Well, after all the awful weather and disruption of league postponements, the 2024 season finally got under way at the weekend with a very positive start for the Mount.
If you came to watch any of the matches congratulations for your endurance as it was absolutely freezing and not exactly ideal conditions for cricket – but I guess we cannot afford to be choosy!
The first team celebrated the inaugural match under new sponsorship from Mercedes-Benz of Whitefield with a workmanlike win over Rawtenstall at home.
Batting first, Rawtenstall posted 246 for 5, the highlight being an excellent century from debut professional Anuk Fernando who struck 116 from 118 balls with ten fours and six sixes.
Tom Heaton and Callum Hunter picked up two wickets apiece whilst Amal Dalugoda took his first scalp for Greenmount.
There was an early scare and disappointment for the home crowd when returning professional Jacques Snyman fell early for just two but they were treated instead to an excellent recovery led by Tom Heaton in typically belligerant mood hitting 69 from 73 balls while Andy Kerr showed early imperious style in making 54 from just 49 balls with six fours and two sixes.
Skipper Travis Townsend joined in the positive momentum and continued to build partnerships through the innings with his own 46 (three fours and two sixes) before Dan Stevens and debutant Gav Nicholl saw the team home with an unbroken stand of 46.
Dan finished on 27 not out with two fours and a six, Gav hit three fours and a six in his unbeaten 23 to round off an excellent day and seal the win.
Meanwhile up the valley at an icy Rawtenstall, the second team also started their campaign with a win.
Asked to bat first, father and son partnership Nigel and Rupert Hallows put on 77 for the first wicket before Rupert was caught behind for an excellent 41.
Runs continued to be steadily compiled on an understandably slow pitch, all batters contributing with Nigel Hallows and Sam Greenhalgh both 37, Ed Dickinson 26 and an entertaining cameo of 35 from new signing Toby Leach from just 26 balls.
Rawtenstall struggled to deal with the opening bowling partnership of Noah Birtwistle and Oli Dixon, losing wickets steadily throughout their reply.
Noah bowled with excellent control and extracted turn and bounce, earning impressive figures of 3 for 35 from 12 overs, an excellent effort.
Skipper Oli Dixon also returned excellent figures of 4 for 37 from his 12 overs and it was left to veteran campaigner Gareth Williams (1 for 12) alongside Toby Leach (2 for 1) to complete the innings and round off an excellent display in the field.
There was a real energy about the group and the fielding was boosted by some outstanding saves from Sam Greenhalgh and also good catching from both Noah and Toby.
On Saturday the third team, skippered by Wesley Young in Mark Crowther’s absence, went down to Rishton by five wickets .
Batting first Greenmount could only muster 134 – Adam Clarke with 29 not out , Noah Birtwistle 34 and Toby Leach 22 being the main contributors.
Rishton eased to the target with five wickets down, helped by the inclusion of more experienced players compared to the youthful Greenmount attack, all of whom were under the age of 18.
However the young lads stuck to the task positively and didn’t make it easy for the visitors, there will be plenty of learnings and useful experience gained.
Adam Clarke 2 for 28 completed a good all round match, Noah Birtwistle (2 for 38) and George Kenyon on senior league debut (1 for 10) took the wickets to fall.
There’s a big weekend of action next week with both first and second teams in cup ties on Saturday, league action on Sunday and the third team on Bank Holiday Monday.
The good news is that the forecast is for the temperatures to rise to mid to late teens – get the shorts out!
Check out our website and Facebook pages for team news later in the week.