COLNE lost a game they should have won on Sunday, when the substantial figure of Vinny Hanson led Rawtenstall to a six-wicket victory.
Skipper Shadley van Schalkwyk lost the toss, and Colne were asked to bat.
The innings was off to a poor start with four wickets down for just 30, but van Schalkwyk and Khurrum Nazir steadied the ship with a partnership of 61.
After Khurrum was out for 21, Tayyib Jamil (7) and Sam Tillotson (13) provided the support van Schalkwyk needed to take the score to 166.
Van Schalkwyk was eventually out caught behind for his highest score to date, 82, from only 105 balls, including two sixes and eight fours.
It was an excellent innings, built steadily and confidently at first, even when wickets were falling, with good acceleration in the later stages.
After he was out, the tail folded gently and Colne made 170 all out with 13 balls unused.
Rawtenstall, who had not won a game in any competition all season, have been failing consistently with the bat.
Skipper Hanson moved himself up to opening batsman, having spent most of the season batting at the tail, in a bid to give the side a solid start.
He succeeded beyond his dreams, as Colne continually fed his favourite, and only, shot – a pull to square leg, which he executes very well indeed – by bowling at or outside leg stump to an offside field.
Hanson made 80 runs, only 14 short of his total for the whole of last season, including 12 fours and a six.
All but two of the boundaries were on the leg side.
While Hanson was at the wicket, the rest of the batsmen played a supporting role.
Kershaw made 11 from an opening partnership of 57, Barlow made six in a partnership of 30, and the pro Coetzee was caught behind off van Schalkwyk for a duck.
But that was the only bright spot in Colne’s bowling, as by the time Hanson was out at 129-4, caught a deep square leg off Whitehead, the game was almost up; with only two runs per over required at that stage, Wrathmell and Brown saw Rawtenstall comfortably home.
Last Thursday, Colne achieved their first win in this season’s Twenty20, against Nelson.
It wasn’t a great cricketing triumph, as the heavy rain meant even a bowl-out was not possible, and the match was decided on the toss of a coin.
The third game was scheduled to be played tonight at the Horsfield against Lowerhouse, but was switched to last night to avoid clashing with the England game.
In the league, the first XI will travel to Accrington on Sunday, with the second XI playing at home.