Lancashire League: Clash of the entertainers (7 Aug 1998)
Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall may have only six wins between in the Lancashire League this season but their showdown at Acre Bottom tomorrow still promises to be one of the most entertaining games of the day
07-Aug-1998
7 August 1998
Clash of the entertainers
The Lancashire Evening Telegraph
Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall may have only six wins between in the
Lancashire League this season but their showdown at Acre Bottom
tomorrow still promises to be one of the most entertaining games of
the day.
That's largely down to the contest between professionals Keith
Arthurton and Ian Harvey - two of the league's most in-form players.
Rawtenstall run machine Arthurton goes back to his old club with
successive centuries to his name, nearly 1,000 runs in the bank and
an average hovering around the 100 mark.
And Harvey is fresh from a seven-wicket haul last weekend and a
century the week before as he looks to put the brakes on the West
Indian's run spree.
Rawtenstall skipper Keith Roscoe set the scene as he described the
clash as potentially the "classic encounter of two different
continents the flair of the Caribbean and the grit and determination
of Australia."
Roscoe added: "I would have thought it would be one of the battles of
the day, especially with Ramsbottom being Keith's other Lancashire
League club.
"One of his very few failures this season was against Ramsbottom so
he will be more than determined to do well against them."
Arthurton's record is particularly impressive in such a wet summer
when wickets have not been batsman friendly.
However, Roscoe acknowledges that Rawtenstall have been held back by
the lack of a penetrating bowler to bowl sides out. Ramsbottom also
have just three wins but Roscoe rates them highly and believes that
on a straight overs format they would be a top-four side.
And he recognises the threat posed by Harvey who took 8-32 and
blasted a quick-fire 82 not out as Ramsbottom won the return fixture
earlier this season. "You have to watch him all the time, whether
he's got bat or ball in his hand. He's a good performer," added
Roscoe.
There will be two substitute professionals in action tomorrow with
East Lancashire fielding young Lancashire strike bowler Paul Ridgeway
from Settle in their game at Burnley.
Mike Watkinson is to sub-pro for Accrington while Franlyn Rose steps
in for the injured Otis Gibson at Enfield.
Tomorrow's fixtures: Bacup v Haslingden, Burnley v East Lancs,
Enfield v Colne, Nelson v Accrington, Ramsbottom v Rawtenstall,
Rishton v Lowerhouse, Todmorden v Church.
Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)