Greenmount got a morale-boosting first victory of the Lancashire League Division One campaign when they comprehensively defeated near neighbours Ramsbottom by 147 runs at a packed Brandlesholme Road ground on Sunday.
Following the opening day defeat at champions Burnley the previous week, skipper Ryan Senior was delighted to win the toss and elected to bat on what was a superb batting wicket.
The villagers took full advantage to run up a challenging total of 287 for 7 with Andy Kerr (63), Lewis Dove (60 not out) and professional Chesney Hughes 51 leading the way with further useful contributions from opener Jack Harrison (36) and Evan Williams (34). Daniel Pyke was the pick of the Ramsbottom bowlers with 4 for 72 from his 13 overs.
In reply, the Rams failed to step up to the plate as despite openers Jonny Dack and Alex Olpin putting on 40 in the first seven overs, there was a steady fall of wickets as they slumped to 140 all out in 33.2 overs.
Hughes took five wickets – a league best for the paid man – while Dove’s off spin proved to be a thorn in the Rams side as he helped himself to 3 for 46. Callum Hunter grabbed the other two victims with 2 for 29 from 6.2 overs.
Meanwhile, the second eleven also enjoyed a great victory – by 65 runs – when they made the trip to Nelson.
Oliver Dixon’s decision to bat after winning the toss proved to be the correct one as his men put on 226 for 6 from their 45 overs.
Father and son combination Henry and Leigh Dickinson top scored with 50 and an unbeaten 49 respectively, while 38 apiece for opener Jake Chadwick and Andy McGuinness helped post a total that was always going to be too much for the home side who finished on 161 all out from 39.4 overs.
Skipper Dixon took 5 for 66 from 12 overs, Rick Catterall helped himself to 3 for 27 from 7.4 and there was a wicket each for Matthew Senior and Alex Bullen.
On Saturday, at the Log Cabin, the club’s third team were involved in a cracking high-scoring game when Norden thirds were the visitors.
Norden won the toss and decided to bat. They then put on 248 for 6 from their 40 overs courtesy of a fine unbeaten 102 from Mohammed Omar and 92 from Mohammed Munawar who looked destined to get a ton himself before being run out by Mount skipper Mark Crowther. At one stage in the reply the villagers looked likely to fall woefully short of that total but a fine 76 from Steven Addleton and contributions from Wes Young (46), Crowther (37) and Dave Willetts (33) kept them in the hunt only to fall a tantalising 13 runs of what was required at 235 for 9 at the end of their allotted overs.