First Team – Sunday 20th April – Colne away – Won by 42 runs – 12 points
Jacques Snyman returned to the club with a customary explosive display – 18 fours and seven sixes – in a blistering 147 before adding 4 for 57 with the ball.
Andy Kerr struck a well constructed 73 in a second wicket partnership of 177.
The Mount suffered a little mid-order stutter before some excellent application from new boys Cameron Mapstone (18) and Ishy Patel (28) and an unbeaten 24 from Callum Hunter, ensured a strong total of 340 was achieved.
The highlight of the second innings was an exceptional performance from Geeth Kumara, the Sri Lanka professional for Colne, who blazed 162 with eight towering sixes before being last man to fall with just three balls left thanks to a smart stumping from young keeper Jacob Norris off the bowling of Tom Heaton.
Callum Hunter bagged 2 for 73 with Amal Dalugoda 1 for 17 and Tom Heaton 1 for 18 backing up Jacques’ four wickets.
Second team – Lowerhouse at home – Lost by 7 runs – 7 points
Ed Dickinson continued a rich vein of form from pre-season with a fine 72 but Oli Dixon’s team fell agonisingly short in an encouraging team performance.
Batting first, Lowerhouse compiled 224 although at 150 for 1 truthfully may have expected more.
The young Greenmount attack stuck to their task and returned good bowling figures, George Kenyon at age 14 lead the attack with 2 for 48, spin twins Ed Dickinson 2 for 46 and Max Birtwistle 2 for 29 supported captain Oli Dixon 3 for 37 to ensure the opponents were in sight at the break.
It was great to see Sam Greenhalgh (23) back in action at club alongside veteran opener Nigel Franklin (15). A steady start set a platform for the last 20 overs but the young chasing team lost wickets steadily until Dickinson and Matty Donnelly wrested the initiative with a quickfire partnership of 67 before Donnelly was bowled for 30 from just 26 balls.
Despite a valiant effort Ed Dickinson was also bowled for 72 with seven fours and two sixes to cap a fine individual performance.
Sadly it wasn’t quite enough to get over the line but seven points in defeat is a good return and there’s promise of better fortunes ahead for the second team this summer.
This Sunday we see the first team entertain Bacup at home with the seconds away in the corresponding fixture. Third team season starts on Saturday away to Littleborough. All games begin at 12.30pm.