WALSDEN'S end of season misfortune struck again as bad light and rain conspired to deny them victory at Clifton on Sunday.
They seemed to be cruising towards the points with big-hitters James Rawlinson, 63, and Matt Thomson, 43, steering them 142 for 5 - chasing 157 for victory - in the 27th over.
Having managed to get restart the game after one rain delay there was n
o second chance as the players came off, initially for bad light, and never returned.
Earlier a solid bowling performance had reeled in Clifton after a second wicket partnership worth 80 between Aqeel Mukhtar, 50, and professional Adil Nisar, 44, had threatened to post a big total.
Professional Janaka Gunaratne, 4 for 44, and Nick Barker, 3 for 29, broke the partnership and kept the scoring under control.
Even so with the weather closing in it was always going to be touch and go and Walsden just could not get the runs quickly enough.
Gunaratne had enjoyed an outing in the Lancashire League the previous day - if enjoyed is the word.
Deputising for Colne professional Blake Snijman his 14 over spell of 2 for 45 was fairly respectable in the face of Haslingden's club record score of 318 for 8.
The Sri Lankan then top scored with 78 from 91 balls - seven fours and three sixes - as his adopted side was dismissed for 199.
The full article contains 233 words and appears in Todmorden News newspaper.
