Around the leagues 2

 General consensus at the half wy stage Rainford did not have enough and so it proved, on a from a distance a greenish looking wicket which also took turn late, there was only one decent partnerhip 44 between Dotters and Desai however wickets fell at regular points which hindered Rainford's ability to post a larger score, a 10th wicket stand of 19 gave the scoreline a little bit more respectability. Desai top scored with 29 possibly controversially given out, there were doubts the catch and whether there were the required number of fielders within the circle.

Caused a bit of a protest but once the finger is raised you walk no matter what.

Spikey start to Blackpool innings early LBW appeal turned down however the Rainford's stumpers appeal was deemed to be over the top, think he received a warning. Things calmed down a bit after that, early wicket for Rainford but a 56 partnership between Needham and Henshall and one of 36 bwtween Taaffe and Boyne took Blackpool to the brink of victory. Dotters pick of the bowlers for Rainford who quite magnificently started the innings bowling spin.



https://blackpool.play-cricket.com/websi...ts/6712186

Around the leagues

 http://redirect.viglink.com/?key=71fe213...ts/6686091

The last time I saw a Lancashire League match Sherwin Campbell was pro for Accrington, he is now 54. Actually surprised at how big the playing surface was as well.
Originally the Lancashire league had 14 founder clubs, the league now has two divisions in which nine of the founder clubs are now in, including once powerhouse East Lancashire, how things have changed over the years.
Both Churchh and Enfield had spinners as pros suspect neither will score many with the willow and both are spinners, Maduwatha right arm and Ngoepe left arm.
Church batted first struggled Lia Jackson took the first four wickets thanks to some not great shots whilst Madu had countless shouts for LBW turned down did sem to question a few decisions but the phrase you have just been aquaited with a league umpire who gives nothing.
Taking out the need for referral, he bowled the next two and Church were staggering along at 38-6
Hussain batted sensibly and correctly to make 41 not out and steered the home side to 93 all out.





Enfield looked to finish the game in double quick time racing to 77-1 in very quick time heled by some distincly average fielding and Wright and Basarahat sending everything to the boundary.
Then came a period of play which is the reason why the game is great. Ngoepe took three wickets in an over, game on so to speak, the home side further reduced Enfield to 88-6 but they just about squeezed over the line





Estimated about 150 were on the ground and out of the wind it was warm

http://redirect.viglink.com/?key=71fe213...ts/6778275

Blackpool won at a canter against an understrength Egerton side and now wander their way to Leigh in the next round.
Winning the toss they racked up 246 which looked about 50 less than they were going to get having got off to a blistering start. Progress was stalled slightly due to a ball change which took about 10 minutes, as the innings progressed the Egerton spinners began to take a semblance of control, Ali got 4-44
Batting wise Munir and Taffe both made half centuries probably should have got more but 247 looked a tough task and so it proved as the breeze got stronger and colder the visitors batting crumbled easily only pro Ali looked in control and when he went quite possibly a harsh decision the end was not long in coming

https://fyldecc.play-cricket.com/website...ts/6715231

Double games this weekend, first up Fylde v Burneside, possibly the first ever league meeting between the sides as I think this is Burneside's first season in the Palace Shield having moved from the Westmorland League.
For those who don't know Burnesideis just to the North of Kendal. Anorak factif you are travelling by train to Burbeside you need to get in the middle carriage of three, as the platform isn't big enough to have three train coaches.
First over of the game was slightly chaotic from Tupman, first ball wild swish by Airey dropped at second slip, next ball slogged over mid wicket, another four with a really good cover drive and he nearly also holed out at mid off. Twenty plus from two overs before the wickets started to fall and the spinners came on at one end.
As with league sides they have one bowler who will bowl maximum overs and plug one end, Thomas did that bowled well used his experience could have had more wickets but inability to catch a ball by some of his team mates let him down.
Useful late order runs, interesting technique Noyo who tried to hit most balls into orbit. 142 never looked enough and so it proved.
Fylde 70 plus for 2 overs in hand didn't exctly cruise to victory but were made to work for their runs, which they did with about 4 overs to spare, Park and Phillips tried their best but to no avail



https://cumbriaccc.play-cricket.com/webs...ts/6780397

These counties are so small they are minor, new ground for me Kendal, nearly got to play on it about 10 years ago but the match I was playing in was transferred to a school in Sedburgh, not the main one, the secondary school for locals, game itself was a turgid affair 120 runs in nearly 80 overs and a girl got me out.

