Rammy beat Leaders
In what is proving to be a ‘topsy-turvy’ season: the Rams pulled off a great win against top of the table side Burnley.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Ramsbottom were soon in trouble with both JJ Fielding and Alex Olpin in the shed with only one run on the board. Skipper Tom Parton was then joined by sub professional: Ashar Zaidi and the pair set about repairing the damage against some fiery bowling from Cole Hayman and Joe McCluskie.
This they did and after a steady start runs started to flow forcing bowling changes from the home side. Both batsmen played with confidence defending when necessary and punishing the bad ball. Just after the partnership had passed the 100 mark Parton fell LBW for 48 attempting a sweep.
Rehan Udwadia joined Zaidi at the crease and looked in good touch before being somewhat harshly adjudged LBW for 12. Brad Fielding also looked in good touch before he unselfishly sacrificed his wicket being run out.
Things then got decidedly worse for Rammy as Zaidi lost his wicket trying a reverse sweep and the lower middle order, not for the first time this season collapsed like a pack of cards leaving the last pair together with just over 160 on the board with two overs to go.
In the penultimate over Dan Pyke to a liking to the Burnley spinner – Bharat Tripathi, hitting him for two massive sixes, one of which went out of the ground. Pyke hit another four in the final over to take our score to 186.
With just two balls remaining the Rams presented the opposition with two bonus points with a reckless run out.
A total of 187, although challenging, was well within the capabilities of Burnley’s powerful batting line-up. Ramsbottom needed to bowl well and although Jack Wynn and Dan Pyke put it on the spot Burnley’s openers looked in no trouble till the eighth over until Dan Pyke took two wickets in two balls. Bedford fell first LBW then the dangerous Marshall was brilliantly caught by Zaidi diving to his left and taking the ball one handed about an inch of the floor after it had ricocheted off Tom Parton’s thigh.
This brought the Burnley sub pro – Louis Du Plooy to the wicket and with opener Edward, the pair looked very solid despite some tight bowling from the Acre Bottom boys.
At 57: Du Plooy survived a stumping chance and things started to look bleak. Nobody told Pyke and with the score on 63 he struck another double blow by clean bowling Edwards and ex Burnley Pro Chris Holt in successive deliveries.
Some five runs later, Matt Burdaky (brought in the side to replace the injured Fielding) and looking decidedly frail after a night celebrating the 2nd teams cup exploits the previous day, had the home wicket keeper Burton caught behind. This brought the dangerous McCluskie to the crease and together with Du Plooy the pair started to turn the tide in the home sides favour. The pair took the score to 119 without appearing in any trouble until Du Plooy tried to play a ramp shot off the now ‘half sobered up’ Bird and only succeeded in turning the ball onto his middle stump.
The weather then took a turn in proceedings as rumbles of thunder suggested a downpour was imminent and although there were a few overs remaining, Burnley were well behind on DLS.
This obviously played on McCluskie’s mind as he took a wild yahoo at Zaidi and top edged the ball to JJ.Fielding.
In fairness to the next two batsmen they never gave up and they took the score to 143 before Rehan produced a brilliant piece of fielding to get a run out.
Bharat Tripathi was the next to go well caught in the deep by Brad to give Wynny a well-deserved wicket and it was only fitting that the last wicket fell to man of the match Pyke to give him his second five-for in consecutive games.
This was an outstanding performance in the field by Ramsbottom and as taken us to 4th place in the league with everything to play for.