A star of the future spotted at Brinscall

 By Mike Latham

 The Ribblesdale Cricket League provides some great entertainment for the PCW (professional cricket watcher) at some lovely grounds. Games between well-matched sides in the league, I’ve found, rarely disappoint, and after careful thought I selected the Ramsbottom Cup tie between Brinscall and Oswaldtwistle Immanuel. It proved an inspired choice.

 The late Alan West, cricket historian, BBC Radio Lancashire cricket reporter and Lancashire CCC scorer, was a great enthusiast for the Ribblesdale League and wrote its centenary history in 1992. It’s a great read and can still be sourced on Ebay or via reputable cricket book dealers.

 The League suffered a mass withdrawal in 1951 when several established members left to form a newly constituted Northern League, including Blackpool, Chorley, Darwen, Fleetwood, Lancaster, Leyland, Leyland Motors, Morecambe, and St Annes. The wounds from that split took a long time to heal and it to the great credit of the Ribblesdale League that it not only survived but thrived.

 Since Alan’s history was written the league lost Blackburn Northern, who became defunct, and Clitheroe and Great Harwood to the Lancashire League expansion. It now has 13 senior clubs in membership in addition to Burnley Belvedere, Chatburn and Stacksteads who play in the junior league. Read are the only founder club with an unbroken membership.

 

Views of the West Pennine Moors from Brinscall’s School Lane ground

 Brinscall is a small village between Chorley and Blackburn and is at the heart of the local community. The cricket club was formed in 1852 but it is only in recent years that they joined the Ribblesdale League after many years of membership of the now defunct Chorley and District League.

 They are a well-run club and have the wherewithal to employ an overseas professional, Nisal Fransisco from Sri Lanka, and host an overseas amateur, this year a young South African all-rounder from Pretoria by the name of Zadian Muller.

 Ossie’s pro, by comparison, is of local stock, 23-year-old all-rounder Brad Boddie from Rishton, who is in his first season in the role. It’s a big task for a young player to undertake this responsibility and it can either make or break you.

 

Brad Boddie hits out

 Ossie batted first on a dry but chilly afternoon and reached 202/7 in their 40 overs, thanks largely to an outstanding 128 off 122 balls from Boddie. He played a true pro's innings, arriving in the second over, out in the last and went up several gears after reaching 40, batting with great responsibility and fluency. He will long remember his first century as a professional.

 When Ossie lost their fourth wicket for 82 runs in the 24^th over a lot of pressure was on Boddie, then unbeaten on 40, to get them to a competitive total. He rose to the challenge superbly and his side scored 83 off the last ten overs thanks largely to his efforts.

 

Muller to Boddie

 Muller had bowled an impressive first spell of left arm medium fast and then showed great maturity with the bat, dominating a second wicket stand of 105 with Fransisco. Boddie, who was nursing an injury, then came into the attack and tempted his opposite number to be caught in the deep from his first delivery, for 31. But he was unable to complete the over.

 Muller moved smoothly to his first century for Brinscall, with some lovely clean and selective hitting and judicious shot-making and looked a class player.

 

Zaidan Muller congratulated on reaching his century

 But when he had made 112 came off 107 balls (including ten fours and four sixes), Muller was out caught, leaving his side 168/3, needing 35 off 43 balls. Ossie spied their chance, bowling and fielding with renewed zest and Steven Hawke’s 31 and skipper Peter Berry’s unbeaten 16 were vital contributions as Brinscall got over the line with two balls to spare with five wickets in hand.

 It was a great game played in good spirit and a good advert for the Ribblesdale League. The scorers provided live scoring on the Play Cricket app, which is a wonderful resource for the PCW. Thanks so much to them. As for young Zadian Muller, remember the name.