Following on from last weeks look at the start of the 1996 title winning season today we look back at May’s fixtures which included the first home game of the season plus the first victory.
Unfortunately due to a lack of match reports during May scores are missing from a couple of the matches.
May started with the first home game and first victory of the season against Cherry Tree on a difficult wicket at The Applegarth. Batting first Earby got off to a poor start and were indebted to a fine 56 from Andrew Pickles to register 156 for 9 from the allotted overs despite a 6 wicket haul for Cherry Tree’s Gary Bolton who took 6 for 63. In reply Cherry Tree’s run chase never got going as they were bowled out for only 92 with the highlight being two slick catches from professional Jonathon Harvey to kick start the season.
Earby 156-9 Cherry Tree 92
The following week saw a break from league action with the 1st round of the Vaux Ramsbottom Cup. With a home draw against Clitheroe Earby batted first and scored a total of 101 which proved just enough as Clitheroe fell 2 runs short.
Earby 101 Clitheroe 99
Following the cup victory it was a return to league action the following week with a double header with a home game against a struggling Whalley side on the Saturday who were rooted at the bottom of the league table still looking for their first victory of the season. The match went with form as Earby recorded their 2nd league victory of the season with a comprehensive win as Paul Mackintosh was the only Whalley batsman to reach double figures.
The following day Earby inflicted local rivals Barnoldswick’s 1st defeat of the season in the West Craven derby however unfortunately there is no match report for the game so we don’t have the scores.
The last game of the month came against the 1995 champions Padiham at The Applegarth. Batting first Earby scored 175 for 8 from their allotted overs and in reply Padiham could only manage 131 all out despite a superb half century late in the game by Nasser Mahmood. The 33 run victory for Earby left them sharing second place in the league table at the end of May along with Barnoldswick with Read leading the way at the top.
Earby 165-8 Padiham 131
Looking forward to next weeks instalment and a look at June’s results sees a record breaking innings from professional Jonathon Harvey.
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