Match Report Ramsbottom 1st XI v Clitheroe 1st XI – 14th May 2023
RCC 157 all out (43.1 overs) CCC 161 for 5 (36.4 overs)
Scorecard here
Another poor performance sees us rooted at the bottom of the table
Rammy supporters attended Chatburn Road more in hope than expectation with us fielding a severely weakened bowling attack. Winning the toss and electing to bat first our only hope lay in us posting a score in excess of 200 to give us any chance. Unfortunately, as in all our league matches thus far our opening batters were unable to give us a base to build on and we quickly slipped to 24 for 3.
As seems the norm it was left to our pro Sen and Harry to repair the damage. This they did in no mean style scoring freely and forcing Clitheroe to make changes from one end with the ex-Rammy player, Sam Halstead, the only one causing our batters any difficulties.
They took our score to 98 when Harry got a decent ball from Sam and played on for a fine 39. This was in the 25th over of the game and with Sam nearly bowled out we had the opportunity to capitalise and post a challenging total.
Sadly, with the score on 108, Sen who had looked in great nick and had just reached his 50, played a shot he will want to forget, cutting a wide short delivery from Cole Hayman into the hands of deep point.
After that, apart from a brief stand between Jake Walker and Jonny Dack, who both got into the 20s, we capitulated and were bowled out for 157 in the 43rd over. This was a poor effort as this is a fast scoring ground and apart from Halstead and to a certain extent Hayman there should have been nothing to fear from their bowling.
The fact that Clitheroe reached the target in the 37th over tells you everything. Sen was by far and away the pick of our bowlers with 2 for 33 from his allotted 15 overs. One has to give credit to Brad Wilson, drafted into the side as a result of the cry offs, for picking up 3 wickets including that of the Clitheroe pro Munaweera thanks to a stunning Josh Dentith boundary catch.
Man of the Match – Harry Caton
Footnote – this was a difficult watch for those of us who love Rammy. The club cannot afford to be relegated but unless we get more commitment from our squad that scenario seems a distinct possibility.
Our ground is one of the finest in the North West, a fact pointed out to me on Saturday by Micheal Henderson, the well known cricket writer for the Spectator and Telegraph. He had turned up hoping there would be some cricket being played and to pay his subs, having visited the club several years ago to do an article and being so impressed he became a member. His words to me were “it should be a privilege to play on this ground”. Those are sentiments I echo.
