Ribblesdale League: Nawaz off to flyer (12 May 1999)

12 May 1999

Ribblesdale League: Nawaz off to flyer

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Shahid Nawaz has vowed to repay Ribblesdale Wanderers' show of faith by bringing some silverware to Church Meadow this season.

The Pakistani professional failed to show up for the opening two weeks of the Ribblesdale League season after experiencing problems getting a flight.

At one point, the club were considering a replacement but they opted to stand by their man and it's paid instant dividends as both Nawaz and Wanderers have made a flying start.

The Clitheroe-based club top the league with a 100 per cent record going into this weekend's game against rock-bottom Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

And Nawaz has already rattled up 316 runs in just three innings - including an unbeaten 159 against Settle - at an average of 158.

Now, he is aiming to steer Wanderers to their first title since 1963 and hopes to break the league batting record again in the process.

"I'm looking forward to repaying their faith by scoring lots of runs and winning something for the club," said Nawaz.

"I would have loved to have come over for the first game but I had problems because of the cricket World Cup.

"They were giving away so many visas back home, the flights were very busy.

"I kept ringing the club up all the time, saying 'Don't panic, I'm coming.' "They stood by me and now I'm hoping to give them something back."

It didn't take the 28-year-old long to get back in the groove.

After smashing 1,373 runs to break the league batting record last season, he kicked off the new campaign with an unbeaten 159 in the win over Settle.

Two weeks ago, he caressed his way to 66 to set up another league win against Baxenden.

And last weekend, he hammered 91 off the Baxenden attack again to set up a thrilling last ball win in the Jennings Ramsbottom Cup.

If he can maintain that sort of form he is sure to come close to breaking his record.

"It shouldn't be that difficult because I should have got more runs than I did last season but the last three games were called off because of the weather," said Nawaz.

"But it's only the start. I want to win every game.

"Things have changed in my mind since I was here last season.

"I'm trying to stay at the crease for as long as I can now rather than trying to hit everything and then putting my team-mates under pressure by getting out.

"And if I do that then the runs will come." Wanderers will be confident of extending their four-game winning run at home to struggling Immanuel at Church Meadow this weekend as the New Lane club have yet to win a point in the league this season.

But the question is whether or not they can sustain their blistering start over the course of the season.

Nawaz, for one, believes they can, provided the Wanderers bowling attack can consistently come up trumps.

"We've got a great chance but it depends on how many bowling points we can pick up. That's going to be the key.

"I'm struggling myself with my own bowling at the moment because I'm not fully fit.

"And I think we're missing Dave Howard as well who has gone to join Rishton.

"He was a good bowler and he used to chip in with some runs as well.

"But we've made a brilliant start. The lads won the first couple of games without me and you can't ask for more than being top of the league at this stage of the season."

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