Cricket: Tod title hopes go in double loss
IT was disappointment all round as Todmorden crashed to two defeats this weekend and destroyed any Lancashire League title hopes.
Losing at league leaders Haslingden on the Saturday seemed to knock the stuffing out of them and they were well beaten the following day at Centre Vale by Ramsbottom.
Todmorden skipper Simon Newbitt said: "The league is out of the question now but with nine games left we need to make sure we win as many as possible .
"But I think unless somebody has a disaster above us fourth now is the highest place we can achieve."
The game on Saturday was affected by rain.
Newbitt said: "Had we not been taken off for rain against Haslingden on the Saturday with them needing another 50 runs with only three wickets left we would have taken a full 12 points.
"To lose the way we did knocked the stuffing out of us and I think that played a part in the poor performance we gave on Sunday."
Haslingden stayed top after keeping ahead of the run rate to ensure a three-wicket victory.
Skipper Graham Knowles took five for 51 with good support from Jack Sudworth (two for 52) and Steve Dearden (two for 49) as Todmorden were bowled out for 168.
Alastair Harrison (26), professional David Wiese (24), Matthew Brierley (23), Ben Sutcliffe (18), Stevie Barker (16), Oliver Wood (15 not out) and skipper Simon Newbitt (15) all got starts in the Todmorden innings.
Wiese picked up four for 41 but Haslingden's Mohsin Imtiaz (27), Lee Ingham (24 not out) and John Pemberton (15) all lingered just long enough for Haslingden to pick up the points.
On Sunday, sub professional Ross McMillan turned in an all round match wining performance to keep Ramsbottom's title challenge on track with an eight-wicket win at Todmorden.
The Kendal paid man took five for 47 with good support from skipper Jon Fielding (three for 18) and Michael Haslam (two for 34) to bowl the Centre Vale men out for 122.
Home professional David Wiese made 30, passing 700 runs for the season in the process.
But no-one else in the Todmorden team, apart from Alastair Harrison made double figures as Centre Vale men tumbled to 82 for nine.
Harrison hit nine boundaries in a career best innings of 56, adding 40 for the last wicket with Lee Pearson, who made an unbeaten four.
Wiese picked up his 50th wicket of the season, Alex Bell for 29, and Stevie Barker removed Keith Webb for four but McMillan hit an unbeaten 57 with five fours and a six, adding an unbroken 82 with David Bell (31 not out with six fours) as Ramsbottom won for the 14th time this season.
Tod skipper Newbitt was complimentary about Harrison's contribution.
"Even with it being such a bad weekend there are always positives to take out of it and Alastair Harrison's innings on Sunday where he got his maiden half century for the first team was long overdue
"I hope now he kicks on and finishes the season strong," he said.
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
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