Anyway I digressed, back to the Cumbria game, coloured clothing with a white ball at either end. Cumbria won the toss inserted the opposition, Kirkwood and Choudary put bat to ball in the early stages and the visitors looked on course for a massive score, but local Kendal player Backhouse bowled Cumbria back into the game and after a run out, Cambridge were 105-5.
Within a blink of an eye they were up to 203 before the next wicket fell, Wilson scoring 71 in a partnership with Guest 40 turned the game around, the former batted really well and was instrumental in Cambridge racking up 255 which looked more than enough.
Cumbria never really looked like getting close and lost wickets at regular intervals and a late order partnership got them to 138.

Cambridge more experience than a fairly young Cumbria side and it showed.

Kendal decent place to watch the game

Bat on Ball 2025

British Summer Time starts tomorrow and on Friday the County Cricket Season starts with a full round of fixtures, league cricket will start in dribs and drabs throughout April.

Retired from playing last season, so just a watching brief this season, my old club Wyre will have a brand new pavillion to use when it is finished until the end of June they will be playing at the AKS school in Lytham. Wish them well for the forthcoming season. 

Will spend a lot of the season watching club cricket in various locations the promise of warmer days lies ahead and the sound of ball on bat

 

Pakistan Bazball

Lose series 2-1, win the first game on a wicket which was so flat they played the next mtch on it, they rack up 500 plus we respond with 800 plus win by an innings.

So every credit Pakistan pick seven spinners in their side and let the wicket do the rest 1 all

Off to Rawlpindi another bunsen burner, we win the ttoss and bat first massive advantage and yet still lose by 9 wickets. The last three wickets in the Pakistan first innings virtually double the score, proved to be crucial.

We collapse and leave them 36 to win, not a problem.

If only we played county cricket on turning wickets sadly though we play a slog festival named the Blundred, the powers that be will never learn 

2024 Cricket Season

 All ended in a predicatable deluge in tge last week of the season 7 of the 9 County Championship games ended in rain enforced draws and the England ODI game was washed out about 5pm.

Due to the tournament that should not be named the four day game has been pushed to the extremes of the season hence the soggy end and the cold start to the season.

As for Lancashire relegation from the top division failed miserably in the 50 over cup and got slaughtered by Sussex in the 20/20 Quarter Final at Hove.

For the first time cannot remember listening to Test Match special on the radio, the DEI element is wateing down the coverage, think Agnew retires from it this winter, the last of the proper commentators.

England blitzed the Test series winning all three games against the West Indies winning two and drawing one against Sri Lanka, barely watched any.

The four day game as usual is under threat from those idiots at the ECB who seem only to be interested of chasing big money.

What does the future hold is anybodies guess, personally prefer each county plays each other once, three day games which would mean less first class cricket but suspect them days are long gone, whatever the ECB do will no doubt be the wrong decision.

Retired from playing last week, lost interest and the body started to give up, comes to us all think it's called life

Game 5 Cod

 

Given games seemed to all kick off in different times these days, wrong but telly box rules these days, it was off to the Estdio Del Cod to see the Cod against the Mariners.
Can safely say have not seen Grimsby play for well over 20 years since which they have been on a journey from the Championship to the National League and now back in League 2 although just about survived last season in 21st place
Firstlt a reversal in a current trend Fleetwood now produce programmes although they are basic to say the least but welcome all the same.
Took in the view from the Highbury stand opposite the players entrance decent following of those from Grimsby, also as is the case no colour clash so Grimsby played in their change kit as you do.
It's probably true to say that Grimsby peaked after 100 seconds by which time they had missed two glorious chances with Vernam missing the best of the two.
Home side took the lead after 18 minutes it had been coming they had had a glorious chance about a minute before the second time Helm not convincing shot found the net.

Fleetwood looked the more likely but in truth rarely tested the keeper, a bit of Grimsby pressure brought a bit of excitement when the ball was bouncing into the crowd when a young urchin went to catch it missed and totalled a few advertising hoardings Epic stuff.
Second half bit of a non event Grimsby never looked like scoring most of the pressure from the home side dangerous from corners but didn't bag again.
Suspect neither of these two will challenge for Premiership honours and even worse news for those from Grimsby is that they had to go back Grimsby

Bottom before the season kicks off Game 4

 PNE 0 Sheffield United 2 Arblaster, Hamer

PNE line-up: Woodman; Whatmough, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, Thórdarson (Frøkjær, 72), Brady (Best, 87); Greenwood (Kesler-Hayden, 65), Keane (Osmajić, 65); Riis. Subs not used: Cornell, Storey, Ledson, Holmes, T.Mawene.

Sheffield United line-up: Davies; Gilchrist (Seriki, 72), Ahmedhodžić, Robinson, Burrows; Souza, Arblaster; Brooks (Brewster, 79), O’Hare (Peck, 90), Hamer (Slimane, 73); Moore. Subs not used: Grbić, Trusty, Souttar, Coulibaly, Marsh.

Attendance: 17,948 (4,029 Sheffield United fans).

Referee: Mr B Madley.

