Latest news with #Padiham
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Read rally to beat Little Lever and lift T20 Trophy
Will Wrathall has praised the resilience of his team-mates after Read claimed the first trophy of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League summer on Sunday, beating Little Lever in the final to claim the Birtwistle Cup T20 crown. Captain Wrathall and co triumphed at a Finals Day split across two Sundays at Astley Bridge because of the weather. They beat hosts Bridge in a rain-affected semi-final last Sunday, chasing a revised target of 89 in 12 overs to win by eight wickets. The Sunday just gone, they then squeezed past 2023 champions Little Lever by two wickets chasing 156. Earlier in the day, Little Lever had beaten Padiham in the semi-final. South African overseas amateur Zadian Muller stood out in both games for a Read side who had hit a bit of a flat spot in their season leading up to Sunday. In recent weeks, they have suffered two damaging defeats to Padiham - one in the semi-final of the Hamer Cup and another in the league. The latter, on Saturday, meant they were replaced at the Premiership's summit by Farnworth Social Circle. 'We lost one game in close to 40 in the league and Hamer Cup (since the start of last season),' said Wrathall. 'And then we lost three in four. 'So we're not used to losing. 'We're trying to figure out how to lose and how to bounce back. 'Sunday was a great way to show we can get over the line and we can go on and do it. Every credit to the lads in that sense.' The aforementioned Muller took a wicket and a catch and hit 44 off 28 balls opening the batting in the semi-final win over Astley Bridge before claiming two wickets with his seamers and hitting 49 off 26 in the final win over Little Lever. He was named player-of-the-match in a final which saw Little Lever post 155-8 thanks to opener Cameron Murray's 52 off 26. Earlier in the day, he crashed a stunning 104 off 56 in the thrilling two-run semi-final win over Padiham as the latter narrowly failed to chase 194. In the final, Read had to recover from 85-5 after 10.1 overs. When captain Wrathall fell at 127-7 after 16.2, the game was very much in the balance. But a busy unbeaten 20 from Elliot Lowes saw his side home. 'It was a topsy-turvy game,' said Wrathall. 'I don't think anyone really thought we were going to win it until we actually did. 'Duckworth Lewis was on the board and was pretty much level all the way through, so it shows how tight it was. 'But fair play to Little Lever, they lost in great spirits. They're a great set of lads. 'Zadian got runs on Saturday in losing to Padiham (55). He had a really good weekend. 'He's not had a bad season by any stretch, but he wanted more. Things have started to click for him now, which is a great sign for us. 'He's brilliant to have around. He's obviously a great player, but he's so knowledgeable about the game. It's like having another professional around, really.' The NWCL posted a video on their X account on Sunday evening of the Read players celebrating the winning moment on their dressing room balcony, with Wrathall front and centre. 'It was a funny one that,' said the skipper. 'The Little Lever fans were below us. They weren't saying anything out of order, but we did hear them say, 'Wrathall's out now, we'll win'. So it was nice to show them that we can bat all the way down and that we're never out of a game.' Read are now in place to complete the NWCL trophy set by the end of September. Hamer Cup champions last summer, they have now won the Birtwistle Cup and are very much in the Premiership title race - just a point behind Farnworth Social Circle with eight games to go. They also won last season's Championship league title. Wrathall continued: 'We actually spoke about that on Sunday, and someone referred to it being like Chelsea, who have won every title as well, including the Conference League and the Club World Cup. 'It's definitely something we've thought about even though it's not at the forefront of our minds. We just have to take it one game at a time. That next game is a blockbuster top-of-the-table Premiership clash with Social Circle at Read on Saturday. 'We're coming up against Jameel Stuart, who is averaging nearly 130 in the league. On Read, he could be quite scary when you think of how small the boundaries are and how good the pitch is,' added Wrathall. 'But, seriously, we're confident. 'I saw a couple their lads on Sunday, Chris Lane and Max Perry, and we were speaking about it. 'We're both really excited about it.' n The T20 Area Final between Preston and Read takes place on Sunday (1pm start).
