Ribblesdale League: In the field (19 Aug 1998)

19 August 1998

Ribblesdale League: In the field

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

In-form Clitheroe have re-emerged as Ribblesdale League title challengers on the back of six straight wins and face a potentially make-or-break derby clash with Ribblesdale Wanderers on Sunday.

Crucially, though, the Chatburn Road side will be without professional Jonathan Fielding who has played a major part in getting Clitheroe back into the championship hunt.

Fielding took seven wickets as Baxenden were despatched on Saturday and then the following day he picked up three more against Barnoldswick as Clitheroe completed a winning double-header to move up to third place.

Earlier this season the all-rounder suggested it may be his last season with the club and if he were to leave he is certainly doing everything possible to finish on a high.

"He deserves to win something. He's a brilliant professional," said skipper Phil Bishop.

Fielding, who plays Minor Counties cricket for Cumberland and will be missing on Sunday due to a call-up by the English Cricket Board, is within six wickets of equalling the 102 he captured two years ago.

The slow left-armer is therefore set to smash that record and has also prospered as an opening batsman in recent weeks, taking his run aggregate for the season beyond 650.

"His runs have been invaluable and over the last month he has batted exceptionally well," added Bishop.

Clitheroe will have a substitute professional in their ranks to face Wanderers but Fielding's absence will be a blow.

Bishop added: "He's going to be missed but it's down to the 10 amateurs. Professionals don't always win the game. You can't rely on them week-in, week-out so it's down to the amateurs to win the game and we will be looking to everbody to perform." Clitheroe first entertain Oswaldtwistle Immanuel on Saturday when they will be hoping to maintain their momentum ahead of Wanderers' visit to Chatburn Road.

"If both teams win on Saturday and it's a sunny day on Sunday there should be a big crowd. It looks like Shahid Nawaz might break the league record so we will have to find a way to stop him," said Bishop.

Padiham remain warm title favourites but Clitheroe are just one of four sides hoping to capitalise should they slip-up.

Bishop knows his side need to win their last five games and believes that as well as Wanderers, Cherry Tree and Great Harwood - who play Padiham on the final day of the season - could still have a say in the destination of the title.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)