New start same result, 6 straight defeats, no goals in 540 minutes, eight of the last nine games we have failed to score. Two avoidable goals, the first unlucky, the second an error of epic magnitude. Two players almost replicating the Doyle/Beckford fracas at Hillsborough nine years ago. At least the new light worked unfortunately though they were pointing towards pitch.
Thordarson looks an asset wants the ball and runs with looks for team mates who have moved into good positions,(still at experimental testing that part)
Must be wondering what he has let himself into.
United resplendent in a shirt of a seemingly new invented colour, lots of new signings looking to bounce back to the top division straight away.
Fast start to the game both sides zipping the ball about, thefirst when it arrived not saying it had a certain amount of luck on it but can best be described as scabby. Great tackle by Thordarson, ball cannons into a home player beofre ending up at the feet of Brooks, he bided his time, found Arblaster who shot and saw his effort boing off a home player completely wrong footing Woodman.
This gave United confidence dominated for most of the half although apart from O'Hare who nearly wriggled his way through before losing the ball close to go.
A Thordarson shot from distance went over and in a brief period of pressure saw Riis fire in a tame effort.
Second period similar start to the first with us dominating, then came the second, firstly it's a classy finish by Hamer but...
United quick beral, superb advantage by Madley(had a pretty decent game to be fair to him) United attacked in numbers however moved fizzled out, Woodman quick through straight to Hamer who chipped it back over the keeper from 30 yards, the collective sight of despair from the home support probably could have been heard 30 miles away. No coming back from this.
United threatened to run riot after a rapid break down the right which was eventually cleared for a corner, Hughes and Brady nearly but not quite came to blows.
With substitutions Potts into midfield brought the only save from either keeper, pushed behind by Davies for a corner.
At the other end Moore fired in a powerful strike hitting the side netting.
United will only get better as for us we will improve by changing the tool in the manager's seat.

THE FANTASTIC VIEW


Ryan Lowe was left frustrated by the manner of the goals his side conceded in the 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United on the opening night of the 2024/25 season.

Ollie Arblaster gave the visitors an early first-half lead, courtesy of a huge deflection which left Freddie Woodman with no chance.

The goalkeeper inadvertently threw the ball to Gustavo Hamer in the 55th minute, though, and the midfielder lobbed North End’s No.1 to double his side’s advantage.

Speaking after the game, Ryan said: “I thought we started well. I thought there were some good moments in the game and we were well in the game before it ricochets and gets a deflection and bounces in.

“Obviously we’re disappointed by that and in the build-up to it we gave the ball away with a stray pass and we get caught. Before that, I thought we were well in the game. We started brightly and after that we got a foothold again and had a little bit more. We were getting balls down the sides and supporting the play.

“Second half, we started like a house on fire and came out of the blocks really fast. I thought we did well with that and then to concede a goal the way we did [was disappointing].

“Fred’s made a judgement to throw it. I thought his contribution before that was excellent, his kicking was top drawer, his decision-making was excellent. I think he got a little bit hurried because we came out the blocks in the second half and the place sort of erupted and wanted us to do things quickly.

“He’s made a judgement to throw it so he’s disappointed in that but there’s no criticism from us.”

North End had chances on the night themselves, with Emil Riis and Brad Potts among those to test Adam Davies in the Blades’ goal.


The manager was overall pleased with aspects of PNE’s play, having seen results of some of the things they’ve been working on throughout pre-season.

Asked what specifically he was happy with, Ryan said: “They passed their way out from the back, they worked their way up the pitch, we had a lot more possession.

“I want the boys getting up the pitch higher. We passed the ball forwards a lot more but could have been a bit more.

“We need to play forward more. We’ve got to have options, we’ve got to have runs. Late on we put two strikers on and they’ve got to make runs down the side, and when we’ve got two eights you can see Pottsy [Brad Potts] driving inside and Kaine [Kesler-Hayden] coming on, I thought he was excellent when he came on the pitch.

“We’ve obviously got to do more to win games of football, we know that. But we’re up against an outfit who have just come down from the Premier League and most of them lads have played in that division.

“We’re disappointed overall. I thought there were some good moments in the game which we’ll have a look at and analyse, and we can just keep getting better. That’s going to be our message.”

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder:

"We showed we can play a different way. We controlled the tempo and pace of the game. I thought the two in midfield were incredible and dominated that area of the pitch.

“I keep saying it’s a fresh beginning. Not being disrespectful, that includes my period (last season) as well. This is a new team with the biggest amount of changes of any club in the Championship this season.

“We still have work to do and there is a hell of a long way to go and a hell of a lot of work to do.

“We will have difficult days but we have to enjoy days like this as well because of the incredible nature of the Premier League and what that was all about last year.”

The unique experience of being bottom before the season kicks off GLORIOUS