RAMSBOTTOM lost a thriling opening league game off the penultimate ball of the match as the 2002 Lancashire League season got under way at Rishton.

Batting first on a beautiful track, the Rams slumped to 45 for four due to indifferent strokes, as opposed to good bowling.

New professional Michael Clarke epitomised this by racing to 20, then playing too soon and getting a leading edge to a ball from Rishton's South African professional Paul Adams.

A stand of 63 between Harrison and Daggett then helped redress the balance before both batsmen fell with the score on 108.

Veteran skipper Mark Price then blasted 40 in 31 balls before being caught on the boundary and the innings ended on 174-9. Not a great total, but highly respectable after their poor start.

Rishton started their innings as firm favourites to win the match, but they were rocked back on their heels when Chris Eardley had both openers back in the pavilion with only five on the board.

Former Australian Test player Peter Sleep and ex-Ribblesdale League professional Russ Whalley took the score to 49 before the latter was caught behind and after losing professional Adams cheaply, the Rishton middle order, batting around Sleep, steadily ate into the Ramsbottom total.

At 150 for five with six overs remaining, the game looked safe for the home side, but a silly mix-up led to Paul Whalley being run out.

Skipper Mark Price then grabbed three quick wickets, including that of Sleep, who made a patient 63 off 107 balls.

At 159 for nine with three overs remaining, the balance had tilted back in the visitors favour, but Rishton's last two batsmen showed remarkable composure and saw their side home with a ball to spare.

LANCASHIRE League champions Bacup cruised to victory against Worsley Cup holders Ramsbottom in the annual Colne Cup curtain-raiser.

Though they were missing bowlers Mike Haslam, Lee Daggett and Simon Read, it was in the batting stakes they were found wanting.

After professional Michael Clarke was dismissed for 48, there followed a collapse that saw the Rams slump to 88 all out.

The valley side then eased home as Dominic Ayres (40) and professional Shaun Young (48) ran up the required amount.

RISHTON v RAMSBOTTOM

RAMSBOTTOM

N. Riley c and b Sleep...6

K. Webb st Proctor b Sleep...6

M. Clarke c Usman b Adams...20

J. Harrison st Proctor b Davies...43

A. Bell run out...2

L. Daggett c Sleep b Adams...23

M. Price c Rostron b Adams...40

S. Read run out...3

R. Hevingham not out...11

J. Marcroft st Proctor b Adams...7

C. Eardley not out...0

Extras...13

---

Total (for 9)174

---

Sleep 16-6-35-2; Usman 9-1-40-0; Adams 18-3-57-4; Davies 3-1-22-1; Whalley 2-0-14-0.

RISHTON

J. Dobson c Hevingham b Eardley...5

R. Rostron b Eardley...0

P. Sleep b Price...63

R. Whalley c Hevingham b Daggett...31

P. Adams b Clarke...3

J. Davies c Hevingham b Clarke...16

P. Whalley run out...29

S. Greaves lbw Price...0

J. Usman st Hevingham b Price...2

N. Clark not out...6

A. Proctor not out...10

Extras...10

---

Total (for 9) 175

---

47.5 overs

Daggett 14.5-1-61-1; Eardley 7-2-20-2; Clarke 13-3-50-2; Read 6-1-15-0; Price 7-0-23-3