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The thirds started their defence of the Sunday Premier Cup with an away day at the Gin Pit against their thirds who play two divisions below Elliot's Emergent Entities.

It was difficult to tell which was the Premier Division team as the Pitmen roared out of the traps, sending back Anuj, Ollie and Ethan with only 16 on the board. For the second day in a row, Sam rode to the rescue with another composed half century and, supported by Lewis (26), Dan (35) and Owen (20) they took the score to 182-8. It needs to be recorded at this point, that in an all too rare moment of sportsmanship these days, A&T stalwart Paul Higgins recalled Owen to the wicket after he'd been given out to a delivery that wouldn't have hit ten sets of stumps, for which he received a warm and deserved round of applause from the sidelines.

At this point, the game turned into a jaw dropping spectacle, starting with Oscar's strike with the very first ball of the innings. Looking through the history books, Clifton's lowest recorded score was seven all out, a feat registered some 83 years ago in 1943, and as the home side's batsman crumbled, it looked like that score could be challenged as the score advanced from 0-1, to 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 and then 3-5.

The remaining batsmen ground out the odd run to move to 10-9, before Ethan kindly obliged with eight wides before having Mr Higgins caught by the skipper with the scoreboard showing just 19. Ollie finished with the remarkable figures of 5-5, with Oscar weighing in with 3-5 and Ethan 2-8, with none of those runs coming off the bat as the 3rds progressed to round 2 by the margin of 163 runs.

The total of seven all out can therefore return to the record books intact, apart from noting that the team that battered the unfortunate Cliftoners that day in 1943, were none other than Astley & Tyldesley.

East Lancs Paper Mill’s first team were welcomed at Manchester Road by overcast conditions, and a weather forecast looking about as appealing as a weekend in Rhyl.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat, with Sas being given the new ball for the first time from the scoreboard end. After a steady enough start of 25/0 from the first half dozen overs, it was a sharp piece of fielding from Dan Jones that delivered the breakthrough; sliding at cover to pick up one handed and into Owen’s gloves to take the bails with the opener short of his ground.

The visitors rebuilt nicely and were 79/1 after 18 overs, when the introduction of Dan Jones to replace Sas delivered the breakthrough from his 3rd ball, caught by his little brother at mid on. The overseas then came to the crease on the back of his 150 odd a few games ago, but was put down on 2 off Keogh’s bowling, in a rare lapse from stand-in keeper Owen Hogben who appears to catch better without gloves on.

It was then another sharp run out from Elliot Hogben to remove the other opener Caulfield (71), with the visitors eventually posting 187 from their reduced 37 overs, with the highlights being a couple of special shots from the overseas; flicking Jordy into the houses before driving him for 6 over mid off. Dan Jones was the pick of the bowlers (2-33 from 9 overs), with Sas Pushpajarah also bowling better than his (0-34 from 10) figures suggested.

With Duckworth Lewis then adjusting the total required to 195 from 33 overs, Clifton’s wounded animals from last week’s defeat at Egerton would have a job on their hands, and were very quickly staring down the barrel of another heavy defeat when the revised top 3 of Jordy (5), Dan (0) and Sas (0) were all back in the shed inside 3 overs with the scoreboard at 10/3.

A superb partnership of 67 from Lewis Keogh and Sam Winstanley gave Clifton a kiss of life, before Owen Hogben (30) joined Sam at the cease and picked up where Lewis (33) left off, putting together a 73 run partnership to leave Clifton needing 45 to win from the last 9 overs and in with a real chance to pull this one out of the fire. Young Luke Jones then came to the crease and made his intentions clear, putting his 4th ball over the fence and into the houses, clearly trying to emulate Sam Winstanley’s flurry of maximums as the chase neared its finale.

The chase was complete with back to back boundaries and a single from Luke (23*), with each of those shots being met with great cheers from both the clubhouse end and the lads gathered outside the changing rooms. The relief and fight of pulling this one out of the bag there for all to see.

The clear highlight was the exceptional innings of 87* from Sam Winstanley. An innings of clean ball striking and taking the game deep with two big partnerships.

For this side to chase down 195 in 29 overs (4 overs still to spare), in those conditions, with so many players missing, and the top 3 with the bat all failing, once again highlights the strength in depth available for this second team who really want to be pushing for promotion again this season.

It's fair to say that the days of Sir Garfield Sobers stroking the ball magnificently around the vast green sward of Radcliffe Cricket Club are a distant memory, but the events of Saturday put things sharply into perspective.

Sobers graced the arena for five seasons between 1958 and 1962 and led them to the CLL cup and league double in 1961, but the club has fallen on hard times since then and club officials are working hard to retrieve the situation. Edgworth, on the other hand, are a club on the up, and eye wateringly expensive ground improvements meant that their ground was unfit, and Radcliffe's Racecourse ground was available to stage the game.

The Racecourse (yes, it was once a prominent horse-racing venue established in the 1840s on the private estate of the Earl of Wilton) has seen better days but still shows the potential to become a gem of a cricket ground. Sadly, the square has suffered from years of lack of love, and it became obvious from the first over, bowled by Ollie Sleight, that it was going to be a difficult day for batsmen of both sides. So, it proved as the ball deviated in all directions as Edgworth struggled to 46-4 when Gareth Cross saw the umpteenth delivery rear up off a length and whistle past the batsman's ear.

The very next over, Ollie repeated the trick and the ball crashed right through the Edgworth professional's helmet grid and into his eye. At this point the Umpires decided to call it a day and with both captains eventually in agreement, the match was abandoned to the whim of the GMCL board to decide the outcome. For the record, Ollie took 3-30 and Gareth 1-15.

🔨 Rear Lounge Refurbishment COMPLETE !!

We are pleased to let members know that refurbishment of our rear lounge is complete, an exciting step forward in improving our club facilities for everyone.

The improvements include:
• A new feature wall
• A new trophy cabinet to properly showcase our history and achievements
• New seating to create a more comfortable, welcoming space

This is part of an ongoing project to continually enhance our club for members, players, families and visitors. As a volunteer-led club with strong community roots, every improvement is about creating a space we can all be proud of.

If you’re not yet part of our club, new members are always welcome. Please come and be part of something progressive, inclusive and growing.