Take Two

You're all in for a treat this week. I've been saving up some reports (how dare you accuse me of forgetting last week!) so this time around it's not just one match being covered. Nope, you get double bubble this week with two league games for the price of one. Free!

Let's begin with the first one from Saturday two weeks ago. Riddlesden travelled to Cowling on the first truly warm day of the season, lost the toss and were put into bat. And things started poorly with the first two wickets being lost for just 8 runs. Quaddy and Akeel (15) steadied the ship, then Gully (25) provided good support to Quaddy also. Just over half way we were 75-5 and things could go either way but then came the partnership of the match as David Robinson (36) joined Quaddy in a stand of 77 to push the score up towards 150. Quaddy finished unbeaten on 56 out of a total of 166-6.

In response, Cowling got off to an equally unfortunate start quickly being 7-2 as Bibler and Zulie struck early. Again there was a bit of a recovery, reaching 49 with just one further wicket lost but then an inspired bowling change based on pitch conditions saw occasional bowler Jamil pick up 2 for 17, and Arfan Mahmood continued his excellent form with 2 for 11 as Cowling collapsed to 60-6. Then back came ever-youthful Zullie (4-13) to wrap up proceedings with 3 quick wickets as Cowling succumbed to 67 all out, giving Riddlesden another excellent win.

Now onto last Saturday where, unbelievably, Riddlesden actually played at Riddlesden! First home game of the year in June! It was a scorcher.

A very young, inexperienced, but keen Sutton in Craven team arrived nice and early and set up camp. They seemed confident (maybe not), certainly didn't see too much need to warm up so I assume that was the case. Like I said, it was hot so sitting in the sun made sense. Having won the toss they decided they'd like a bat in good conditions.

Zullie and Bibler quickly proved to be a little bit too hot for the visitors as both openers were dismissed for ducks. But no. 3 Nathan Coventry looked good on his way to 26, and no.5 Dylan Hanson (13) dug in manfully pushing the score on to 54-5, but then a rapid collapse (Zullie 5-21, Bibler 4-24, Arfan 1-0 off 3 balls) saw them finish on 63 all out.

Quaddy and Kamran came out to start the run chase. They both did well - although both received a lifeline after being dropped. They did so well in fact that nobody else needed to bat as they polished off the runs in just over 10 overs, scoring 20 and 44 respectively.

Another 3 points wrapped up in - and in rapid time. And it still so fine and sunny. What to do? Well why not have a quick 7-a-side friendly match amongst ourselves. With the almost-international level umpiring of Ian Brown in charge everyone had a fun time in the sun. Apparently somebody kept score, I have no idea who won... But it was great to see everyone enjoying themselves as Riddlesden moved to second in the table and remained unbeaten this season.

So onto this week. Probably our biggest test of the season do far as we travel to Oakworth to face the 3rd place team. Let's keep up the winning streak!