Vaux Ribblesdale League: Cherry delight (1 Sep 1997)

1 September 1997

Vaux Ribblesdale League: Cherry delight

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

CHERRY Tree clinched an amazing league and cup double in the Vaux Ribblesdale League with a spectacular performance. The champions were bowled out for 184 with professional Naeem Ashraf scoring 66. He went on to take five wickets as Edenfield were shot out for 69.

It is the club's first title since 1989 and only the second time the double has been achieved, Earby the successful side in 1991.

Skipper David Hayes said: "This has been a magnificent season and all our players have made my job particularly easy.

"There is no doubt that we have been the best side but Clitheroe have done well to push us all the way."

All fixtures in the league were cancelled on Sunday as a mark of respect following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, but Saturday's programme had gone ahead in bright sunshine. David Usher rattled up 74 as Baxenden captured five points against Whalley and Great Harwood also claimed victory despite being dismissed for 104. They hit back by dismissing Blackburn Northern for 74 with Keith Simpson taking seven wickets for 44 runs.

Padiham took the honours against Earby after the Applegarth professional Jonathan Harvey had captured 5-57 to dismiss the visitors for 132. Nigel Pickles scored 52 for Earby, but the side collapsed around him and were bowled out for 85.

Matthew Lawrence rattled up 103 not out as Oswaldtwistle set a target of 215-7, but Clitheroe swept to a seven wicket victory with Bolton 88 and Jonathan Fielding 67 not out.

Read survived a thriller, winning by one run against Ribblesdale Wanderers.

Shahid Nawaz scored 131 for the home side as they reached 204 all out. Ribblesdale looked set to claim victory but five wicket performances from Singh and Kadir Ahmed dismissed them for 203.

Barnoldswick captured a rare victory after bowling Settle out for 108 reaching a winning total with five wickets down.

Results: Baxenden 195-6 (5pts), Whalley 191-8; Blackburn Northern 74 (2), Great Harwood 104 (7); Cherry Tree 184 (7), Edenfield 69 (2); Earby 85 (2), Padiham 132 (7); Oswaldtwistle 217-7, Clitheroe 216-3 (5); Read 204 (7), Ribblesdale Wanderers 203 (2); Settle 108, Barnoldswick 109-5 (7).

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