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pro Naseer has positively altered the Padiham T20 mindset
Toby Burrows says in-form professional Iftikhar Naseer has inspired a new-found enthusiasm for T20 cricket within Padiham's dressing room as they prepare for Sunday's Birtwistle Cup Finals Day, hosted by Astley Bridge. Padiham will face 2023 champions Little Lever in the day's first semi-final (10.30am) before Bridge face Read (1pm) ahead of an early-evening final (4.15pm). All four teams will battle it out for the first title of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League summer, one which Lostock won this time last year. 'From a club point of view, we love T20,' said captain and spinner Burrows. 'We reached, and hosted, Finals Day a couple of years ago. 'From a playing point of view, we've not actually got a group of lads that have loved it too much, really. There's quite a few of us who aren't the biggest fans of T20. 'But this year, Ifty coming in, it's probably his favourite format because he played a lot of it. And he's come in and instilled a bit more of a seriousness and an enjoyment into this competition for us.' Asked why Padiham's players haven't really taken to T20 previously, Burrows said: 'I just think a lot of our players prefer the longer format. It's just the way they've been brought up. 'So it's probably more of an attitude thing. 'Maybe part of that has come from me. It's not my favourite format. It doesn't do me any favours with the ball. 'But, honestly, Ifty has come in and changed our whole attitude towards it. And that's probably fed into our longer-format cricket as well, that extra positivity. 'Whenever he's speaking to one of the lads, its all about intent, intent, intent. It's been a really good thing and a bit of an eye-opener for all of us in terms of how we need to play.' Burrows continued: 'We beat Whalley in the quarter-finals on Friday, and Ifty was involved in a run-out with Callum Clarke. Callum got run-out, but next ball Ifty hits it for six over long-off. 'I don't think many people would ever think to do that. But it's that intent to go again.' Local pro Naseer, a replacement for Jack Edgar ahead of 2025, has been Padiham's standout performer in a T20 competition which saw them win three of five games to finish second behind Read in Group One North. As Burrows said, they then beat Whalley in the last eight last week. 'We lost our first game to Foulridge. From then on, I don't think many would have expected us to be at Finals Day!' chuckled Burrows. Naseer has been opening the batting in T20 and the second leading run-scorer in the competition with 280 from six matches, behind only Read's Joe Halstead (327). Naseer's haul includes scores of 81 and 71 - the latter against Whalley - and he has also taken eight wickets with his mystery spin: 'He probably bowls six different balls in an over,' said Burrows. With his left-arm spin, Burrows is Padiham's leading T20 wicket-taker this season with 12, while South African overseas amateur Zander Van Tonder has been excellent too with 11 wickets and 171 runs. 'We're going to do everything we can to get this first trophy in the bag, and then hopefully it gives us that momentum to take through into the league and to the Hamer Cup,' continued the skipper. 'It's whoever has a day out, isn't it. You only really need one or two players, don't you, to perform. 'If somebody gets a big score or someone blows away a few at top order, it can be game over.' Safe to say, whatever happens on Sunday at Sharples Park, Padiham will enjoy themselves. After all, all-round pro Naseer would not have it any other way. 'He's definitely given us more of that carefree attitude towards T20,' said Burrows, whose side currently sit fifth-placed in the Premiership league table having won six of 12 games so far this season. 'That's not being reckless or not being bothered about it, not at all. He's just all about that positivity. 'And he's such a great guy to be around. 'You always know something's going to happen. It's never going to be dull, and he definitely gets people on the edge of their seats.' Adding extra intrigue to Sunday's semi-final against Little Lever is the fact it's a dress-rehearsal for next month's Hamer Cup final at Read (August 10). But Burrows added: 'T20 is a completely different format. It's almost like a different sport in many ways, so I don't think whatever happens on Sunday will carry too much weight in terms of the Hamer Cup. 'But I guess it does set it up nicely. We also play them the weekend before in the league. We'll certainly be pretty familiar with each other over the next month.'
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Padiham shock holders Read to set up Little Lever final
Little Lever's Adam Carter hist a century against Blackrod in his side's Hamer Cup semi-final triumph. Picture by Harry McGuire Padiham will get the opportunity to win a second Hamer Cup title in three seasons after shocking reigning champions Read in a nail-biting Sunday semi-final. Padiham will face last year's finalists Little Lever in next month's final - Sunday, August 10 - at Read after the Bolton side beat Blackrod in their last-four tie. Advertisement Read went into the semi-final, at Padiham, having only lost one game across all Antony Axford North West Cricket League competitions in 2025. They are top of the Premiership table and had already qualified for T20 Finals Day. But they were beaten by two wickets as Padiham successfully chased down 153 to win with 3.1 overs spare. Little Lever, meanwhile, were more commanding winners at home to Blackrod. They posted 259-4 from their 40 overs and bowled their Premiership rivals out for 171. Advertisement Padiham, Hamer Cup champions in 2023 - the first year of the NWCL structure - triumphed over Settle that year. They are currently fifth in the Premiership. They limited Read to 152-9 from their 