New Season, Division, ...and website woes

Two games into the new season and I'm already behind on the blog! I know - but I blame the website provider, everything's changed since last year and I've had to spend hours rebuilding it all...

Anyway, enough of my grumbling - it's 2022, Covid is distant history, the sun has shone for a month and Riddlesden CC have embarked on an exciting new adventure! Having become the third division champions last season (unbeaten might I add), we're now plying our trade in the second division against tougher opposition and in generally more professional climes. And we aim to succeed!

Firstly, as ever there's been a number of off-season activities. The toilets have been spruced up (a job that took far longer than anticipated), more trees have been planted, a riverside net has been erected in an attempt to save a few balls, and a new path is being built around the outside of the pitch. Sadly we suffered another break-in after the season ended - the garage this time with a number of tools and equipment stolen, so additional security measures have had to be put in place too. And of course the pitch flooded when the river broke its banks in February. Once more the pitch was under 4-5 feet of water for a while, but testament to our efforts on the drainage over the last few years, this drained away in a matter of days leaving us ready for the new season.

Now onto the team. We've said farewell to some old faces, but hello to some new - scratch that - old faces, in particular Aftab & Shanny, plus 'Coach' who technically joined last year but didn't play until this year. We look strong in both batting and bowling so things are looking good there. I'm interested to see how the fielding goes this year - catching improved last season, and Kamran's deadly on a runout, but not sure who's going to be the sprinters doing the hard chasing on the boundaries...

And finally the match(es).

First up was a visit from Silsden. Last year they finished 4th so a decent team. With a new points system in place awarding batting & bowling bonuses, it looked a good toss to win and bat first on a sunny but blustery day to rack up those batting points. It turned out the team didn't know about the new system, but bat first they did. After a slow start thanks to good Silsden bowling, Qaddy and Nav eased the score along nicely. Naveed was unlucky to be caught superbly when we were all applauding a good shot, but Aftab then came to the crease to score 25 in quick time. Akeel, Gully & Arshad all provided more than capable support to Qaddy before he was finally dismissed for 61. Zullie smashed a six and hurt a couple of fielders who bravely, but foolishly, opted to stop two of his shots with their feet, and Riddlesden completeds the innings on 186 all out. Maximum batting points having reached 180.

Zullie (3-25) and Arfan (1-16) opened the bowling. They kept things very tight, barely allowing Silsden to hit the ball off the square. Kamran picked up another run-out victim and Silsden were in trouble. By the time Aftab came into the attack they were already way behind the pace and 4 wickets down - his 3 wickets didn't help their cause. Arshad came on to mop up the last 2 wickets with Silsden all out for just 87.

Maximum 20 points for Riddlesden, just 5 for Silsden.

Week 2 saw Riddlesden at home again, this time against Long Lee. This time Long Lee won the toss and chose to bat - again Zullie and Arfan kept things tight, with the score crawling to 9-1 after 9 overs! Scoreboard pressure began to tell and Long Lee wickets began to fall, Zullie eventually claiming a five-for from his economical 12 over spell. Richard Ayrton was unlucky to be run out and Jamie Fullwood had to laugh having seen an edge hit Naveed on the thigh and loop up invitingly for Arfan to take the catch, but other than an enterprising 30 off 22 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) from Shahbaz Ahmed, the Long Lee innings subsided to 90 all out in under 30 overs.

In response Kamran hit an almost run-a-ball 26 (5 fours) in a first wicket partnership of 55, before Nav & Shanny saw Riddlesden home in just 15 overs. Naveed finished with bang on fifty not out from just 43 balls, including 7 fours and a couple of sixes.

So once again, Riddlesden received full 20 points. Long Lee went away empty handed with no points.

Next week we have our first away game - away at fellow promotion winners from last year Glusburn. They share the honour of being on maximum points after 2 games with us, so technically this is a top of the table clash. Early days yet though - especially with the new points system - things can change rapidly!