls to earn the Scott Street men a semi-final against Greenmount, who are another Bolton League side, or Central Lancashire League title rivals Norden.
Gale’s father Kenny said a green wicket had abnormal bounce, even for the spinners.
Little Lever had successfully defended low scores in earlier rounds and elected to bat.
Umesh Karunaratne celebrated agreeing to return to Walsden next year with four wickets and Jamie Shackleton and Josh Gale took three each.
After much discussion, Walsden opted for the heavy roller at the tea break but it made little difference.
Walsden’s early order ran into problems against the home pro, a left arm spinner, and his new ball partner.
However, once the pair had completed their nine-over allocation, Barker and Joe Gale cashed in against lesser bowlers to clinch Walsden’s third win in the 2014 competition.
Walsden’s league trip to Norden last Saturday was called off, along with all the other games, by league officials on Saturday morning.
Whether the league will be able to reschedule the programme among a busy fixture list remains to be seen.
LCB CUP
Little Lever v Walsden
Walsden won by 3 wkts
LITTLE LEVER 86
H Wilson b Shackleton 4
J Gent c Brown b Josh Gale 20
K Younis c Karunaratne b Shackleton 13
S Anderton c Rawlinson b Shackleton 4
A Worden c Shackleton b Karunaratne 15
D Hargreaves b Josh Gale 2
A Carter c Brown b Karunaratne 4
R Mahmood lbw b Karunaratne 7
M Martin c Joe Gale b Josh Gale 7
D Robinson c N Barker b Karunaratne 1
M Mills not out 1
Extras 8
Bowling: J Shackleton 7 2 31 3, J Hooson 6 1 17 0, Josh Gale 7 1 13 3, U Karunaratne 7 0 24 4.
WALSDEN 88 for seven
J Hooson c Anderton b Younis 1
J Rawlinson c Carter b Younis 8
N Barker c Carter b Mahmood 6
R Pathan c Anderston b Younis 3
U Karunaratne c Martin b Worden 11
M Dawson c Hargreaves b Mahmood 4
Josh Gale c Worden b Robinson 4
S Barker not out 20
Joe Gale not out 27
Bowling: K Younis 9 4 8 3, R Mahmood 9 2 24 2, D Robinson 3 0 33 1, A Wolden 3 0 17 1, S Anderton 0.4 0 5 0.
LANCASHIRE LEAGUE
Todmorden v Enfield
Todmorden won by 43 runs
Todmorden 12 pts, Enfield 1 pt.
TODMORDEN 241 for five
SD Newbitt st Hamill b Coetsee 52
BD Sutcliffe c and b Jackson 20
BA Pearson b Coetsee 2
MG Neser c Jones b Dowling 101
A Sutcliffe c O’Loughlin b Coetsee 17
EC Gilford not out 15
KM Garland not out 8
Extras 26
Bowling: Hassan Fazal 10 0 51 0, Jackson 11 1 47 1, Dowling 4 0 25 1, Coetsee 17 4 43 3, O’Loughlin 8 0 59 0
ENFIELD 198
LJ Bedford c Pearson b Neser 11
GA Jones b Foster 15
WL Coetsee b Neser 50
AP Bracewell lbw b Neser 0
T Hamill c Pearson b Gilford 22
J Wrigley b A Sutcliffe 41
LL Jackson lbw b Neser 0
CD Maudsley c Newbitt b A Sutcliffe 12
Hassan Fazal c Garland b Neser 26
BP Dowling c Priestley b Senior 5
S O’Loughlin not out 1
Extras 15
Bowling: Neser 12.3 1 37 5, Foster 11 1 44 1, Gilford 3 0 26 1, A Sutcliffe 9 1 25 2, Senior 11 0 63 1.
Other score (scorecard incomplete): Walsden III 79, Midleton III 80-4