40 overs, with South African overseas amateur Zander Van Tonder and Oliver Parr claiming three wickets apiece. From 68-6, Read did well to post what they did. Joe Marshall came in with the score at 8-1 after five overs and batted through the majority of the innings for a patient 49 off 85 balls with five fours and a six. Advertisement Wicketkeeper Ben Dinning also contributed 21 not out off 14 balls from number 10. In reply, Padiham made a positive start and reached 46-1 inside nine overs. However, they fell to 93-5 in the 27th over to bring the game back into the balance. The last of those five wickets was opener Joe Edgar, for 36. They later fell to 120-8 in the 33rd over, with Read the favourites at that stage as Zadian Muller, Sehan Weerasinghe, Chris Holt and Joe Halstead all took two wickets apiece. Advertisement But wicketkeeper-batter Tom Turner was Padiham's hero with an unbeaten 44 off 35 balls with four sixes. He hit two fours and two sixes as 20 came off five balls from Jack Wood in the the 37th over to seal a home victory and progression to another cup final. Little Lever set Premiership rivals Blackrod a 260-target thanks mainly to a brilliant 110no off 113 balls, including five sixes, from Adam Carter. He came in at number three - 43-1 - and shared 99 for the third wicket with Pakistani professional Muhammad Junaid from 68-2. Advertisement Junaid contributed 43 off 34 balls, with 37 from opener Cameron Murray and 31 from Adil Nisar also included in a strong batting performance which Blackrod failed to match. Their Sri Lankan pro Navod Paranavithana top-scored with 48 off 26 balls and helped them get off to a good start at 44-0. But Junaid continued his good day, claiming 5-31 from eight overs of left-arm spin. He removed captain Joey Pryle for 38 - the only other Blackrod player to pass 20. Advertisement Little Lever prevailed by 88 runs and will get the opportunity to avenge last year's final defeat to Read, who will play host to this year's final as defending champions. There will be a reserve day of Sunday, August 25, should the final not be played, or finished, at the first attempt. The final will start at 1pm.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- BBC News
Man arrested after two hurt in hit and run in Padiham
Two people have been injured - one seriously - after a car mounted the pavement and struck them before leaving the happened on Burnley Road in Padiham, near the junction with Ightenhill Street, at about 19:00 BST on Sunday, Lancashire Police said.A local woman aged in her 40s suffered a serious but not life-threatening injury while man, also from the town and in his 40s, suffered a more minor injury, the force said.A 19-year-old man from Burnley has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury dangerous driving, drug driving and failing to stop after an accident. Police said the car failed to stop at the scene but shortly afterwards a blue Toyota Aygo, was found close to the junction of Grove Lane and Ingham Street, which they believe was the same car Anthony Beckett asked for any witnesses or anyone with CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell or mobile footage to get in touch. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pro Paranavithana fires Blackrod into Knockout quarters
Blackrod and Salesbury, the two remaining Anthony Axford North West Cricket League sides in the draw, will meet in the quarter-finals of the Lancashire Knockout Cup later this month after securing contrasting Sunday successes. Salesbury beat Blackpool of the Northern Pyramid Premier League 1-0 in a bowl out after their second-round clash could not be played because of wet weather at the Toplex Salesbury Cricket Ground. Advertisement Spinner Sam Bristol was their accurate hero amidst a series of misses from both sides. Blackrod, meanwhile, won in more conventional fashion at home to NWCL rivals Padiham in a fixture which was unaffected by the weather at their Vicarage Road home. Sri Lankan professional Navod Paranavithana top-scored with an opening 72 off 100 balls in Blackrod's 184-8 in 45 overs after they elected to bat first. He was the only home batter to reach 20, even though five other team-mates made it into double figures. Padiham captain Toby Burrows led the way with 3-13 from nine accurate overs of spin, while Oliver Parr and professional Iftikhar Naseer struck twice apiece. Advertisement Naseer bowled his opposite number Paranavithana at 141-6 in the 38th over. But, crucially, another 43 runs were added. Charlie Fletcher's unbeaten 19 from number seven was central to that. In their defence, Paranavithana struck twice, but the new-ball seam of Matthew Readey was key with 4-22 from his nine overs as Padiham fell from health at 78-2 in the 27th over to 140 all out in the 41st. The key passage of play came when Readey struck three times in the 31st over, which saw Padiham fall from 88-3 to 88-6. He bowled South African overseas amateur Zander Van Tonder and former skipper Owen Deakin-Pickard and trapped Cameron Thorne lbw. The latter two came in successive deliveries. Advertisement From there, Padiham were always swimming against the tide. Pro Naseer top-scored with 64 from number four and was last man out, caught off Thushendra De Zoysa. Blackrod will now host Salesbury on June 29 in the last eight, in which they will be joined by Burnley, Clitheroe, Fleetwood, Formby, Netherfield and Northern. Formby will play Fleetwood at home after Sunday wins against Appleby Eden and Roe Green, respectively. Burnley will host Netherfield. Burnley beat Longridge and Netherfield triumphed against Lowerhouse. And Northern will host Clitheroe after they won at Prestwich, who were last year's joint-champions with Ormskirk. Clitheroe, meanwhile, beat Shaw. Prestwich had knocked Ormskirk out in last month's Round-One repeat of last year's final, which had failed to finish - hence joint champions.
